- Do not touch the canister with your hands unless you are wearing industrial-strength gloves. They’ll burn.
- Any acid can be used to neutralise tear gas, though bleach is best. Try vinegar or lemon juice. Even cola will work. Soak a bandana in it and breathe through that.
- Protect your clothing — raincoats or waterproof ponchos work well. If desperate, use heavy-duty garbage bags.
- Protect your eyes. Goggles are good, but if unavailable, pull the bandana over your head.
- If there is a garbage bin or bucket on hand, put it over the canister.
- Flush eyes with saline or water. To soothe, use alkaline solutions. Mix baking soda, shampoo, milk or Mylanta with water and flush eyes.
- Use only running water to wash off residue.
- Acids can be used to neutralise tear gas: if you have a bucket, vinegar, and strong gloves, drop the canister into vinegar.
- Fumes of chopped-up onions underneath the nose can help. Carry some in plastic bag, use as needed.
- DO NOT USE OIL-BASED PRODUCTS ON YOUR SKIN. It traps tear gas.
- Use hockey sticks, cricket bats or baseball bats to hit tear gas canisters back at attackers.