Management of the effects of exposure to tear gas

doi:10.1136/bmj.b2283

Published 19 June 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2283
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b2283

Clinical Review

Management of the effects of exposure to tear gas

Pierre-Nicolas Carron, specialist in internal and emergency medicine, Bertrand Yersin, professor of emergency medicine

¹ Service of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne CHUV, Switzerland

Correspondence to: P-N Carron Pierre-Nicolas.Carron@chuv.ch

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Tear gas and pepper spray used for crowd controlare not without risks, particularly for people with pre-existingrespiratory conditions

Pulmonary, cutaneous, and ocular problemscan result from exposure to these agents

Treatment for theeffects of exposure to tear gas requires chemical decontamination,including protective measures for healthcare staff

Some peopleare at risk of delayed complications that can be severe enoughto warrant admission to hospital and even ventilation support

Despite the frequent use of riot control agents by Europeanlaw enforcement agencies, limited information exists on thissubject in the medical literature. The effects of these agentsare typically limited to minor and transient cutaneous inflammation,but serious complications and even deaths have been reported.During the 1999 World Trade Organisation meeting and at the2001 Summit of the Americas in Quebec, exposure to tear gaswas the most common reason for medical consultations.¹ ² Primaryand emergency . . . [Full text of this article]