In light of cops and ICE declaring open season on public assemblies again: Please do not ever try to flush someone's eyes out with anything that is not water.
Tear gas and pepper spray both suck ass and will do so for 15-30 minutes on end. They suck so much ass, in fact, that they have been banned from warfare under international law since 1993, but are fine to use on crowds of civilians because [shrugs in police state]. Those afflicted are temporarily blinded, will struggle to breathe or speak and will have any existing respiratory conditions compounded, and may experience corneal abrasions and chemical burns on their skin. You do not want to compound someone's suffering by giving them an eye infection that could potentially result in permanent blindness.
If you are at a location where shit pops off and you see someone trying to put anything that is not water in an afflicted person's eyes, STOP THEM AND USE WATER INSTEAD.
Yes, milk/maalox/whatever-the-fuck-else soothes capsaicin burn. In mouths or on skin. It should never go in or anywhere near an eyeball.
ONLY FLUSH EYES WITH WATER.
Tear gas also sinks: people in pain will instinctively crumple to the ground, but that is the opposite of what you want in this situation, as that's the direction in which all the chemicals in the air are also headed. Stay as upright as you can, keep injured people around you upright too, and walk (running will compound your breathing struggles) away from the gas.
Once you are removed enough from the chemicals to render aid, WATER ONLY.
Thank you for reading this and going forward with more safety knowledge. Please take a street medicine or first aid class if you can; we can't all be street medics, of course, but the more people who know at least some basics, the safer we all are. Love y'all. <3
