What to do after your home has been exposed to tear gas

What to do after your home has been exposed to tear gas

Being exposed to tear gas can be a scary and unnerving experience – and because it’s not something that happens often, it can be difficult to know what to do first and how to keep yourself safe after exposure if tear gas is deployed inside your home.

Before you rush into DIY cleanup mode (put down the cleaning supplies!), here are a few important things to know.

What is tear gas made of?

Despite its name, tear gas is not actually a gas: it’s a powder-based chemical agent, and its particles can linger much longer than many people realize. Certain environmental conditions, like humidity and airflow, can affect how long tear gas lingers in your home, where it settles, and how large of an area it affects.

When left unaddressed, tear gas residue can linger indefinitely on surfaces like hard flooring, metal, and glass, and without proper cleaning, particles can continue to be released into the air, causing ongoing health issues. 

Even minor exposure can cause eye irritation, skin irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath.

What should I do if I’ve been exposed?

First, evacuate the affected area as soon as you can – but walk, don’t run. Running may cause you to breathe more heavily, which can fill your lungs with more tear gas.

Once you’ve evacuated, move to the highest ground possible. Tear gas is heavier than air, so it lingers closer to the ground.

Change your clothes as quickly as you can and put your contaminated clothing inside a sealed bag until you’re ready to wash them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If possible, cut clothing off instead of pulling it over the head to avoid rubbing it along your face when you take it off.

If your eyes are blurry or burning, flush them out with water immediately for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off your body using cool water and soap: don’t use baking soda, milk, or wipes.

When should I call a professional for cleanup and decontamination of tear gas residue?

Call a professional as soon as you’re safe and able! Tear gas residue can cause ongoing health issues if it isn’t properly removed and if proper precautions aren’t taken during the cleanup process, so it’s something you definitely don’t want to DIY.

At Umpire, our team wears HAZMAT suits, shoe covers, chemical-resistant gloves, and full-face respirators to safely handle tear gas cleanup. After assessing the area, we set up containment zones to make sure the tear gas residue doesn’t spread any further. 

Then we use specific cleanup techniques and special equipment, like chemical residue cleaner (safe for people and pets), HEPA vacuums, and an Airbotx hydroxyl generator, to decontaminate all surfaces and non-porous materials.

Can I clean or prepare anything before decontamination professionals arrive?

No – your safety, and the safety of others in the home, is top priority!

After evacuating, don’t re-enter your home for any reason – not to open the windows, and not to retrieve any belongings. When you call a professional to handle the cleanup and decontamination, they will safely turn off your HVAC and ventilate your home. They will also help you identify which belongings you can launder and which ones you should replace, walking you through next steps.

The bottom line for homeowners

Tear gas is a serious chemical agent, and traditional cleaning methods will not thoroughly remove it from your home once exposed. Prioritize your own safety first, and then call Umpire to guide you through next steps. 

We’re always just a phone call away to chat through any questions or concerns – and to respond quickly and with care when emergencies like these arise.