9.13. DISORDER CONTROL MEANS

Related titles

Pepper spray, tear gas, stimulants, incapacitating agents, crowd control chemicals, tear gas.

Purpose of assistance

1. Treatment of side effects in patients.
2. Decontamination of affected persons.
3. Minimizing damage to the EMD brigade.

Description of the patient

Inclusion criteria

Injury by an identifiable non-lethal weapon that was not used with the intent to cause serious injury or death.

Exclusion criteria

1. Infection with chlorine, phosgene, ammonia or other substances that can be used to cause significant injury or death.
2. Impact with an unknown substance.

Management of the patient

Status assessment

1. Assess the safety of the scene: assess the risks to the EMD team, patients, bystanders:

a) identify the substance used;
b) apply suitable protective equipment;
c) determine the number of patients.

2. Pay attention to the patient’s symptoms as a result of the lesion.

3. Conduct a review based on complaints.

Treatment and intervention

1. Move the patient from the contaminated environment to fresh air, if possible.
2. If possible, remove contaminated clothing.
3. Ask the patient to remove contact lenses if necessary.
4. Washing with water or saline solution can relieve symptoms, this procedure is recommended for disinfection of affected areas of skin and eyes.
5. In the presence of respiratory disorders, see section “Respiratory disorders”.
6. If wheezing is present, see instruction “Bronchospasm”.
7. In the presence of persistent pain on the skin or eyes, see instruction “Local chemical burns”.
8. Patients with persistent symptoms are warranted to receive further evaluation, treatment and follow-up according to local standards.

Patient safety

1. Toxicity is related to the duration of exposure and the concentration of the substance (injury in an unventilated room).
2. Patients who at the time of the event already had problems with the respiratory system (asthma, COPD) are more vulnerable to more serious respiratory symptoms.
3. Traumatic injury can occur as a result of patients being within range of a means of dispersal of riot control agents (eg hose/pressure stream, non-lethal projectile, grenade).

Useful information for training

Key points

1. Tear gas and pepper spray are the most common means of riot control.

2. Tear gas and pepper spray are quite safe. All of these agents have a high average lethality (LCT: 50) and a low average efficacy (ECT50).

3. Toxicity is related to the duration of the lesion and the concentration of the substance (injury in a non-ventilated room).

4. Possible symptoms:

a) eyes – tearing, pain, conjunctivitis, blurred vision;
b) nose/mouth/throat – rhinorrhea, burning/pain, swallowing problems, uncontrolled salivation;
c) lungs – discomfort in the chest, cough, wheezing, dyspnea, feeling of suffocation;
d) skin – redness, burning, dermatitis;
e) gastrointestinal system – nausea and vomiting are rare and may appear after coughing.

5. Symptoms that appear in the first seconds after the injury stop on their own and the best help is evacuation from the area of active damage. Symptoms often improve with time (15-45 minutes) after the lesion has stopped.

Corresponding evaluation results

1. Employed means of riot control.
2. Symptoms due to damage.
3. Breathing noises.
4. Signs of other traumatic injuries.

Key points of the documentation

1. Type of riot control substance, if known.
2. Treatment of symptoms.
3. Treatment given.
4. Response to treatment.

Criteria for the effectiveness of aid provision

1. Recognition of riot control equipment used prior to patient contact and assistance.
2. Using personal protective equipment of the EMD brigade.
3. Evacuation of patients from the zone of active damage.
4. Removing contaminated clothing and contact lenses, if possible.