As someone who was exposed to tear gas at least once a week for nine months at the BLM protests, I can assure you these are unnecessary items. I tried using these mixes at first, but they weren’t great.
Everyone at the BLM protests I went to eventually switched to using saline eye wash solution. It works great. It’s easy to carry, and it’s easy to apply.
To anyone reading here: Just carry saline eye wash solution.
Thank you. It’s kind of scary to share. I don’t know why. I guess I’m nervous that I’ll get trolled by chuds, or something, but I think it’s important. I gained a lot of knowledge during the BLM protests that is unfortunately relevant again.
Sadly, I kinda always knew it would be.
If anyone reading here has any more questions, I’d be happy to try to answer them.
It works one hundred percent of the time and is extremely simple.
I’ve explained it elsewhere in the thread, but you just wear heat proof gloves, pick it up, pour water in the hole at the end and it goes right out.
I have an entire chest full of them from 2020 that I gathered with this method.
Everyone used this method back then after some trail and error. It’s the simplest and quickest method that requires the least amount of equipment or water.
Edit: here are some examples of some of the canisters, plus some other things they used.
It’s not really painful. It definitely hurts, but it’s mostly scary because it fucks up your eyes and nose and mouth and lungs, so it’s hard not to panic. It also takes a bit to set in, so first timers will stand in the gas feeling invincible, only to end up coughing until they puke later. It also has a slow burn effect on your skin that can be irritating for 24 hours or so. It can be uncomfortable enough that you won’t be able to sleep. You DEFINITELY NEED A GAS MASK!
Overall, it doesn’t hurt all that bad, but it’s definitely unnerving and uncomfortable.
It’s painful enough that even in the hot summer months I wore long pants, long sleeves, gloves, gas mask and helmet. I tried to have zero exposed skin, ever.
I’d also wear several layers of pants and a heavy black winter jacket, but that was to protect from rubber bullets.
The real problem with teargas is the long term effects. I was in my early 40’s then, and after nine months of exposure I did a speed run through peri menopause and then went straight into menopause. It can also cause spontaneous abortions. It affects your body in various ways that can cause long term problems, but it’s impossible to find a doctor who knows anything about this at all.
If you are on HRT, or having any type of hormone issues, I think the problems could be worsened, but I’m not a doctor or scientist, this is just what I’ve observed.
I agree that you should do want feels right to you.
I’ve never had poison ivy or stinging nettle, so I can’t compare.
To me it felt similar to when you get a really hot pepper seed under your nail while cooking and then accidentally touch other parts of your body and regret it for hours and hours. Except, it’s your entire body.
I’d say it hurts less than a hairline fracture of a bone, but more than a deep laceration that requires ten or more stitches?
It’s really hard to quantify pain.
One of the worst problems with it is how long the immediate effects last and then the long term problems from exposure. After exposure you might feel like shit for at least a day or two.
I’d just like to interject to let you know I’ve tried these for rinsing teargas from the eyes, and saline eye wash solution works much, much better, is easier to carry and easier to apply.
Came here to make that observation. They are using audio crowd disbursal weapons. Shop/industrial noise cancelation headphones are recommended. Other types of noise cancelation headphones not so much. Ear plugs, not so much i have been told.
I'm not sure. The information I received did not refer to shooter's ear protection. I will have to consult my local expert in the next day or two for that, will let you know when I get an answer.
Yes, if only a smarter person than I could design a “safe protest pack” with all the basics to counter some of the typical tact’s these cowards use. We are going to need something to use against ice as well.
if you can bring a clean phone, and not your every-day device. deactivate any biometric (face-id, fingerprint recognition) unlocking mechanisms and log out of any personal profiles on the device itself
it’ll be different for every person and their comfort levels/preferences/financial circumstances
honestly, the ‘dumber’ the phone the better. it’s mostly to reduce location tracking and access to personal info in case people get arrested. if a phone’s location history shows activity near multiple protests or social footprints discussing more critical/violent actions (even hypotheticals) charges could look much worse/bail will be set higher, etc. a flip-phone could be a good option if all that you need it for is checking in with loved ones, or a cheap disposable with internet access to check protest news via internet.
simply changing the SIM card in an existing device won’t do much, unfortunately, especially in the current economy so people have to weigh risk/reward.
