What to Do if Accidentally Sprayed With Pepper Spray: Essential Steps

If you accidentally get sprayed with pepper spray, here’s what you should do.

First, leave the area right away to get some fresh air.

Flush your eyes with cool water for at least 15 minutes and don’t rub them. If you wear contact lenses, take them out to avoid more irritation.

Rinse the affected skin with cold water and non-oil-based soap, then gently pat it dry. Use decontamination spray if you have it.

Keep an eye out for severe symptoms like trouble breathing. If you still feel uncomfortable after a while, see a doctor.

Also, change out of any contaminated clothing and wash it properly.

There are more detailed steps you can follow for thorough relief and safety.

Key Takeaways

• Get out of the contaminated area right away and move at least 10-15 feet away to breathe fresh air.
• Rinse your eyes with clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes. Don’t rub them.
• Take out your contact lenses immediately and clean your eyes well to stop more irritation.
• Change out of your contaminated clothes and wash your skin with cold water and non-oil-based soap.
• Watch for severe symptoms like trouble breathing and go to the doctor if you need to.

Exit the Contaminated Area

When you get sprayed with self-defense pepper spray, your first priority should be to get out of the contaminated area right away. This is important to avoid more exposure to the irritants, which can cause a lot of discomfort and breathing problems. Close your eyes tightly as you leave to stop more irritation from the particles in the air.

Move at least 10-15 feet away from where you got sprayed to get to fresh air. The irritant gets weaker the farther you get from it, so putting some space between you and the spray is crucial. Don’t touch your face or any affected areas while you’re moving to avoid spreading the pepper spray to other parts of your body.

If you can, find a sheltered spot that’s upwind to stay clear of any leftover spray blowing your way.

Once you’re in a safer place, you can start cleaning the affected area with clean resources. The quicker you get out of the contaminated area, the sooner you can begin to recover and lessen the impact of the pepper spray.

Flush Eyes With Water

If pepper spray gets in your eyes, rinse them right away with clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes.

This will help ease the burning.

Don’t rub your eyes, because that can make it worse.

Cold water works best and can really help get rid of the irritant.

Immediate Eye Rinse

Getting sprayed with pepper spray is really distressing, but you need to act fast. First, rinse your eyes right away to lessen the burning and wash away the irritants. Find clean, cool water and start flushing your eyes thoroughly. Keep the water running over your eyes for at least 15 minutes. Make sure you keep your eyes open wide so the water can reach and clean every part of them.

If you have saline solution, use that instead of water. It might neutralize the capsaicin better. Just make sure the solution is clean and uncontaminated.

While rinsing, don’t rub your eyes, even if you really want to. Rubbing can make things worse and spread the pepper spray more.

Keep rinsing your eyes and pay attention to how you feel. If your discomfort or irritation is still bad after 45 minutes of rinsing, get medical help right away. This will make sure any damage is checked and treated, helping to prevent long-term vision or eye health problems.

Avoid Rubbing Eyes

When pepper spray gets in your eyes, don’t rub them, no matter how much they burn. Rubbing makes things worse and spreads the pepper spray’s active ingredient, capsaicin, causing more pain and possible damage.

Instead, start by flushing your eyes with clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes to wash away the irritants.

If you have saline solution, use that instead of water because it works better to neutralize the pepper spray. While rinsing, keep your eyes open and blink a lot. Blinking helps produce tears, which also helps to wash away the irritant.

If you’re wearing contact lenses, take them out right away before you start rinsing. Contacts can trap the irritant against your eye, making it even worse.

Remember to be gentle and thorough during this process. By not rubbing your eyes and focusing on flushing them, you can reduce the pain and irritation from the pepper spray.

Stay calm and follow these steps to protect your eyes from further harm.

Use Cold Water

Rinse Your Eyes and Face with Cold Water

If you get hit with pepper spray, it’s super important to flush your eyes with cold water right away. Rinse your face and eyes with cool, clean water for at least 15 minutes. This helps wash away the capsaicin particles that cause the burning feeling.

Avoid using hot water because it can make the burning worse and irritate your skin and eyes more. If you have a saline solution, use that instead of plain water. Saline can soothe the irritation better and give you quicker relief.

While rinsing, keep your eyes open to make sure the water washes away the irritants. Blink a lot during this process because blinking makes tears, which also help flush out the capsaicin.

Don’t just rinse your eyes—rinse your whole face, too. Pepper spray affects any exposed skin. Make sure the cold water runs over your entire face to help ease the burning sensation.

The goal is to remove as much of the irritant as possible to reduce pain and discomfort. Consistently rinsing with cold water is a key step in dealing with the effects of pepper spray.

Remove Contact Lenses

If you wear contact lenses, take them out right away after being exposed to pepper spray to prevent further irritation.

