thedeadofflandersfields:

i-will-bite:

thedeadofflandersfields:

It seems increasingly likely as the days go by that Russia may deploy poison gas in its invasion of Ukraine. They have already released a fake video in which Polish-speaking terrorists supposedly attack large chlorine tanks to blow them up. They may commit a false-flag operation.

I am not an expert on poison gas but as a World War One historian I’ve amassed a certain amount of knowledge about chemical warfare. I don’t know which chemical agents the Russians may use, so I’ll just talk about what I know. I can’t do much for Ukraine but maybe, just maybe, these tips may help someone if they end up in the horrifying situation of a gas attack.

Some general tips:

- Gas is about twice as heavy as air. This means it sinks. If gas is coming toward you, try to get to the closest high ground. Climb on top of a car, climb a tree, go to the top floor, whatever might get you above the drift of gas. After the gas has passed, avoid any low-lying areas or craters from shelling, as the gas may linger there for awhile. Obviously, it is best to be upwind of the gas in the first place, but of course this is not always possible.

- Do not try to outrun the gas. Gas is usually released when the wind is strong and steady. Not only will you end up remaining in the gas cloud for a longer amount of time as it keeps pace with you, but you will end up breathing hard and inhaling more gas. Instead, put your back to the direction the gas is coming from and tuck your head down toward your chest. Use your arms to shelter your face and squeeze your eyes tightly shut. If you have a sweater or blanket, drape it over your head. It won’t keep the gas out entirely but it can help minimize the damage. Breathe in and out through your nose and, if possible, try to silently recite a simple phrase, prayer, song lyrics, whatever that will help you keep your breaths steady and shallow.

- Gas can stick to you. After an attack, wash as soon as is possible and change your clothes. Do not touch your eyes. You may have tears streaming from your eyes and snot coming from your nose but don’t wipe your face until your hands are washed and you know whatever tissue you’re using is clean. Keep children from rubbing at their eyes.

- Do not drink or eat anything that was left out during a gas attack. It could cause severe damage to your stomach. If you have anything like soda or soup cans that may have been exposed, be sure to wash them off before opening.

- Pets can often be protected in the same way as people, including dogs, horses and rabbits. I don’t know for certain, but probably cats, rats and other mammals. No idea about things like reptiles and birds, sorry, but it might be worth a shot.

- Make your way to a hospital if possible. Many kinds of gas have side effects that only manifest later and can be deadly. Let them know that you have come in contact with poison gas and describe anything you can about the gas (color, smell, etc.). If you can’t make it to a hospital, let the people around you know that you may develop symptoms within the next 24-48 hours. Sleep propped up to help your breathing and try to avoid any stress on your lungs such as dust or running.

Chlorine:

- Chlorine gas is a pale green and smells like bleach or swimming pools. When it comes into contact with water, it becomes hydrochloric acid, AKA battery acid. It destroys eye and lung tissue, causing death or disability. Fortunately, you can cause this reaction to happen before it reaches your lungs. 

- If you see chlorine gas approaching, soak a piece of fabric such as your t-shirt in water and hold it over your mouth, nose and, if possible, your eyes. After the attack, immediately dispose of the fabric as it will be full of acid and could burn you.

- If you don’t have any water available, use something with a high water content, such as juice or soda. As a last resort, urine will also work.

- As soon as you can, wash your hands well and rinse out your eyes as many times as you can. If you think the gas may have come in contact with sweaty parts of your body (such as under your arms) wash those areas thoroughly too. Even a wet wipe or a piece of tissue dunked in soda is better than not cleaning the skin. 

Phosgene:

- Phosgene is colorless and smells of old hay but only at extremely high concentrations, otherwise it has no odor. When inhaled, it damages the way your lungs transfer oxygen to the blood, causing suffocation.

- When first encountered, it causes pain in the eyes, excessive tear production and temporary blindness. This will eventually fade, but more serious effects can result. 

- Within the next 48 hours, many who are exposed to phosgene will have their lungs slowly fill with fluid or will develop serious pneumonia. Individuals with chronic breathing conditions will be especially affected. It is important to set out for a hospital as soon as possible especially if there may be a long wait.

Mustard:

- Mustard Gas can be colorless but is usually mustard colored. It smells spicy, like mustard or garlic. Mustard Gas settles on the skin, soaking into it. It then burns its way back out, causing chemical burns and massive blisters full of the liquid form of the gas.