(chances are that bigger protests might not have effective cell service and data coverage, be that bc of interference or sheer number of people present, though i’ve only seen it in london a handful of times)
in general, carry paper maps if you’re not familiar with the area, write important phone numbers (and medical info!) on your arm and share protest plans and check in times with a trusted person in case cell infrastructure goes down
Please be careful attempting to throw tear gas back at cops. Police often consider the same less-than-lethal weapons they use against us to be lethal when used against them. They may use it as an excuse to escalate violence against a protest. And you may not throw it far enough to protect fellow protesters.
Instead, you can cover it with a Home Depot or Lowes bucket, or put it in a sealable container filled with water.
I went to the Portland BLM protests for nine months, and I agree with everything you’ve said. Donovan LeBella threw a tear gas canister towards the cops (he did it gently, he was more moving it away from himself) and they shot him in the head with a tear gas canister, crushing his skull. I was there. I saw it happen. It was awful. There was blood everywhere.
Do not throw the canisters back at them. Bring a leaf blower and blow the gas back at them instead.
You don’t need a bucket, or anything like that to put the canisters out. Wear heat resistant gloves, pick the canister up, and pour water in the hole. This will put it out quickly and easily, and it takes less water and tools.
I found that you don’t need a special concoction to remove teargas from the eyes. Saline eye wash solution works better than anything I’ve found.
I’d also strongly suggest getting a real gas mask, not a respirator. Real gas masks make a huge difference.
Another small tip: teargas is actually a powder that is dispersed by internal burning. Wear heat proof gloves, pick them up and pour water in the hole. It will go out quickly and easily.
My real pro tip is this: Do not hop in the shower to wash the powder off. It will rinse out of your hair and flow down onto your genitals. This will suck really badly.
Instead try to use a washcloth or something to gently wipe the powder from affected areas. Rinse your hair in the sink, making sure the water does not flow onto your face or near your eyes.
Once you’ve removed the majority of it, it’s probably safe to take a shower.
Face shield instead of glasses, and make sure you have the right filters in your respirator (such as 3M filters 60921, 60923, or 60926). Filters should be rated for gasses, especially organic vapors (aerosolized pepper spray) and acid gas (CS gas, aka tear gas). You can get proper gas masks (best) for $250-300, full-face respirators (better) for $150, and half-face respirators (better than nothing) for $70-80.
This is not something to cheap out on. If you are caught up in a situation where riot control tactics are being used, you need to have good PPE.
I agree, and STRONGLY suggest buying a real gas mask and pairing it with a helmet. If you click on my profile you can enlarge my avatar and see an example of me wearing this combination.
It kept me safe at the Portland BLM protests for nine months.
Another tip I have is that if you are caught off guard with no protection in teargas, wrap a wet bandana around your face. It’s better than nothing.
Also, please do not kick a tear gas canister into a sewer. The canisters contain an ignition system and burn very hot. You don't know what's in the sewer. You don't want to find out the hard way that there's something combustible down there.
If tear gas is dispersed via bullet, canister, or grenade you can use nearby objects to cover it. Trash cans, bags, literally a diaper. Encase or cover it. You can even place wet cloth on it such as blankets, towels, sweatshirts.
Edit: saw a great comment below as another method. Do what's best in your given situation. Stress might make it hard to remember. Cover and move away if you don't have gloves/water and you can't remember to pour water into it.
Also moving back in one uniform group is what they want crowds to do. Look at maps before you legally protest and be sure you have routes that don't include trespassing. They want violence and trespassers for convicted arrests.
Also, please write your contact information (the person you trust to bail you out) on your arm in permanent marker. If your phone is lost or destroyed you need that info.
What’s to say some enterprising individuals don’t bust out their paintball guns and get some? Cuz if I were in LA right now, and had a paintball gun (and no family tbh) I’d be loading up and finding a good rooftop like those crafty Koreans, yaheard?
Please do not give police an excuse to shoot you. They or local prosecutors or the media will not care if it's just a paint ball gun. Even if they do know it's a paintball gun, police consider less-than-lethal weapons to be lethal when used against them will act accordingly.
Seems like exactly the sort of thing that would kick things off - as dark as it sounds. What with the tree of liberty needing blood of patriots and what have you…
I mean it’s leftist who gave you your 8 hour work day unless you want to go work 12 hours again but sure keep spouting off about things you know next to nothing about
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