- Peaceful protests can sometimes turn chaotic amid confrontations with police or outside instigators, putting people at risk of serious injury.
- Basic awareness and preparation can help mitigate injuries, according to street medics, or volunteer civilians who provide aid at demonstrations.
- During the event, stay calm, be aware of your surroundings in case you need to retreat quickly, stay hydrated, and prioritize people who may be more vulnerable to arrest or injury.
- After the event, get professional medical attention if needed, but don’t forget check in with others, and process your emotional well-being too.
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Protests, and the ensuing police response, can be risky. There’s the possibility of injury from law enforcement crowd dispersal techniques like tear gas and rubber bullets, but also environmental factors such as heat and dehydration. Large crowds also pose a particular risk during a pandemic.
Street medics are volunteers who show up to these events with the purpose of providing first aid to those in need. They have a long history dating back to the American Civil Rights movement, as well as protests of American military actions like the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, according to Paper Revolution.
Unlike EMTs, street medics work as civilians, not as affiliates of an institution like a hospital, but they may still have healthcare training as nurses or emergency medicine workers.
Although it takes extensive of training to be a street medic, there’s a wealth of free online resources that offer advice on how to better prepare and protect yourself and the people around you during a civil action.
If you are planning to participate in civil actions, some basic precautions including preparing ahead of time with the right clothes and supplies, staying calm and hydrated during the action and assisting others when appropriate, and following up after to care for mental and physical stress.
Foto: Police fired tear gas outside the White House late Sunday as anti-racism protestors took to the streets to voice fury at police brutality. Source: Jose Luis Magana / Getty Images
Preparation is key
Before you head off to participate in a street protest, it's important to have a plan and prepare accordingly. For those inexperienced with direct action, showing up unprepared can be a liability.
Do research and know what to expect ahead of time so you're best equipped to handle a potentially risky situation. Also bring a friend (or several) and have an emergency contact who's aware of where you are and what you're doing.
It starts with what you wear. Wearing loose, comfortable clothing can keep you from overheating and make it easier to move quickly, but it's important to cover as much skin as possible in case you're exposed to chemicals or irritants, according to Paper Revolution.
A hat can help protect against the sun and even chemical irritants, as can a bandana or face mask.
If you wear corrective lenses, stick to shatterproof glasses. Contact lenses can trap pepper spray and tear gas, making it difficult to flush from your eyes, according to Riot Medicine.
Bring sunscreen and bug spray in warmer months, and hand warmers in cool weather. And if you need any emergency medicine, such as an inhaler or EpiPen, don't forget to pack that too.
Hand sanitizer, while always a good idea, is especially useful right now since the coronavirus is still spreading.
Finally, bring plenty of water, which is crucial for drinking as well as washing off any potential irritants you might encounter.
What to do during the action
NYC Action Medical's safety handouts emphasize staying calm and encouraging others to do so throughout the event. If you aren't trained as a medic, it's important to know where trained medical staff are located and be able to direct people to them if necessary.
Be aware of your surroundings so you can identify safe locations, such as shady areas if someone is suffering from heat exhaustion, or an exit route in case you need to get away from the situation.
Also be aware of people around you and who might be more vulnerable to violence or arrest and consider your ability to intervene if necessary.
Hydration, especially during warmer months, is crucial and often overlooked, and being dehydrated can make you more prone to other risks.
Symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion include cramps and fatigue, but also dizziness, rage, and inability to focus, according to the Mayo Clinic, which can increase the risk of people making poor decisions or being unable to de-escalate or retreat from dangerous situations.
In recent days, there have been many reports of people exposed to chemical weapons from police trying to control or break up civil actions. Respiratory irritants, like tear gas or mace, can be especially dangerous during a viral pandemic, since they can cause coughing.
It's crucial to stay calm, since tear gas and similar weapons can be loud and disorienting, and panic can increase the risk that people will be injured in the ensuing chaos, according to Paper Revolution.
If you or someone nearby is exposed, get away from the source and seek fresh air. Seek higher ground, and if it's safe to do so, call out to others who can follow the sound of your voice away from danger, NYC Action Medical advises.
Once you're clear, clean up. Since tear gas is actually a powder, it can easily linger in clothes and hair, so it's important to rinse (and flush your eyes) with cold water. Pepper spray can be treated similarly to tear gas.
If you have some first aid training, you can treat basic wounds with materials like bandages and antibiotics.
It's important to ask for consent before attempting to touch or assist anyone you don't know, and to leave medication treatment to professionals.
Aftercare is crucial to prevent added physical and psychological stress
Safety work isn't done after the action ends. Following up is crucial to help care of all injuries, both physical and psychological.
In the aftermath of a chemical exposure, it's important not to bring any clothes or exposed items into your home. Remove them at the door and store in a plastic bag until you can wash them, and immediately shower.
Psychological aftercare is just as important.
Especially if you witness or experience violence, take some time to process afterwards to avoid potentially lasting effects of trauma. NYC Action Medical recommends finding a "listening partner" to process the event, and also being that person for someone else if you have the capacity.
Symptoms of traumatic stress after an event include changing in eating or sleeping patterns, persistent images or memories of events, overwhelming grief, rage, or depression, according to a mutual aid psychologist.
If you notice these or similar symptoms in yourself or others over time, contact a professional.
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