- Once the gas has passed, discard all of your clothing, every piece of it. It doesn’t matter how many layers you have, It will be soaked in the chemical down to skin level. Cut shirts away from your skin so you don’t drag it across your face and eyes. Do not let anyone touch it or they will be burnt by the gas as well. Place it in a sturdy plastic container with a lid if you can. Do NOT bury it, as mustard gas can remain unaffected underground for years.

- Wash yourself as you have never washed yourself before. Time is critical. As soon as the gas comes in contact with your skin, it begins soaking in. If multiple people have been gassed, pile everyone into the same shower, don’t take turns. Use warm water and soap and systematically go over your entire body. Mustard gas especially affects mucous membranes and damp areas, so focus on armpits, groin, back of the knees, eyelids, buttcrack, under the breasts, and under any folds of fat you may have. The labia and the areas where the penis and testicles touch each other and surrounding skin should be focused on. Also pay attention to where you might have been damp before you took your clothes off, such as waistbands or bra straps.

- If you do not have access to water, find some (clean) clay cat litter. Cat litter usually has bentonite clay in it which is used to soak up toxins. It will help neutralize the gas. Follow the above procedure, only using handfuls of the litter.

- Burns and blisters will begin to appear anywhere between 2 to 48 hours. Get to a hospital as soon as possible so they can decontaminate you more thoroughly. If decontamination procedures are followed, death is unlikely, but massive scarring, pain and other health problems such as infection can occur. Do NOT think that because you don’t see or feel anything that you are okay.

- The skin may itch fiercely. Do NOT scratch at it as it means a 2nd or 3rd degree burn may be forming there, you would be making it worse. Sit on your hands if you have to. Assume that a burn may appear in that area. Unless the skin is broken, rub more cat litter on it and then gently coat the area in vaseline.

- If you cannot reach a hospital, gently apply Vaseline where you see the burns emerging, especially the eyelids or they will stick together. Treat the burns like you would a heat burn, using petroleum based ointments to keep gauze from sticking. As burns develop, the intense pain means that the person usually can’t stand any form of clothing on them, so try to make sure you’re in a space that has some form of heat and privacy.

- When blisters form, poke them lightly with a pin and drain them. Make sure that the fluid inside does not touch the person’s skin, your skin or any blankets etc that are remaining with the person. The fluid inside is the liquid form of the gas coming back out and it can cause the same burns on your hands as it caused on the patient. Keep the liquid in something like a plastic jug until someone can tell you how to get rid of it.

Sarin:

As a heads up, I know less about Sarin than the others. 

- Sarin is colorless and odorless. Like Mustard Gas, in addition to being dangerous to inhale, it soaks into the skin. It damages the human nervous system, making it extremely deadly. Even the tiniest amount of Sarin can be lethal, so treat even the smallest exposure to the gas very seriously. Also like mustard gas it remains on the clothes, which need to be carefully disposed of and not touched. Cut them away from the person.

- A person affected by Sarin may first show classic gas symptoms: tearing, coughing, eyes burning. After this, the person may not act like themselves, twitching, drooling, sweating and speaking nonsense. They may not be able to control their legs, bowels or basic body movements and their heart rate may be altered.

- Sarin may puddle visibly on the skin. Wipe these drops off before they can soak in. Do not touch the liquid yourself. Wash the person with 1% bleach solution (meaning about 1 oz bleach to a gallon of water). Use gloves. Then use cat litter to try to soak up any remaining gas. Get the person to the hospital as soon as possible. 

- Atropine has been used to treat Sarin in the past; if the exposed person is being treated by someone not used to dealing with this kind of gas, you could suggest this to them. (Note: I am not a doctor, I am only stating that you could bring up the subject, I’m not prescribing it.)

I may add to this if I think of anything else. If you know more tips about poison gas, feel free to add to this or contact me. I want this to reach as many people as possible, so please signal boost this even if it isn’t related to your blog. I only speak English fluently, so if someone could please translate this into Ukrainian (or any other language for that matter) I would deeply appreciate it. This guide is not restricted to the situation in Ukraine and can be shared with anyone in the world who may face this. I’d like a little credit, but feel free to post this on other websites where it might better reach the target audience, such as Ukrainian social media, twitter, etc. I may be in error somewhere in these tips but I wrote them out of a sincere desire to help so don’t be jackass if you want to correct me.

