Journo’s we spend thousands on equipment to do our job but why is it that I keep seeing people working with junk safety gear and then getting hurt because it fails! Fight for ANSI / OSHA approved safety gear! I’m angry! Enough of this! @RTDNA @NPPA @rcfp @pressfreedom

As an example, the 2.99 swim goggles you get at target are NOT appropriate for use covering civil unrest! Why? They are not rated for impact standards. Spend a little more, go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and in the safety section look for eye protection that

Meets or exceeds ANSI z87.1 OR z87+! If you don’t... you are wearing a piece of plastic on your face that will shatter sending shards of plastic into your face and eye if something hits it! I’m not messing around, guys I’m angry! Stop this nonsense and tell your news peeps.

A pepper ball fired by police out of basically a paintball gun travels at about 300 feet per second, if you are not using impact rated eye-pro, it’s gonna mess you up! Seriously, stop this! Also look at the lenses on your gas mask if you use one, is it rated?

Also, stop this homemade concoction of solutions to wash your eyes out from pepper spray! Anything besides water OR a commercially available solution like the Sudecon Wipes that you put in your eyes could scratch your cornea and lead to permanent eye damage!

The malox / water mix is microabrasive to the eye. Don’t do it! You should however flush each eye with a minimum of 1L of water! I like to pack sealed bottles of spring water with the sport top in my kit. It allows me easy flow to flush my or another persons eyes.

Keep this at room temperature and don’t drink it! It’s for your eyes! You can also use saline eye wash.

I’m angry because I keep seeing this happen, help yourself and others who are on the front lines documenting all that is happening around the USA. I’m here for any questions. Good luck #journalistsafety