Police Weapons
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About Police Weapons
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Police brutality
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Be careful: people helping victims of police violence often become
targets of more police violence themselves.  Try to get the injured
person and yourself out of immediate danger.

Pepper spray and tear gas
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If you can move away from where tear gas or pepper spray is being
used, the effect will wear off.  Tear gas wears off quickly, pepper
spray can last an hour or more.

Face shield
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Do not touch tear gas canisters with your hands.  They are hot and
will burn you if you pick them up right away.

A water or vinegar-soaked bandana over the mouth and nose gives a
little protection.

Wet bandana
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1. Watch breathing.


Pepper spray can cause severe breathing problems, especially in
people with asthma.  This can be very frightening.  Help the person
stay calm.

2. Flush eyes with lots of water.


Pour the water from the inside of the eye (near the nose) toward the
outside of the eye (near the ear).

3. Remove clothes


Remove clothes that have spray on them once you are in a safe place
and will not be exposed to any more spray or chemicals.

4. Clean the skin


Clean the skin, one area at a time (or just wait for the spray to
wear off): soak a cloth with mineral or vegetable oil. Wipe off one
area of skin using this oiled cloth. Then quickly remove the oil with
another cloth wet with alcohol. If the oil is left on for more than
30 seconds, it will mix with the chemical and burn the skin. If you
do not have oil and alcohol, just use a lot of water. Or just wait.
With time, the pain will go away.

An eye and mouth rinse to relieve the burning of pepper spray
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In a small bottle, mix 1/2 water, 1/2 liquid antacid (aluminum or
magnesium-based, such as Maalox).

For the eyes, hold the person's eye open and pour from the inside
(close to the nose) toward the outside of the eye (closer to the ear).

For the mouth, ask the person to swish the mixture inside the mouth
and spit it out.

This mixture can be of some help to rinse pepper spray off skin.

Other police weapons
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Rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, water cannons, and batons are all
used to cause bleeding, broken bones, or injuries or bleeding inside
the body.  Injuries to the eye and head can be severe.  Examine the
person head to toe.  Watch for signs of internal bleeding or shock:
feeling faint, pale skin, dropping blood pressure and a weak, fast
pulse.  The chapter Problems with the Eyes and Seeing has information
on treating injuries to the eye.

shock
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eye injuries
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