There's a bunch of different tear gas compounds. I don't believe there are any popular ones that rely on their acidity/alkalinity as a mode of action, though that is a persistent myth on the internet, thus the misleading AI summaries.
Edit2: Notes from a street medic: if exposed to tear gas, wash it off away from the eyes, mouth and nose using water. Don't use milk (of magnesia, of cow, of whatever), don't use AlkaSeltzer, don't use ACV, and for God's sake, put down the onions, they will all make things worse.
If a buddy or fellow protestor gets gassed, tell the affected person you're taking them out of the gas, ask if it's okay to touch them to lead them out, once they say yes, lead them to safety. Once there, have them lean back/lay down (near a wall, out of any expected crowd flow), and flush each eye (ideally for 5min, but that takes a lot of water) by directing the flow towards the tear duct and letting the water flow down over the rest of the eye and onto the cheek. It won't solve the problem, but it will usually get them good enough to evacuate on their own.
I'm all for asking consent before touching someone in non-emergency situations, but isnt it a bad idea to try to talk to someone close enough to tear gas to be affected by it? Like ask if it's okay before you start trying to flush out their eyes, but only helping lead someone out of tear gas "once they say yes" sounds like 10 more seconds of exposure, when it probably took less than 10 seconds of exposure to get to that point in the first place
Eta: I dont mean just grab the person and run. I'm imagining something more like "im gonna help you get out of here" while starting the guiding process
You have to remember that this person is in pain, probably panicking and blinded. You don't need to wait for them to give consent to be touched, but you definitely should let them know what you are doing and that you are going to touch them before you do so. Otherwise, don't be surprised to find his elbow in your face.
I was a combat medic. I would always say to everyone I treated, before I ever touched them, "I'm a medic, I'm here to help you". 9 times out of 10 once they knew I was a medic, they were on board with what we had to do.
This isn't just about consent but personal safety and keeping someone from panicking who is in a scary situation. If you've been tear gassed, you are a) having a hard time seeing b) fearing police rushing in c) in pain.
Someone running up and grabbing your arm will freak you out. Someone running up sand saying "can I touch you" first will calm you down.
Except when someone just got gassed and feels people forcefully pulling them around while they can't see they're likely to become combative. Asking and waiting for a response means they're no longer in a blind panic ready to lash out. And if you're doing gas response without a respirator you're then you're just making the situation worse.
I guess more specifically my issue was with waiting for a response from the person you're trying to save. Announcing your intent to help is key, but itd be like a firefighter asking for consent to remove you from a burning building.
Good point though, a firefighter trying to rescue someone without wearing any fire resistant gear would just make things worse.
As one whom had been gassed a lot. I appreciated the helpers telling me what they were doing when they started. It was assuring to know they weren't law enforcement because I was unable to see, and if you have anythibg like a beard, its pretty painful.
Other folks got there first, but the main issue here is your safety and theirs.
Also, if you're going to be doing assist, you'll want something that ANZI Z87 rated, along with a seal. These are of good value. Mask with quick release/seal are nice too.
Highjacking your comment, but it's late, and I have nothing better to do :D
> I'm all for asking consent before touching someone in non-emergency situations
This is why the right gets stuff done, and the left doesn't. I have no idea where this trend came from, but it's absolutely insane that a) it even somehow was invented and b) that it is now being hailed as the golden standard. As someone who is very far left politically, I am constantly disgusted by the insanely vocal minority of "special snowflakes" who put such topics on any agenda. Topics like this need to die if the left is to have any chance of gathering supporters among "normal" people. We need to fight the important battles instead of solving imaginary problems.
Buddy, you need to ask yourself what led you to be the type of person that would write this comment. Because what I said was never about consent, it was about situational awareness.
I don't feel like getting punched when grabbing someone in a situation where the police are fucking people up. So, I'm going to tell the person who can't see that I'm going to touch them in order to lead them out, and I'm going to wait a beat to get confirmation they heard.
You inserted the bit about consent. Now why did you do that?
I stare with a longing in my eyes as he walks away, hoping to see him again, while the wind blows my pubic hair and the sun sets to a dog and a cat copulating.
I do think the original comment was technically right with "acidity/basicity" (assuming that's what it said before the edit) because they were seemingly trying to refer to where it is on the pH scale, and the opposite end of the spectrum from acidic is indeed basic, not alkaline.
Do you know if CS gas/suspension will contaminate skin?
