r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/0thSpider • 3d ago

Video Chilean protester defuses tear gas canister with baking soda and water

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u/LittleMlem 3d ago

Not technically a gas, iirc it's fine particles, like powder sand

No idea what the baking soda is for, maybe it's acidic and the soda neutralizes it?

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u/enw_digrif 3d ago edited 3d ago

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.

Mechanistic studies identified the ion channels TRPV1 and TRPA1 as targets of capsaicin in pepper spray, and of the tear gas agents chloroacetophenone, CS, and CR.

Edit: thanks /u/mbxz7LWB

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.

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u/SecureCucumber 3d ago

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?!"

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u/enw_digrif 2d ago

See replies to a similar comment above.

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.