Stay safe everyone. #IStandWithUkraine

-Alan

Що робити зіткнувшись з отруйним газом (хімічна зброя)

Загальні поради:

- Гази, що використовуються як зброя, зазвичай важчі за повітря. Це означає - вони опускаються вниз. Виберіться на найближчу височину: на дах автівки, дерево, на горішні поверхи. Коли газ відступить уникайте низин, кратерів, западин і т.п. Газ може все ще знаходитись тут. Якщо можливо, відійдіть так аби вітер відносив газ у сторону від вас.

- Не намагайтесь обігнати газ. Зазвичай його розповсюджують у вітряну погоду - переміщаючись у одному з ним напрямку ви довше залишатиметесь у хмарі, до того ж активний рух збільшує потребу в кисні і, як результат, кількість вдихнутого газу. Замість цього станьте спиною до напрямку з якого приходить газ і пригніть голову до грудей. Заплющте очі й закрийте обличчя руками. Якщо маєте светр чи ковдру - накрийте голову. Це не вбереже вас повністю, але зменшить ураження. Дихайте через ніс. Намагайтесь дихати повільно і неглибоко (повторення простих фраз, тексту пісень, віршів може допомогти).

- Газ осідає на вас. Після атаки якомога скоріше прийміть душ і переодягніться. Не торкайтесь очей. Особливо слідкуйте за дітьми. По вашому обличчю можуть текти сльози, може текти з носа - не тріть обличчя руками доти доки вони не відмиті, а тканина яку ви використовуєте не контактувала з газом.

- Не їште і не пийте нічого що було відкритим під час газової атаки. Це може призвести до ураження внутрішніх органів. Якщо герметично запакована їжа піддалась дії газу контейнери слід вимити до того як відкрити!

- Тварини, принаймні ссавці, можуть бути захищені від дії газу у той самий спосіб що й люди.

- Якщо можливо - зверніться по лікарську допомогу. Багато газів можуть проявити свою дію годинами пізніше і все ж бути летальними. Опишіть лікарям все що ви знаєте про газ (запах, колір…). Якщо можливості отримати допомогу немає: попередьте людей довколо вас, що в наступні 24-48 годин у вас можуть проявитися симптоми, що загрожують життю. Спіть напівлежачи (полегшити дихання), намагайтесь не навантажувати ваші легені (не бігайте, уникайте вдихання пилу).

Хлор:

- Хлор — важкий газ жовтувато-зеленого кольору з різким, задушливим запахом. При контакті з водою стає хлорною кислотою! Знищує тканини легень і очей.

- При наближенні газу змочіть тканину водою і закрийте ніс та рот, якщо можливо - очі. Після атаки НЕГАЙНО позбудьтесь тканини - зараз вона просякнута кислотою і може спричинити опіки.

- Якщо під рукою немає води: підійде рідина з високим вмістом води (сік, солодка газована вода; за відсутності інших варіантів - сеча теж підійде).

- Якнайскоріше вимийте руки й промийте очі якомога більше разів. Якщо є підозра що газ міг вступити контакт з пітною ділянкою тіла (наприклад під пахвами) - вимийте їх водою. Навіть серветка змочена колою буде кращим вибором ніж взагалі не очистити шкіру.

Фосген:

- За звичайних умов є безбарвною газоподібною речовиною із запахом прілих фруктів або сіна або взагалі без запаху. Фосген володіє задушливою дією. Небезпечне саме вдихання пару - засоби захисту шкіри не потрібні.

- Першими симптомами є подразнення очей (біль, сльози, іноді тимчасова сліпота).

- Перші виразні ознаки отруєння з'являються після прихованого періоду від чотирьох до восьми годин (спостерігалися навіть періоди в 15 годин). Тривалість перебування фосгену у повітрі складає 30 хв влітку і до 3 годин взимку, отруєння можливе у місцях застою повітря (наприклад, в улоговинах).

- Фосген має кумулятивні властивості — несмертельні кількості речовини можуть накопичуватися в організмі і згодом призвести до ускладнень, включно із летальним результатом.

- Отруєння легкої і середньої тяжкості протікають у вигляді токсичного бронхіту, у важчих випадках виникають також нервово-психічні розлади (афектні порушення, галюцинації, оглушення).

