Contradanyc.com – Things Regarding Tear Gas. The shooting of tear gas in the Kanjuruhan Arema tragedy after the football match between Arema and Persebaya on Saturday, October 1, 2022, was cited as one of the triggers for the death toll.
According to the Postgraduate Director of YARSI University, Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, although it is not certain that tear gas is the cause of death, the impact of tear gas will depend on three points.
First, how large the dose of gas that is exposed to a person. The bigger the exposure, the worse the consequences will be.
Second, the impact will also depend on a person’s sensitivity to the ingredients in the gas, as well as the possibility of certain health problems in those exposed.
Third, the impact will depend on whether the exposure is in an enclosed space or an open space, as well as how the airflow carrying the gas is transported.
Tjandra also explained five things related to tear gas. The five things are:
First, some of the chemicals used in tear gas include chloroacetophenone (CN), chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS), chloropicrin (PS), bromobenzylcyanide (CA) and dibenzoxazepine (CR).
Second, in general these chemicals can have an impact on the skin, eyes and lungs and respiratory tract.
Third, the acute symptoms in the lungs and airways can be in the form of a heavy chest, cough, throat like choking, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Read more: WHO says COVID-19 will end soon, when?
In certain circumstances, respiratory distress can occur. It’s still about the impact on the lungs, those who already have asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), if exposed to tear gas, an attack of acute shortness of breath can occur which is not impossible to end in respiratory failure (respiratory failure).
Can Cause Long-lasting Impact
Fourth, apart from the respiratory tract, another symptom is a burning sensation in the eyes, mouth and nose. Then it can also be in the form of blurred vision and difficulty swallowing.
In addition, said Tjandra, a kind of chemical burns and allergic reactions can also occur.
Fifth, although the main impact of tear gas is an immediate acute impact, it turns out that in certain circumstances it can have a prolonged chronic impact.
“This is especially true if the exposure is prolonged, in high doses and especially if it is in a closed room,” said Tjandra in a written statement distributed to Health Contradanyc.com, Sunday (2/10/2022).
Tjandra hopes that similar incidents will never be repeated, both in Indonesia and in other countries.
He also appealed to wait for the results of an in-depth analysis of the causes of death of the victims, which may have several factors that influence each other.
Impact on Children is Heavier
Impact on Children is HeavierThe tragedy of the tear gas shooting at the Kanjuruhan Stadium also had an impact on the young audience.
According to pediatrician Kurniawan Satria Denta, the effects of tear gas on children can be more severe than in adults.
“The limited lung capacity makes the effects of tear gas even more severe for children,” Denta said citing her personal Twitter thread, Monday (3/10/2022).
“Things Regarding Tear Gas should not be used to control crowds or crowds with children in them. We should’ve known better,” he added.
He also suggested that if parents want to bring their child to a football match, make sure the child is over 5 years old.
Read more: Manchester United Captain Harry Maguire absent against City FC
“That’s not all matches can be watched. Evening matches and/or high-risk riots, do not bring children. The safety of the child is above the pleasure of the parents,” he said.
On the other hand, parents also need to be aware of other risks that can occur to their children if they are brought to watch football live in the stadium. The reason is, noise can trigger hearing loss in children under the age of 5.
“Don’t bring your children to watch football live in the stadium, if the child is under five years old, especially babies. The noise of the competition can directly damage the baby’s hearing, “said Denta.
The Dark Tragedy of Kanjuruhan
The discussion about the effects of Things Regarding Tear Gas on children was motivated by the tragedy of the riot of football fans at the Kanjuruhan Stadium on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
This tragedy occurred after the match between Arema and Persebaya which claimed hundreds of lives. This dark event was triggered by Arema supporters who could not accept defeat from their opponents.
According to a witness who managed to survive, the match was initially safe until at the end of the match there was chaos.
It started with an Arema supporter who entered the field to vent his frustration.
This action was followed by other supporters who were then intercepted by the police and violence ensued. Unexpectedly, other fans also took to the field. Tear gas was fired to stop the fans.
However, this made them panic and made the atmosphere even more chaotic. Not a few were trampled and had difficulty breathing while trying to escape outside the stadium.
Inside the stadium, there are children and the elderly. Where they are also exposed to the effects of tear gas.
