Medical
This is the homepage for the Health Team of Occupy Boston.
JOIN US! :)
If you would like to be a part of the Health Working Group, please stop by the Medic Tent and/or send an email to occupybosmedic@gmail.com
[NOTE: Page currently being updated by Tinea (as of 25 Oct 2011) .
To include:
-- How to volunteer
-- Updated donation list (and donation we DO NOT accept)
-- Health Team protocols
-- Resources for Health Team members (list of protocols, resources, etc.)
-- Resources for Occupy Boston participants]
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Announcements
Occupy Boston Globe - Medical: Workshops
last updated 2011-10-11 11:31 pm:
Thanks to all those who donated, and also to the medical volunteers for taking such thorough inventory and reporting it efficiently.
VOLUNTEERING
If you would like to be a part of the Medic Working Group, please stop by the Medic Tent and/or send an email to occupybosmedic@gmail.com
Staying Healthy in Tent City
Here’s a PDF guide for how to stay healthy during the Occupation from your friendly Boston Street Medics, so read it!
First Aid Tips:
Risking Arrest with Health Conditions
- If you have any health condition that might pose serious health problems if your medication is interrupted (such as: retroviruses, psychiatric disorders, diabetes, hypertension, or asthma), you should be aware that you may not have access to proper medication while you are in jail. A letter from a doctor may help. Three copies of the letter are needed, one for the legal team, one for the medical team (these will be kept completely confidential) and one for you.
- It should include the following information: your name, diagnosis, that you must have access at all times to your medication, a list of all medication, that you must be allowed to keep medication on yourself so that they can be properly administered, and that no substitutions are acceptable.
- Since your name must be on the document, you may want to hide it on your body as a sort of insurance policy–perhaps you won’t need it and then could eat it and utilize solidarity tactics. We believe that revealing your name and cooperating with the jailers to ensure your health is more beneficial to all than having to deal with a serious medical problem. Better to cite out than pass out.
- Please make sure that your Medic Team and the Legal Team is aware of your needs so they can help care and advocate for you.
- Carrying essential medications in their original prescription bottles with your name and the drug, dosage, etc. may help you get access to them in jail.
Avoiding Tear Gas and Pepper Spray
- Those with asthma, respiratory problems or infections, pregnant women, women attempting to get pregnant, anyone ill or with a poor immune system, seizure disorders, eye infections, contact lens wearers, and children.
- Tear gas and pepper spray are very painfully for the eyes and can cause a very hard breathing environment. Make sure to bring something to cover the mouth and eyes when necessary.
- Poring milk on the eyes help against the pain of pepper spray and applying soaked towels around your nose and mouth with lemon juice, cider vinegar or soda-pop help against tear gas. Wash your skin with soap and water and make sure to get rid of you contact lenses if present.
- Contact lenses trap the irritating gases and chemical compounds underneath them and may increase the amount of damage and irritation. Get prescription glasses now and warn others not to wear contact lenses!
- Menstrual Periods/Pregnancy : A significant number of women gassed experience immediate onset of menstruation outside their normal cycles.
- Some reported menstrual irregularities lasting for months. At least one spontaneous abortion – or miscarriage -has been reported.
- Reaction to chemical exposure will be greater with the presence of some skin conditions such as acne or severe eczema.
- Tear gas and pepper spray contain oily solvents that will slowly dissolve rubber and plastic, so don’t buy really expensive gear. This means that your goggles will only provide temporary protection. Also remember that the straps of your gear will absorb the chemicals and eventually begin to irritate the skin beneath.
Pepper Spray Awareness
- Since pepper spray is often sprayed at a close distance, the police may try to:
- Physically remove your goggles/breathing protection.
- Spray between your face and your goggles/mask (which if your hands are locked down, makes them a trap for the chemical).
- It can be hazardous. People have died from respiratory failure (no protesters that we are aware of).
- Asthmatics should bring their broncho dilators.
- The propellants and/or active ingredients can cause cancer, are mutagenic and hence potentially teratogenic. One form of tear gas (CN) is 50% solvent -the solvent, methylene chloride, is a highly toxic chemical which can cause altered central nervous system function.
Note: Thanks to Bob from OccupyDC for this information.
Based on: Medical at wikispaces