Pepper spray can get stuck between the lenses and your eyes, causing a lot of pain and possible damage. Before you touch your contact lenses, wash your hands well with soap and water. This step is super important to avoid getting any leftover pepper spray on your eyes.

Once your hands are clean, gently remove your contact lenses. If you have hard or gas-permeable lenses, clean them well with saline solution before putting them back in later.

But if you’re wearing soft lenses, it’s best to throw them away since they can absorb the pepper spray and become contaminated.

After you remove your contact lenses, rinse your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes to wash away any remaining irritants. This will help soothe your eyes and start the healing process.

Keep an eye on your eyes for any signs of lasting irritation. Don’t put your contact lenses back in until your eyes have completely healed and feel comfortable again.

Taking these steps quickly can really lower the risk of long-term eye damage.

Avoid Rubbing Affected Areas

Don’t Rub Affected Areas

Don’t rub the areas hit by pepper spray. Rubbing can spread capsaicin, the stuff in pepper spray that causes pain, to other parts of your skin. This can make things worse by causing more irritation and discomfort.

Rubbing also makes the burning feel worse and might even push the irritants deeper into your skin, making the pain last longer. Instead, try gently patting the affected areas. This can give some relief without spreading the irritant or making the symptoms worse.

Also, don’t create any friction on your eyes or skin. Friction can make your symptoms much worse and make the pain last longer.

Let your skin air dry after exposure. This helps reduce further irritation and helps your skin heal naturally.

Use Decontamination Spray

Decontamination sprays designed to neutralize pepper spray can really help reduce discomfort after exposure.

After rinsing the affected areas with water, apply a decontamination spray to ease symptoms more effectively. These sprays work to neutralize the chemical irritants in pepper spray, making them better than just using water.

Here are some important tips for using a decontamination spray:

• Pick a non-oil-based spray: Oil can trap the irritating agents on your skin and make things worse.
• Follow the instructions: Always read and follow the label for the right way to use it. Each product may have its own guidelines.
• Avoid direct contact with eyes: When treating your face, focus on the surrounding areas and keep rinsing your eyes with water.
• Act quickly: Applying the spray right after exposure can shorten the duration of symptoms.
• Keep it handy: Always have a decontamination spray nearby in places where pepper spray might be used.

Change Contaminated Clothing

If you get exposed to pepper spray, it’s super important to change out of any contaminated clothing right away. This step helps prevent you from getting re-exposed to the irritating stuff in the spray.

First, put on gloves before you start taking off your clothes. This way, you won’t spread the pepper spray to other parts of your body.

Once you have your clothes off, put them in a sealed plastic bag so they don’t contaminate other laundry or surfaces in your home.

Make sure to wash these clothes separately from your regular laundry. Use non-oil-based soap and hot water to clean them thoroughly. This will help remove any leftover pepper spray residue.

Don’t wear the contaminated clothes again until you’ve cleaned and decontaminated them properly. Any lingering irritants can still cause discomfort and irritation.

Rinse Skin With Soap

Once you change out of contaminated clothing, rinse your skin with soap and water. Use lots of cold water to wash the affected area for at least 15 minutes. This helps remove any irritants left from the pepper spray.

Make sure to use a non-oil-based soap. Oil-based soaps can trap the capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper spray, and make the irritation worse. Be gentle while washing and avoid scrubbing your skin, as this can spread the irritant and increase discomfort.

Here are some steps to remember:

• Use cold water: It soothes the skin and reduces inflammation better.
• Avoid oil-based soaps: They can trap capsaicin and make irritation worse.
• Pat dry with a clean towel: Rubbing can make irritation worse.
• Rinse for at least 15 minutes: This ensures you remove all irritants.
• Seek medical attention if needed: If symptoms persist even after washing, get medical help.

After rinsing, pat your skin dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing it.

If your symptoms persist despite these steps, consider seeking medical attention to ensure proper treatment.

Monitor for Severe Symptoms

Monitoring severe symptoms after exposure to pepper spray is really important. First, pay close attention to your breathing. If you start wheezing, have trouble breathing, or notice your lips turning blue, get medical help right away. These are signs of serious respiratory problems that can get worse quickly, so act fast.

Watch for signs of anaphylaxis too. These include swelling of the face or throat, a fast heartbeat, or feeling dizzy. If you notice these symptoms, seek urgent care immediately.

While it’s normal to feel a burning sensation and discomfort after exposure, if these symptoms last more than 45 minutes or get worse, you should get professional help.

Keep an eye on other symptoms too. Severe eye pain, nonstop coughing, or unusual skin reactions might mean you need treatment.

If you have a history of breathing problems like asthma, monitor your symptoms closely. Using an inhaler, if you have one, can help manage any flare-ups.

Seek Medical Attention

If you have ongoing eye irritation, trouble breathing, or severe skin reactions after getting sprayed with pepper spray, don’t wait to see a doctor.