- Протягом 48 годин після ураження легені поступово заповнюються рідиною - через це важливо звернутися по допомогу терміново

Іприт (гірчичний газ):

- Може бути безбарвним, але зазвичай має часниково-гірчичний запах і жовто-коричневий колір. Липне до шкіри і проникає неї утворюючи хімічні опіки з пухирями повними зрідженого газу.

- По завершенню атаки позбудьтесь одягу. УСІХ ШАРІВ одягу! Розрізайте одяг аби не стягувати його через голову і не переносити частинки на обличчя. Не давайте нікому торкатися одягу. Помістіть його у пластиковий контейнер. НЕ ЗАКОПУЙТЕ його - іприт може зберігати свої властивості роками.

- ДУЖЕ ретельно відмийте усю шкіру водою з милом (особливу увагу зверніть на шкірні складки й вологі чи пітні області. Повіки, під пахвами, під колінами, геніталії, під і між грудьми…)

- Час працює проти вас. Якщо є можливість відмити всіх постраждалих одночасно - зробіть це! Не змушуйте людей чекати своєї черги.

- За відсутності води можна використати бентонітовий (глиняний) наповнювач для котячих туалетів. Катайте жменею наповнювача по шкірі.

- Опіки й пухирі можуть з’явитися коли завгодно між 2 та 48 годинами. Зверніться по медичну допомогу якнайшвидше. Не думайте що якщо зараз ви почуваєтесь добре вас оминуло ураження!

- Правильно виконане знезараження робить летальні наслідки малоймовірними. Однак інфекції, біль, шрами та інші супутні проблеми є вірогідними.

- Шкіра може чухатись дуже сильно. Ні при яких обставинах не чухайте її! Тут формуються опіки - ви можете ускладнити свій стан. Якщо на шкірі немає видимих ран - потріть місце глиняним наповнювачем для котячих туалетів та нанесіть вазелін.

- Якщо немає можливості дістатися лікарні - опіки змажте вазеліном. Особливо повіки - аби вони не склеїлися разом. Далі робіть як із тепловими опіками. Важливо не допускати щоб пов’язки прилипали до тіла (вазелін).

- Сильний біль часто не дає можливості одягати вражену людину. Подбайте про достатньо тепле середовище.

- Пухирі необхідно дренувати (обережно проткнути і зібрати витікаючий газ). Не давайте рідеому газу потрапити на вашу шкіру чи одяг. У рідкій формі іприт так само небезпечний!

Зарін:

- Немає кольору й запаху. Небезпечний як при вдиханню так і при контакті зі шкірою. Є нервово-паралітичним тож навіть найменше ураження слід розглядати як серйозне.

- Увесь одяг має бути розрізаний і знятий. Не торкайтесь одягу. Зберігати у щільному контейнері.

- Першими симптомами є сльози, кашель, подразнення очей (“пісок в очах”). Після цього людина починає поводитись неприродньо - сіпатись, пускати слину, пітніти, говорити беззмістовно. Може не контролювати кінцівки чи будь-які рухи взагалі. Серцебиття порушене.

- Зарін може збиратися на шкірі у вигляді краплин. Зітріть їх до того як вони вберуться у шкіру. Вимийте шкіру 1% розчином хлору. Використовуйте рукавиці!

- Можна використати глиняний (бентонітовий) наповнювач для котячих туалетів аби увібрати рештки зі шкіри.

- За сприятливих погодних умов зарин може перебувати на місцевості у вигляді рідини до 5 діб, його пара є токсичною протягом 20 годин. У зимовий час стійкість зарину зменшується до двох діб.

- У разі появи симптомів отруєння зарином треба одразу ввести підшкірно або внутрішньом'язово розчини атропіну, афіну чи будаксиму. Введений не пізніше, ніж за 10 хвилин після ураження, засіб здатен нейтралізувати летальну дозу. За потреби можна провести штучне дихання.

- Для знезараження предметів, приміщень та одягу придатними є водні розчини лугів, аміаку, пероксиду водню, а також розчин гідроксиламіну у слабко-лужному середовищі.

- Якнайшвидше зверніться по допомогу!

Thank you so, so much to @i-will-bite (it won’t let me tag you) for the Ukrainian translation. 

Even if you’ve reblogged the previous version, please reblog this one for folks who might not speak English.

@name-my-say you mentioned in your tags about wanting/making a translation for your Ukrainian friends so I thought I’d tag you here. Please add anything you think is relevant.