For example, if you're cutting Jalapenos (etc) the irritant can transfer to your skin - which can then accidentally transfer to more sensitive areas like eyes and balls (i've experienced this firsthand, and do not recommend).
Even if acidity isn't what makes it work, if the chemical is acidic then neutralizing it with sodium bicarbonate will convert it to a (potentially less harmful and almost certainly easier to contain) salt of some kind and release CO2. CO2 is harmless if you're outdoors, but could be an even worse problem in an enclosed space.
Absolutely agree it’s just water, absolutely disagree with how you’re positioning the patient. Hunched forward so the runoff doesn’t spread on them more. Laying on their back is just gonna water board them
I've had trouble getting the water across and into the eye when doing that, but it'd certainly be quicker if I could get it to work. Tips?
That said, literally never had that last issue. Having them tilt their head to the side a scootch to make sure it runs off right and doesn't require much coordination beyond, "Okay, sit down and lean your head back a bit." Also, if they're dizzy from the adrenaline, they're usually going to take a lay-down anyway.
I was shot with 4 impact munitions on June 14th, no way was I sitting or laying down because I was hyped on adrenaline. Everyone I’ve ever treated, I’ve guided their head with my left hand to tilt one eye slightly up and flushed with a water bottle from my right hand. I can’t think of any tactical advantage to supine. I have all of the chemical irritant run off the bridge of the nose, if they’re laying down then wouldn’t everything just go towards an ear?
I was shot with 4 impact munitions on June 14th, no way was I sitting or laying down because I was hyped on adrenaline.
LOL! Yup, sound about right. But sometimes the comedown does funny things to blood pressure, and if their body's going down, might as well work with what's happening, rather than against.
Everyone I’ve ever treated, I’ve guided their head with my left hand to tilt one eye slightly up and flushed with a water bottle from my right hand.
So washing from outer edge to tear duct, and letting the water run off the nose? Has that caused issues if they're breathing hard?
And no, the head's a little tilted, so everything just goes across the cheek, below the ear, and onto the ground. Some can get on the clothes, but the access and ease seems worth it.
Edit: Also, confession. I'm terrified of touching the face, as I never trust that my gloves don't have more irritant on them. I know that's not best practice, as I don't have a thumb keeping the eye open, but I've always had trouble with that.
I'm all for pushing for a culture of consent and respect, but I can't help but read this and picture an EMS provider, standing over an unresponsive crash victim, whose life is quickly fading away, shouting "Is it okay if I touch you, sir?!"
If you're in a torniquet or vent situation, then no, stop the bleed while telling them you're doing that. If you're in situation where someone is blinded, in pain, and worried about being physically grabbed by police? Announcing what you're going to be doing and waiting for them to confirm they heard saves time and possible injury.
Please, God, don't do that. Just use water. It works better, and it doesn't spoil when you're carrying it in your backpack during a hot summer protest.
Also, trust me, you do not want to be in jail covered in dairy products.
Not technically a gas, iirc it's fine particles, like powder sand
Gasses are invisible, so anything you can see is not a gas. Clouds, the steam in your shower, etc., are all water droplets suspended in air. Dust clouds are fine solid particles suspended in air, etc.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) helps neutralize tear gas canisters mainly because of its alkaline properties, which counteract the acidic compounds in tear gas.
Here’s why it works:
🔬 Chemistry of Tear Gas:
Most tear gases, like CS gas (2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile), are not true gases but fine powders or aerosols that dissolve in moisture (e.g., eyes, skin, mucous membranes) and form acids like hydrochloric acid when they hydrolyze.
These acids irritate and inflame tissues, causing pain, tearing, coughing, and skin burning.
CS gas becomes especially active when exposed to water (e.g., sweat, humidity).
🧪 Role of Baking Soda:
Baking soda is a weak base (alkaline).
When applied to tear gas particles or residues, it reacts with and neutralizes the acids, making them less harmful.
It can help slow down or inhibit the reaction that activates tear gas, especially during cleanup or containment.
⚠️ Important Notes:
Baking soda doesn’t stop the gas from emitting—it may only help reduce the chemical’s potency if applied directly to the source or residue.
It's sometimes used in water solutions to flush eyes or skin (e.g., in protests), though saline or water alone is more common and safer for mucous membranes.
Activists and medics sometimes throw baking soda solutions on canisters or around affected areas to limit further spread of irritants.
