Riot control agents (or tear gas) are made of chemical compounds that can limit an individual’s ability to function by irritating their eyes, mouth, throat, lungs and skin. Tear gas is used by law enforcement for crowd control and used by the military as a training aid to test speed and ability to put on a gas mask within a set time period.

If released into the air, you can be exposed through breathing, skin or eye contact. The effects of exposure to a riot control agent are usually short-lived (15 - 30 minutes) after you have been moved from the source and decontaminated (cleaned off).

The eyes can develop redness, a lot of tearing and blurred vision. If inhaled, you can experience a runny nose, swelling, chest tightness, coughing or shortness of breath. If ingested, you can have problems swallowing, nausea and vomiting. If you are exposed for a long period of time, the severe effects may lead to blindness or breathing problems that may result in death.

If the release was outdoors, move away from the area where the agents were released and get to fresh air. Go to the highest ground possible, because riot control agents will form a dense vapor cloud that can travel close to the ground. If the release was indoors, get out of the building. If you are near a release of riot control agents, you may be asked to either leave or "shelter in place" inside a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical.

If you think you may have been exposed to riot control agents, you should remove your clothes quickly and wash your entire body with soap and water. If your eyes are burning or vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contact lenses, remove them and place them with the contaminated clothing inside a plastic bag and seal. Place the bag into a second plastic bag and seal. Call 911 for medical attention and removal of the contaminated items. Do not drive yourself to the hospital as you may become very ill on your way.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)