To@kurhanchyk,@anoonimthepoorchad,@adventure-mary,@thisprettyukrainianletter,@eastern-anarchist and any others who may find this useful or may know someone who may find this useful. There is talk in the tags about someone translating it to Russian but I don’t know how that’s going.

To my blue blog followers, I know this is a long unrelated post, but I ask you to pass it on to your Ukrainian friends and followers.

Tumblr is an amazing trashfire of a platform, let’s use it to help people. 

Hello followers and visitors of this blue blog,

I don’t like to interrupt this haven with non-blue things, but this is important. I’ll keep it relatively short.

I am a Romani man. The Romani, also called Roma, are an ethnic group often known by the slur ‘gypsy’. This word is as offensive as the N word is in the US, don’t use it.

There are currently hundreds of thousands of Romani in Ukraine, but no one knows how many because they are often denied birth certificates or government ID, leaving them unable to work regular jobs or even get phone plans or set up an electricity account. This was partially established under Communist rule so we could be made as slaves to work on farms. We have been resettled many times, sent to death camps, forced to integrate, banned from speaking our language and deported to Siberia. 

Many were living without water, heat or lights even before the invasion, separated from other citizens by a segregation wall. 

Some who had a form of ID had them burned during recent neo-nazi pogroms when all of their belongings were destroyed. As refugees, they are having difficulty crossing borders into other countries without ID and establishing any kind of temporary lives without documents.

While the invasion is very difficult for everyone involved, it is particularly bad for the minorities, as usual. Romani men are volunteering and being conscripted to fight with the Ukrainian Army but without any assurance that their families will be able to escape the country. 

Unfortunately, racism doesn’t magically go away when a crisis happens and Romani are facing more difficulties than many as they move into surrounding countries. Some of the aid organizations in surrounding nations are refusing to assist or treat Romani refugees

Please consider donating to one of these two organizations for Romani relief. Or, if you cannot donate, please educate people and share the situation. Thank you so much.

Crowdfunder for Romani refugees arriving in Poland

Gofundme for Romani refugees, including providing paperwork

If anyone has any other links, please share them. If anyone wants more information about the Romani situation, let me know. Thank you.

Once the Russians have flattened and occupied Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv, etc., as surely they will (for anything less would be a defeat), the question will be asked in the West, “Who lost Ukraine?”—as once the question, “Who lost China?” was asked. My preferred answer would be Greta Thunberg—or perhaps I should say, to be a little fairer, Greta Thunberg and people like her.

The Thunberg episode must have been of great aid and comfort to the man in the Kremlin, for it must have convinced him, as it convinced his apologists in the West, of the almost total decadence and fundamental unseriousness of the West. Here was a spoiled upper-middle class Swedish girl claiming that her childhood had been stolen—by whom and by what, exactly?—and no one in any position of power or responsibility had the guts to tell her to shut up and to stop broadcasting her disgusting self-satisfied and highly privileged self-pity. Instead, she was the object of deference and almost of adulation, as if she were being brave in the way that anti-war demonstrators in Russia have been brave.

Why did no one in any position of power or responsibility take on little Greta and tell her to go away? The answer, probably, is sentimentality: She was young, and everyone knows that adolescence is the springtime of idealism. To destroy the fatuous illusions of the ignorant and inexperienced is cruel; therefore, we must submit meekly to be lectured, or hectored, by them, and to do as they say. The fact that the person in question may have been as manipulated as a cruise missile was not allowed to enter anyone’s mind.

- Theodore Dalrymple

a few articles on Ukraine War

have yet to read them all:

• Russian #oligarchs who purchased Romanian industrial plants and then ruined them https://ziare.com/oligarhi-rusia/oligarhul-igor-zyuzin-a-devalizat-cinci-otelarii-in-romania-1730620
• Dubai welcomes oligarchs https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/26/dubai-throws-open-the-doors-for-the-rich-russians-escaping-sanctions
• Mutinous Russian troops ran over own commander taking his feet https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/25/russian-troops-mutiny-commander-ukraine-report-western-officials
• Medvedev reasserts Russian right to nuke Ukraine https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/26/russia-reasserts-right-to-use-nuclear-weapons-in-ukraine-putin
• Though Russia is scaling back, it’s not giving up https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/26/russia-scales-back-its-military-ambitions-but-the-war-in-ukraine-is-far-from-over
• The Gherasimov doctrine was Russia’s best hope but it seems that Ukraine does it better https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/26/putin-has-a-21st-century-digital-battle-plan-so-why-is-he-fighting-like-its-1939
• Security w/ China & Solomon Islands in Mihai Sora (another one) view https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/26/a-security-agreement-between-china-and-solomon-islands-could-impact-stability-in-the-whole-pacific
• a new Russian revolution https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/26/wanted-russian-revolution-to-topple-tyrant-putin-internal-applicants-welcome
• this war is still a racket https://www.commondreams.org/views/2022/03/09/war-still-racket-corporate-power-and-russian-invasion-ukraine

nellygwyn:

Fundraising for Roma families in Ukrainian crisis

This is a Crowdfunder for on-the-ground, mutual aid for Ukranian Roma. Currently, it’s mainly being shared amongst some UK-based Romani and Traveller activists/charities I keep up with but I thought I’d share here. It’s currently the only one of it’s kind that I’ve been seeing.

Roma will inevitably be forgotten BY EVERYONE during this war if we don’t do our utmost to remember and help them in any way we possibly can, even if that is simply boosting info about how to help them escape immediate danger.

I also think this Twitter thread on the history of Ukranian Roma (from the Middle Ages to the present day) by Queer Roma is a good primer to read alongside boosting this Crowdfunder.

Even if you can’t donate, please boost. We really do tend to be forgotten by virtually everyone when things like this happen and so many Romani are already living in greater poverty than the average citizen.

As a Romani man, I worry for my people in Ukraine when they have already faced so much and will face additional racism and struggles when they become refugees or face Putin’s soldiers.

memewhore:

memewhore:

memewhore:

wintersmitth:

Russian tank just ran over a civilian car in Kyiv district Obolon.

Animals. Worse than that.

#StopRussia

#StandWithUkraine

kurhanchyk:

in kherson region roma people stole a russian tank. they took stereotypes about themselves literally

as a Romani man, I am so incredibly proud of my people right now

Slava Jarilo, god of the Slavs
defender of the people
born of fire, god of war
made not to destroy
but to protect
shaped a daughter
a girl-child chasing cattle
in your father’s underground kingdom
picked up a sword
transforming, transitioning into a man
to teach the people not to slaughter
but to defend
to live in peace until pressed
to bear not the bite of the blade
but neither to cut into mankind first

Jarilo, god of warfare, of the defender
Jarilo, god of the oppressed and the attacked
Be with our Slavic sister Ukraine
Lend strength to her soldiers
And hope to those who cannot fight
God of war, be wherever the Russians try to invade
Knock their aircraft and their missiles
Burning from the sky
Protect her children
ANd be the fire in her guns
the flames in the souls of protestors
and the justice in the throats
of those who cry ‘no war’

kurhanchyk:

westerners will write their articles with headlines like “why ukraine matters” as if it was a wasteland. it matters because i and the rest of the people live here. hope this helps

neutronstarsign:

vrabia:

every single russian person protesting the invasion of ukraine should have their effort duly recognized and respected for what it is: an act of courage and defiance against a violent, criminal regime that could target them any moment. these aren’t feel-good did-my-part went-to-mcdonalds-after protests. marching in the streets is not a simple civic exercise. writing ‘no war please’ on a camera lens at a sports event is not 'doing the bare minimum’. it’s brave and righteous and a part of this war that deserves to be remembered.

Dmitri Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, just stated they are thinking about reinstating the death penalty in Russia.

The Russian protesters are in serious danger, and whinging that their efforts are not enough from a cushy position somewhere in the USA or the UK is a serious dick move.

dancefloors:

I promise you, I beg of you all, shutting the fuck up and stepping away from social media to actually educate yourself about a crisis event from reputable sources will always be SO much more productive than blindly reblogging/retweeting fearmongering misinformation-riddled posts and literal military donation links from anonymous people on the internet.

24.02 russia started a full scale war in Urkaine. Because their government thinks that we are not a independent country and all of us are n*zis, while they come to our home on tanks with painted letter “z” on it, destroy our cities and homes. My family is in danger, my friends are too. I worry about them. But i’m don’t worry about myself, i’m not scared of death. Anymore.

If you can please spread info about this war, don’t believe in r*ssian propaganda. We are people, not a military facilities.

