Prevention of CS “tear gas” eye and skin effects and active decontamination with Diphoterine: Preliminary studies in 5 French Gendarmes

Ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) “tear gas” is a lacrimating riot control agent causing eye irritation, excessive lacrimation, and blepharospasm. Diphoterine ® has been efficacious for decontamination of a wide variety of eye and skin chemical splashes and was tested in CS exposure. Five F...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of emergency medicine 2005-07, Vol.29 (1), p.5-8
Main Authors: Viala, Bernard, Blomet, Joël, Mathieu, Laurence, Hall, Alan H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
agent CS
Decontamination - instrumentation
Decontamination - methods
Diphoterine
Eye Diseases - chemically induced
Eye Diseases - prevention & control
France
Human Experimentation
Humans
o-Chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile - poisoning
Ophthalmic Solutions - therapeutic use
Organic Chemicals
ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile
Pilot Projects
Police
Skin Diseases - chemically induced
Skin Diseases - prevention & control
tear gas
Tear Gases - poisoning
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) “tear gas” is a lacrimating riot control agent causing eye irritation, excessive lacrimation, and blepharospasm. Diphoterine ® has been efficacious for decontamination of a wide variety of eye and skin chemical splashes and was tested in CS exposure. Five French Gendarmes either entered a standard training CS exposure chamber, developed eye or skin signs and symptoms, and were post-exposure decontaminated with Diphoterine or used Diphoterine as pre-CS exposure prophylaxis in the eyes and on the face before entering the chamber. Gendarmes who entered the CS chamber without prior application of Diphoterine developed expected effects of excessive lacrimation, eye irritation, and blepharospasm. After post-exposure Diphoterine decontamination, in four Gendarmes these effects rapidly resolved and they were fully operational. When Diphoterine was applied to the eyes and face before entering the CS chamber, the expected effects did not occur and the single Gendarme remained fully operational on exiting the chamber. These results suggest that Diphoterine can prevent or rapidly ameliorate the ocular and dermal effects of CS and allow law enforcement personnel to remain fully operational or rapidly regain operational status after decontamination.
ISSN:0736-4679
2352-5029
DOI:10.1016/j.jemermed.2005.01.002