In my own opinion, eventually everything comes down to the fact that we are all human beings, deserving of basic rights. Even if I disagree with what someone is doing, when they are injured, they are injured, and reducing harm is ideal.

I don't revel in anyone's pain. For instance, if anti-abortion folks who are doing a public protest are pepper sprayed and batoned - I don't get a thrill, I don't say they deserved it and more. They are human beings, we are all humans, and there is something beyond the "they asked for it" and "they had it coming to them" and all that.......and I say this as a pro-choice woman.

I personally don't call cops "pigs". I don't want to be dehumanized so I won't dehumanize others. Nor will I call anti-war activists names. Nor will I assume what the motivation is of anyone. Or their income, or class, or anything else.

I don't know. I don't know who you are and why you are doing what you are doing, why you believe what you do. I do know that I'm into harm reduction and that it is apolitical. You don't have to agree with me about anything to also be into this.

Harm reduction. So, how to deal with pepper spray? Wally for instance writes that he is going through some breathing difficulties. He is taking care of himself and taking a break.

You might be directly sprayed, you might have caught a strong whiff by being downtown, what can you do? How can you prepare for next time? Black Cross has some ideas on this and on after care and more, follow those links given at bottom of pages.

You might be taking care of someone who got injured. You might have seen some traumatic events. One resource for someone to talk to is the Crisis Line. 360-586-2800.

Know some good resources, some remedies, some harm reduction tips? Please share and pass on the word.