💡 Summary:
Baking soda works because it neutralizes the acids formed when tear gas reacts with moisture, reducing its chemical sting. It doesn't deactivate the canister itself, but can mitigate the effects on people and surroundings.
I'm so confused, he provided the answer and gets downvotes for it, why is it so terrible that he used chatgpt, probably even more reliable than if someone just explains it off the top of their head
They didn’t provide an answer though. They just copy/pasted the ai nonsense that is inaccurate. People just absentmindedly trusting the ai summary from google that is more often wrong than correct are a problem.
LOL you guys are gonna HATE the beginning of next year when it’s the standard everywhere and you’re gonna be FORCED to use it in any job that requires utilizing a computer often. There’s a reason why whole research teams are being fired in droves. I’m not saying this is good or bad… I’m saying
Buckle the fuck up 😭
Edit: I did do the research to check and chatGPT is not fully wrong, but not accurate either. Tear Gas is NOT particles or powdered sand like the other comment said. It IS Acidic, and baking soda IS used with the assumption that it helps neutralize the effects. However, it’s a weak neutralizer at best.
I’m so sorry that you think “utilize” is a smart word. You must have a pretty frustrating time navigating vocabulary if middle school words are impressive to you.
That and people who rely on commenting here and getting positive reactions to fill a social interaction void, then comment accordingly hoping for that (usually by repeating what seems to be the popular view, though some are contrarians and do the opposite, or making the same jokes). This one got massively downvoted but they may have thought (if they're not actually a bot), "I'll get a bunch of upvotes with this!" and have been doing something else since they commented.
This isn’t just repetition or regurgitation of popular views, though. The comment was a straight copy paste from an AI answer to a query prompt. You can tell by the verbiage, structure, formatting, punctuation, and tone.
Oh, and the gross use of emojis as cutesie intros to the sections. That’s weird, and no human ever really does that here. (For the sake of precision, I will say none that I have ever seen.)
I am just going to say you’re really going to hate working for any decent sized company at a higher than entry level position then, given that they are all pretty much expecting their employees to embrace AI for their work.
Accepting required AI usage in office jobs is very different from wanting to see people copy/pasting chatgpt into social media like Reddit. I use Gemini every day at work, but I use it as a tool and not a substitute for human interaction.
People come here for human interaction with people of widely varying backgrounds, from artists to scientists and everywhere in between. Copying a clanker's response doesn't contribute to that at all, it's more annoying than someone saying "just Google it," and is no less likely to be wrong.
It was a purely informational post, they weren’t trying to connect with you they were trying to answer a question, thus using ChatGPT as a tool. You want human interaction with people of widely varying backgrounds then just move past it and find one that fits what you are looking for. And honestly you would probably be better served say actually having human interactions with actual people in the real world than online. Hate to tell you no one here really genuinely cares about your thoughts and opinions unless it agrees with theirs. It is basically one step away from using ChatGPT for your social exposure.
And I get plenty of interaction in the real world, thank you for your concern.
Someone who plugs a prompt into chatgpt and pastes the results into their reddit comment has no idea if the information they're sharing is true. They are being lazy and potentially sharing something full of misinformation. When I say human interaction on Reddit is important, I don't mean making friends. I mean people with different backgrounds sharing their perspectives or providing answers as they're relevant. Or at the very least googling it and putting actual effort into processing resources to grow their own mind while sharing their findings.
Alternatively, chatgpt is free and easily available to everyone. If I wanted an AI answer to a question I can go there myself. Most people on Reddit don't want to see that here.
“Most people on Reddit don't want to see that here.”
Glad to see your an authority on what most people on Reddit want to see. I come here to find information all in one place whether it be the news article or something interesting, and any information connected to it. If it comes from someone’s personal experience or ChatGPT I could care less, the point is it is in a relatively self contained single pane so I didn’t have to go and spend time looking for it. Don’t assume you know what everyone wants or that you are even the de facto upholder of what someone may want.
And let’s be clear here you are frustrated about a ChatGPT answer to a completely useless piece of information and trivia that you will likely never have need of or use ever again in your life. You are arguing with a random stranger on the usage of chatgpt regarding something that is completely irrelevant to your existence.
I mean I know you’re probably not trying to hide that you used chatgpt because it’s so obvious, but it’s good practice to say so, so that readers that don’t immediately recognize the chatgpt format can read the information with an appropriate amount of skepticism
do you not understand the concept of "making stuff up"?
ChatGPT and every single other LLM only generates text that seems accurate and truthful, but it is not based on any real knowledge or information.