Write down your symptoms and tell the healthcare workers about the pepper spray exposure to make sure you get the right treatment.

Getting medical help quickly is even more important if you have breathing problems, as pepper spray can make them worse.

Persistent Eye Irritation

Dealing with constant eye irritation after getting sprayed with pepper spray can be really worrying, so don’t ignore it. If you’ve already washed your eyes with clean water or saline for at least 15 minutes but still feel uncomfortable, you need to see a doctor. Ongoing irritation might mean you have a more serious problem that needs expert care.

When you visit a doctor, they’ll check your symptoms and might rinse your eyes again or give you eye drops to help with the pain. If you have bad pain, blurry vision, or swelling, getting medical help quickly is super important.

Here’s what you can do if your eyes still bother you:

• Write down your symptoms: Keep track of how you feel and what happened when you got sprayed.
• Keep rinsing: Use clean water or saline to rinse your eyes while you wait to see a doctor.
• Don’t rub your eyes: This can make things worse and cause more damage.
• Wear sunglasses: This can help with light sensitivity and protect your eyes.
• Tell the doctor everything: Give them all the details so they can figure out the best way to treat you.

Breathing Difficulties

Having trouble breathing after being sprayed with pepper spray is a big deal and needs quick medical attention. If you’re finding it hard to breathe, wheezing, gasping for air, or if your lips are turning blue, call emergency services right away. These signs can mean serious breathing problems or even life-threatening conditions.

When help arrives, they might give you oxygen to help you breathe easier. They could also use bronchodilators to open up your airways. Make sure to tell the healthcare workers that you were exposed to pepper spray and mention any pre-existing conditions like asthma, which could make things worse.

Watch out for signs of anaphylaxis, like swelling in your throat or tongue. Anaphylaxis can get bad quickly and needs immediate help.

Don’t wait to get medical attention if you notice these symptoms. Acting fast can really help your recovery and overall health.

Severe Skin Reactions

Are you wondering what to do if your skin reacts badly to pepper spray? Severe skin reactions like intense burning, swelling, and blistering are serious and might need medical attention to prevent infection.

If your skin irritation doesn’t get better or gets worse even after you try to clean it, it’s important to see a doctor. Waiting too long can make things worse.

People with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis might’ve more severe symptoms. In these cases, it’s really important to talk to a healthcare provider right away.

Allergic reactions can show up as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling beyond the affected area. These need immediate medical help.

To stay safe, follow these steps if you have a severe skin reaction:

• Watch Your Symptoms: Keep an eye on how bad your symptoms are and how long they last.
• Get Medical Help: See a doctor if your symptoms don’t get better or get worse.
• Don’t Scratch: Scratching can cause infection in blistered or swollen areas.
• Write It Down: Keep a record of your symptoms to help the doctor.
• Follow Doctor’s Orders: Stick to the treatment plan your doctor gives you.

Implement Preventive Measures

Protecting yourself from pepper spray is super important. To avoid getting accidentally sprayed, always keep at least six feet away from anyone using it. This simple tip can help you stay safe.

Wearing protective gear is also key. Put on goggles and a face mask, especially if you’re in a place where pepper spray might be used. This gear will protect your eyes and lungs from the irritant.

Dressing the right way can make a big difference too. Wear long sleeves and pants to cover your skin. Adding layers can give you extra protection and keep you warm in different weather.

It’s also smart to stay aware of your surroundings. Knowing where you are and any potential risks can help you avoid dangerous situations where pepper spray might be used.

Preventive Measure	Benefit
Keep a six-foot distance	Lowers risk of exposure
Wear protective gear	Protects eyes and lungs
Dress in long sleeves and pants	Reduces skin exposure

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens if You Accidentally Spray Pepper Spray?

If you accidentally spray pepper spray, you might feel burning in your eyes, irritation on your skin, and start coughing. To help, rinse your eyes and skin with water and take off any clothes that got sprayed. If you still have trouble breathing, go see a doctor.

What Is the Best Thing to Do if You Get Pepper Sprayed?

If someone pepper sprays you, focus on staying safe. Quickly leave the area, keep your eyes closed, and find fresh air. For first aid, rinse your face and eyes with cool water for 15 minutes, and take out your contact lenses if you wear them.

What Neutralizes Pepper Spray?

To neutralize the effects of pepper spray, rinse with lots of water and use a non-oil-based soap. For internal relief, drink milk since it contains casein. Rinse continuously for 15-20 minutes to effectively ease the pain.

How Long Does It Take for Pepper Spray to Wear Off?

Pepper spray effects usually last up to 40 minutes, but recovery time can vary. Most people feel better within an hour, though how long it takes can depend on how sensitive you are and how much you were exposed to. If you still feel uncomfortable after that, you should see a doctor.