While most days my service in the Marine Corps seems irrelevant to my current job as a reporter, my military training seems applicable now as videos and photos circulate online of police targeting journalists with pepper spray, rubber bullets and arrests.
I trained to carry pepper spray while going to school to be a Marine Security Guard for American embassies and consulates overseas. This training included getting pepper-sprayed myself. Luckily, this sort of training isn’t taught in journalism schools. So, I’d like to share what I learned here.
The most important lesson: Do not take a shower immediately after getting pepper-sprayed. If you do, the pepper spray will run down your body and onto your genitals.
The active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum, an oily extract derived from peppers. The oily nature of pepper spray is what makes it stick to skin so effectively and allows it to be easily spread to other parts of the body, said Dr. Ernest Brown, a family medicine doctor in Washington, D.C., and founder of Doctors to You. “It will stick to your skin like super glue,” he said.
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Designate a nearby place to take shelter ahead of time in case you are pepper-sprayed. It’s also best to avoid wearing contact lenses. Take them out immediately if you’re sprayed. If you’re asthmatic, make sure you have an emergency inhaler on you. Wearing a tight-fitting mask can lessen the impact of pepper spray, Brown said.
Pepper spray can cause chest tightness, swelling and burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat. It’ll also make your eyelids involuntarily latch shut, making it dangerous to run. For this reason, it’s best to sit down or take shelter once you’re sprayed.
If you’re unable to find a faucet, you can irrigate your eyes with milk of magnesia, an antacid sold at most drug stores. Irrigation requires pressure to flush away the oily pepper extract. Add equal parts milk of magnesia and water to an irrigation syringe, or in lieu of a syringe you could use a water gun, Brown said.
When you have access to a sink or tub, wash your face with room-temperature water and tear-free baby shampoo for at least 15 minutes. Be careful when taking off the clothes that you were pepper-sprayed in to ensure you don’t recontaminate yourself. When you’re ready to take a shower, keep your underwear on while you rinse your body.
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Wash the clothes that you were pepper-sprayed in separately from other clothing and thoroughly clean equipment that was sprayed with gloves. A return of symptoms is likely the result of re-contaminating yourself, Brown said.
While pepper spray is physically painful, it can also make you feel helpless. Having a game plan ahead of time can help alleviate this feeling. It may also help to know that most symptoms will subside within 2 hours.
Sara Sneath is an environmental reporter with The Times-Picayune, in New Orleans. Follow her on Twitter @sarasneath.
This story originally published on June 4.
FAQs
There is no immediate cure for pepper spray exposure, but people can often reduce the duration and intensity of the symptoms by: moving into an area with fresh air, if possible. flushing the affected area with lots of water to wash away the contaminants.
How long does it take to recover from being pepper sprayed? ›
Significant improvement should be noted within 15-30 minutes after exposure. If symptoms persist or are severe, the student should be evaluated by appropriate medical personnel.
How long does pepper spray last in the nose? ›
It causes immediate closing of the eyes, difficulty breathing, runny nose, and coughing. The duration of its effects depends on the strength of the spray; the average full effect lasts from 20 to 90 minutes, but eye irritation and redness can last for up to 24 hours.
What neutralizes pepper spray? ›
Liquid antacid and water: A liquid antacid such as “milk of magnesia” or Maalox is mixed 50/50 with water. MAKE SURE THERE IS NO MINT FLAVORING IN THE ANTACID! Follow the same steps outlined in the Get It Off section for washing chemical irritants from the patient's eyes.
What helps skin after pepper spray? ›
Wash your skin with a cleansing solution, such as hand soap, shampoo or even dish soap, and rinse with water. Soaps help break up and remove the oil when water can't. Use a "no tears" baby shampoo to help rinse the pepper spray from the eye area.
Does Vaseline stop pepper spray? ›
Pepper Spray is oil based. It'll cling to your moisturizer. Don't even think about using Vaseline.
Does milk help with pepper spray? ›
While milk might provide some cooling relief to irritation, it doesn't do much to help people exposed to tear gas. “With pepper spray, milk helps break down those oils,” says Bhuyan. “Diluted baby shampoo is another option. Milk for tear gas isn't doing a lot except potentially providing some comfort.”
What damage can pepper spray do? ›
Inhalation exposures can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, nasal and throat irritation, and a runny nose. Eye exposures can result in pain, redness, watery eyes, difficulty opening the eyes, and sensitivity to light. Skin exposures can cause pain, redness, swelling, and itching.
How do you neutralize pepper in your nose? ›
The capsaicin will, however, stick to the fat in milk or olive oil, and then you can use water to wipe the milk or oil away. Since neither almond nor soy milk worked, we moved to olive oil. I've never been so relieved to have EVOO slathered all around and in my nose.
Is it illegal to carry around pepper spray? ›
While pepper spray is legal in all 50 states to carry and use for personal protection, some states and localities have specific regulations and restrictions.
If inhaled, they can cause trouble breathing, throat irritation and coughing. If bear spray contacts skin or eyes, it can cause burning, swelling and itching. Take immediate steps if you contact bear or pepper spray. Ventilate the area, go out to get fresh air, and change out of contaminated clothes.
Should you shower after being pepper sprayed? ›
The most important tip, they say, is not to take a shower — yet. If you do, the pepper spray will run to your genitals and make things worse. Instead, take care of some initial things, like removing contact lenses, finding your asthma inhaler (if needed), and flushing your face with water.
How to stop pepper burn on skin? ›
Chili peppers are an alkaline food because capsaicin falls on the base side of the pH scale. This is why acidic foods like vinegar or tomato sauce can be used to neutralize capsaicin oil on your skin. Dip or rub your hands with an acidic food like vinegar, tomato sauce, or lemon juice to find relief.
Does vaseline help with pepper spray? ›
Pepper Spray is oil based. It'll cling to your moisturizer. Don't even think about using Vaseline.