Links where you can find more info|funds:

https://war.ukraine.ua

https://ukrainewar.carrd.co

слава Україні!

thedeadofflandersfields:

It seems increasingly likely as the days go by that Russia may deploy poison gas in its invasion of Ukraine. They have already released a fake video in which Polish-speaking terrorists supposedly attack large chlorine tanks to blow them up. They may commit a false-flag operation.

I am not an expert on poison gas but as a World War One historian I’ve amassed a certain amount of knowledge about chemical warfare. I don’t know which chemical agents the Russians may use, so I’ll just talk about what I know. I can’t do much for Ukraine but maybe, just maybe, these tips may help someone if they end up in the horrifying situation of a gas attack.

Some general tips:

- Gas is about twice as heavy as air. This means it sinks. If gas is coming toward you, try to get to the closest high ground. Climb on top of a car, climb a tree, go to the top floor, whatever might get you above the drift of gas. After the gas has passed, avoid any low-lying areas or craters from shelling, as the gas may linger there for awhile. Obviously, it is best to be upwind of the gas in the first place, but of course this is not always possible.

- Do not try to outrun the gas. Gas is usually released when the wind is strong and steady. Not only will you end up remaining in the gas cloud for a longer amount of time as it keeps pace with you, but you will end up breathing hard and inhaling more gas. Instead, put your back to the direction the gas is coming from and tuck your head down toward your chest. Use your arms to shelter your face and squeeze your eyes tightly shut. If you have a sweater or blanket, drape it over your head. It won’t keep the gas out entirely but it can help minimize the damage. Breathe in and out through your nose and, if possible, try to silently recite a simple phrase, prayer, song lyrics, whatever that will help you keep your breaths steady and shallow.

- Gas can stick to you. After an attack, wash as soon as is possible and change your clothes. Do not touch your eyes. You may have tears streaming from your eyes and snot coming from your nose but don’t wipe your face until your hands are washed and you know whatever tissue you’re using is clean. Keep children from rubbing at their eyes.

- Do not drink or eat anything that was left out during a gas attack. It could cause severe damage to your stomach. If you have anything like soda or soup cans that may have been exposed, be sure to wash them off before opening.

- Pets can often be protected in the same way as people, including dogs, horses and rabbits. I don’t know for certain, but probably cats, rats and other mammals. No idea about things like reptiles and birds, sorry, but it might be worth a shot.

- Make your way to a hospital if possible. Many kinds of gas have side effects that only manifest later and can be deadly. Let them know that you have come in contact with poison gas and describe anything you can about the gas (color, smell, etc.). If you can’t make it to a hospital, let the people around you know that you may develop symptoms within the next 24-48 hours. Sleep propped up to help your breathing and try to avoid any stress on your lungs such as dust or running.

Chlorine:

- Chlorine gas is a pale green and smells like bleach or swimming pools. When it comes into contact with water, it becomes hydrochloric acid, AKA battery acid. It destroys eye and lung tissue, causing death or disability. Fortunately, you can cause this reaction to happen before it reaches your lungs. 

- If you see chlorine gas approaching, soak a piece of fabric such as your t-shirt in water and hold it over your mouth, nose and, if possible, your eyes. After the attack, immediately dispose of the fabric as it will be full of acid and could burn you.

- If you don’t have any water available, use something with a high water content, such as juice or soda. As a last resort, urine will also work.

- As soon as you can, wash your hands well and rinse out your eyes as many times as you can. If you think the gas may have come in contact with sweaty parts of your body (such as under your arms) wash those areas thoroughly too. Even a wet wipe or a piece of tissue dunked in soda is better than not cleaning the skin. 

Phosgene:

- Phosgene is colorless and smells of old hay but only at extremely high concentrations, otherwise it has no odor. When inhaled, it damages the way your lungs transfer oxygen to the blood, causing suffocation.

- When first encountered, it causes pain in the eyes, excessive tear production and temporary blindness. This will eventually fade, but more serious effects can result. 

- Within the next 48 hours, many who are exposed to phosgene will have their lungs slowly fill with fluid or will develop serious pneumonia. Individuals with chronic breathing conditions will be especially affected. It is important to set out for a hospital as soon as possible especially if there may be a long wait.

Mustard:

- Mustard Gas can be colorless but is usually mustard colored. It smells spicy, like mustard or garlic. Mustard Gas settles on the skin, soaking into it. It then burns its way back out, causing chemical burns and massive blisters full of the liquid form of the gas.

