What happens if you pepper spray someone

But in recent days, despite the ongoing risks presented by the COVID pandemic , law enforcement has escalated their tactics. Video after video on social media documents the use of pepper spray in peaceful situations, sometimes in close range. Social media videos have shown officers spraying people seemingly at random, making it likely that you could be sprayed again. Pepper spray is oil-based, making it difficult to wash off. Remove and discard any contacts and start blinking vigorously to stimulate tear production.

Do not rub the affected area and try not to touch it to avoid accidentally spreading it to other parts of your body. Make sure to leave affected skin exposed to air, instead of under clothing or bandages. Milk is commonly used to flush the faces and eyes of protesters who have been pepper sprayed, but both Jordt and the CDC caution against it. Make sure to use cold water to keep the capsaicin from flaring up even more. You can also try flushing your eyes with a saline solution if that is available, as this would mimic your natural tear production.

Treatments can mitigate the effects of pepper spray, but accept that you could be in pain for some time—and that it will eventually subside. Try to get home or find a safe location where you can thoroughly rinse your face and any other parts of your skin with plenty of soap and water, according to Jordt. It irritates the mucous membrane of the nose, throat, eyes, and the skin in high concentrations. It works better than CN but is not readily available to the public.

Both of these chemicals sprays can be toxic and cause serious vomiting, and choking. CN and CS are not all that effective against dogs because they lack lacrimal glands. OC is short for oleoresin capsicum , which is extracted from chili peppers and is commonly called Pepper Spray.

This product is the most widely sold today and the spray of choice for police since Pepper spray is generally regarded to be the most distressing to experience, but it must be sprayed directly in the eyes or inhaled to be most effective. The product is an oily liquid that is not very soluble in water. The high Scoville heat rating is more important than the percentage of ingredients. Direct facial contact and inhalation of the spray will induce coughing, choking, and nausea, as well as dilation of the eye capillaries resulting in temporary blindness.

The mucous membranes will swell causing breathing difficulties and cause the assailant to be temporarily incapacitated. Skin contact will cause a burning sensation, which is further aggravated by rubbing the area. A one-second burst can affect an attacker for up to 45 minutes without causing permanent damage.

Their basis for wanting such a device stems from a general fear of assault. These persons will carry the canister for a week or two until the novelty wears off and then it will find its way to the bottom of a purse, a glove compartment, or dresser drawer. Many casual users end up accidentally spraying themselves or their pets or when their children get into it they discard it.

Persons wanting to carry tear gas should take a training course before purchasing it. Most legitimate instructors will sell the product that best meets your needs. Tear gas ideally should be carried in the same place every day. A belt holster or loose outer coat pocket is best. A purse or key chain is a poor location because the canister is not always accessible. If you must walk into a dark parking lot or some isolated place you should have the tear gas canister in your hand and finger on the trigger.

How should pepper spray discharge in the vicinity of food products and preparation surfaces be managed? What protection is recommended for personnel managing a pepper spray discharge? Where can I learn more? Acknowledgements References. Oleoresin capsicum OC spray, also known as pepper spray, is used in bear and dog repellents, personal defense sprays and by law enforcement. In Canada, pepper spray is classified as a prohibited weapon. Pepper spray contains OC which is an oily resin derived from chili peppers.

The intensity of OC formulations and their toxicological effects depends on the amount of capsaicinoids capsaicin in the product. Exposure to OC can cause symptoms due to contact with skin, eyes, mucous membranes, or as a result of inhalation or ingestion. The onset of symptoms is almost immediate. The severity of symptoms depend on concentration, duration of exposure, and proximity to the spray discharge. Skin : Tingling, burning pain, redness, and occasional blistering.

Respiratory, inhalation : Burning sensation in the nose and throat, coughing and sneezing. Possibly wheeze and shortness of breath.

Laryngospasm and bronchospasm may also occur, with associated stridor and secondary anxiety. Rarely, this may progress to severe respiratory compromise; cyanosis, apnea and respiratory arrest have occasionally been reported. Note that nausea may also occur after acute inhalation exposure to OC. Other systemic effects may include disorientation, panic, and loss of control of motor activity. For the majority of individuals, the irritant effect of pepper spray lasts for approximately 30 minutes.

OC may cause local irritant effects as well as neurogenic inflammation. It can induce the release of peptide compounds contained in nerve terminals, including the neurotransmitter substance P.

Substance P causes vasodilatation, leakage of plasma from capillaries, and the sensation of pain. This effect, called neurogenic inflammation, may occur in vascular beds, endocrine glands and smooth muscle.

In the airways, the depletion of substance P results in the activation of mast cells which then release histamine. This causes bronchoconstriction, with possible tightness of the chest, dilatation of local blood vessels, and mucus formation. Note that long-lasting exposure to capsaicin can cause desensitization.

A person who has been exposed to pepper spray should be immediately removed from the contaminated environment to a well-ventilated area e. Clothing should be removed and placed in a sealed plastic bag. Many sources suggest that skin should be washed with non-oil or cold cream based soap and copious amounts of cool water, ensuring that folds, crevices, creases and groin are cleaned. Burns should be treated in the same way as any other chemical burn.

Topical steroids may be used for dermatitis and erythema if they are severe.