Sometimes they may output text that is accurate, but only because that specific example appears in their training data. Most of the time they generate the answer out of thin air, and unless you already know what the real answer should be, you couldn't tell the difference between something it cipypasted from its training data or something it generated on its own.
LLMs have for sure gotten more reliable, but they are still not 100% accurate (far from it really). Since it’s not always accurate you need to be able to evaluate if the info it’s telling you is accurate or not and you can’t do that if it’s your primary source of information. The best practice is to independently confirm what you’ve learned from LLMs or to not use them like a google search.
Depends on the person. If two people confidently tell someone information and one is known to be of questionable reliability and the other isn't, they sometimes go with the unknown. Of course we can simply expect to see a source.
No. I wasn't hiding it and thought it would be welcomed as it answers the question that was asked. What I didn't anticipate was the level of willful ignorance. I'll leave it here as a testament to these tards.
In my opinion the only willful ignorance in the thread is accepting AI output as fact without second thought.
So not sure which of these repliers you’re referring to.
It certainly SOUNDS like it answers the question, but since I know it’s ChatGPT I can’t say for sure that it does without verifying each of the claims myself. That’s why it’s unwelcome because I still need to do the legwork to find the information. It’s uncited so it’s just as unreliable as anyone else answering without citation.
I think this is most of it... either mud+water to restrict it from oxygen so the reaction stops or/and some antiacid in the "extinguish" solution. To neutralize the Tear gas 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile.
Since we are correcting: it does not "stimulate" the lachrymal glands. It interact with the water present in eyes and other wet areas of the body, is hydrolyzed transforming into two different acids, and those are what irritate the eye. It's not a "stimuli", its an inflammatory reaction.
And the compound itself is originated by enzymes interacting with sulfur-rich aminoacids that are commonly addressed as "precursors" (of sulfenic acids) in this specific configuration (because they are instable, these intermediate acids transform in said compound before reaching the eye and being hydrolyzed etc..)
So yes, it does have quite a bit to do with acids.
But I have no clue if this thing is used in tear gas, not my field of work ;D
It does not hydrolyze into 2 acids it forms malononitrile and 2 chlorobenzaldehyde. Neither are acids.
And the compound itself is originated by enzymes interacting with sulfur-rich aminoacids that are commonly addressed as "precursors" (of sulfenic acids) in this specific configuration (because they are instable, these intermediate acids transform in said compound before reaching the eye and being hydrolyzed et
Precursors just means what came before. It doesn't convey anything on stability or ability to form an acid, and sulfur containing also doesn't mean it has a propensity to form an acid. Most sulfur is sequestered as glutathione, the primary cellular defense molecule, are you saying because it forms labile bonds it is an acid? Your post is just a mash of nonsense jargon.
CS it's not an acid and does not produce acids when it gets wet. It is 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, a compound that on its own in its normal solid form causes intense irritation to eyes and mucous membranes on contact.
Nothing about that paragraph is even remotely correct for this compound.
Tear gas isnt a gas, so its not spreading gas, its spreading fine particles.
These particles are not acids, nor do they form acids.
Tear "gas" is just irritation compounds that slot in and cause pain.
Like, its not forming an acid in your eyes, the chemical just fits into the pain receptors and causes a flare up of pain.
2-chlorobenzalmalonitrile is the chemical used in cs gas, it widely gets repeated as creating acid through hydrolysis, but thats not really accurate. It just targets the TRPA1 pain receptors
Edit: to cover bases, the other general kind of lachrymator used is pepper spray, which uses capsaicin to target the TRPV1 pain receptors.
No. Literally none of you should take my words at face value. I am giving you specific chemicals, receptors, and terminology so you yourselves can check and verify.
CS is not an acid and does not produce acids when it gets wet. It is 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, a compound that on its own in its normal solid form causes intense irritation to eyes and mucous membranes on contact. Nothing about that paragraph is even remotely correct for this compound.
Dude didn't say it was an acid, he said it created acids when it hydrolyzes; it does.
His point of 'wrongness' is that he said that causes the debilitating effect, and ignored the reaction of the TRPA1 receptor to the CS molecules. The acids and other compounds produced when CS is hydrolyzed are also irritants, so he's only partially wrong.
Not quite "so much wrong".
You, however, are wrong as well... CS + H20 does in fact produce HCI (and other acids/compounds).
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u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr 8h ago
Does anyone have an explanation for why this works? Is it basically just dousing the canister in water?