- Once the gas has passed, discard all of your clothing, every piece of it. It doesn’t matter how many layers you have, It will be soaked in the chemical down to skin level. Cut shirts away from your skin so you don’t drag it across your face and eyes. Do not let anyone touch it or they will be burnt by the gas as well. Place it in a sturdy plastic container with a lid if you can. Do NOT bury it, as mustard gas can remain unaffected underground for years.

- Wash yourself as you have never washed yourself before. Time is critical. As soon as the gas comes in contact with your skin, it begins soaking in. If multiple people have been gassed, pile everyone into the same shower, don’t take turns. Use warm water and soap and systematically go over your entire body. Mustard gas especially affects mucous membranes and damp areas, so focus on armpits, groin, back of the knees, eyelids, buttcrack, under the breasts, and under any folds of fat you may have. The labia and the areas where the penis and testicles touch each other and surrounding skin should be focused on. Also pay attention to where you might have been damp before you took your clothes off, such as waistbands or bra straps.

- If you do not have access to water, find some (clean) clay cat litter. Cat litter usually has bentonite clay in it which is used to soak up toxins. It will help neutralize the gas. Follow the above procedure, only using handfuls of the litter.

- Burns and blisters will begin to appear anywhere between 2 to 48 hours. Get to a hospital as soon as possible so they can decontaminate you more thoroughly. If decontamination procedures are followed, death is unlikely, but massive scarring, pain and other health problems such as infection can occur. Do NOT think that because you don’t see or feel anything that you are okay.

- The skin may itch fiercely. Do NOT scratch at it as it means a 2nd or 3rd degree burn may be forming there, you would be making it worse. Sit on your hands if you have to. Assume that a burn may appear in that area. Unless the skin is broken, rub more cat litter on it and then gently coat the area in vaseline.

- If you cannot reach a hospital, gently apply Vaseline where you see the burns emerging, especially the eyelids or they will stick together. Treat the burns like you would a heat burn, using petroleum based ointments to keep gauze from sticking. As burns develop, the intense pain means that the person usually can’t stand any form of clothing on them, so try to make sure you’re in a space that has some form of heat and privacy.

- When blisters form, poke them lightly with a pin and drain them. Make sure that the fluid inside does not touch the person’s skin, your skin or any blankets etc that are remaining with the person. The fluid inside is the liquid form of the gas coming back out and it can cause the same burns on your hands as it caused on the patient. Keep the liquid in something like a plastic jug until someone can tell you how to get rid of it.

Sarin:

As a heads up, I know less about Sarin than the others. 

- Sarin is colorless and odorless. Like Mustard Gas, in addition to being dangerous to inhale, it soaks into the skin. It damages the human nervous system, making it extremely deadly. Even the tiniest amount of Sarin can be lethal, so treat even the smallest exposure to the gas very seriously. Also like mustard gas it remains on the clothes, which need to be carefully disposed of and not touched. Cut them away from the person.

- A person affected by Sarin may first show classic gas symptoms: tearing, coughing, eyes burning. After this, the person may not act like themselves, twitching, drooling, sweating and speaking nonsense. They may not be able to control their legs, bowels or basic body movements and their heart rate may be altered.

- Sarin may puddle visibly on the skin. Wipe these drops off before they can soak in. Do not touch the liquid yourself. Wash the person with 1% bleach solution (meaning about 1 oz bleach to a gallon of water). Use gloves. Then use cat litter to try to soak up any remaining gas. Get the person to the hospital as soon as possible. 

- Atropine has been used to treat Sarin in the past; if the exposed person is being treated by someone not used to dealing with this kind of gas, you could suggest this to them. (Note: I am not a doctor, I am only stating that you could bring up the subject, I’m not prescribing it.)

I may add to this if I think of anything else. If you know more tips about poison gas, feel free to add to this or contact me. I want this to reach as many people as possible, so please signal boost this even if it isn’t related to your blog. I only speak English fluently, so if someone could please translate this into Ukrainian (or any other language for that matter) I would deeply appreciate it. This guide is not restricted to the situation in Ukraine and can be shared with anyone in the world who may face this. I’d like a little credit, but feel free to post this on other websites where it might better reach the target audience, such as Ukrainian social media, twitter, etc. I may be in error somewhere in these tips but I wrote them out of a sincere desire to help so don’t be jackass if you want to correct me.

Stay safe everyone. #IStandWithUkraine

-Alan

This may not be aesthetic but it could save lives which is much more important.