How to Decontaminate Pepper Spray
Accidents happen, and perhaps you have had the misfortune of receiving the extreme burning effects of pepper spray if it has ever misfired, or traveled along a breeze back in your direction. This spray is an effective solution for protecting yourself when you need it, but it is just as important to know how to decontaminate the pepper ingredients to stop the effects if it goes somewhere it's not supposed to. Using a few household supplies, you can administer a remedy that helps relieve the burning.
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Things You'll Need
- Saline solution (optional)
- Whole milk
- Spray bottle or clean towel
- Dawn dishwashing detergent
- Cold water
- Gallon container
- Bowl large enough for a face (if applicable)
Instructions
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1
Remove contact lenses (if applicable) and clothing that is contaminated with pepper spray. Blink your eyes if affected and, if preferred, use a saline solution to aid the wash. Do not reuse your contacts, because pepper oils can never come out.
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2
Pour whole milk into a spray bottle or immerse a clean towel in the milk before applying it to the area that is burning. The fat in this dairy product stops the pepper's heat source--capsaicin--from stimulating the nerve endings in the skin, which helps fight the burn.
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3
Combine a mixture of 25 percent Dawn dishwashing detergent with 75 percent cold water in a container that holds at least a gallon of liquid. If you are decontaminating a face, pour the solution into a bowl that is big enough for the whole face to be submerged.
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Immerse your face (if applicable) in the bowl for 10 to 15 seconds. Otherwise, pour the mix on the affected body part and let it sit for this time period, without rubbing it in. The detergent in the mixture works to break down the capsaicin's oils.
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Submerge your hands or a clean towel in the detergent mixture and, when the pain begins to subside a bit, lightly rub the detergent mix into the affected area. Apply water and rewash the area between seven and eight times to continue decreasing the burn. Do not be alarmed if pain intensifies during this process, because the skin's capillaries are being opened to receive the neutralizing soap agent.
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Create a new batch of solution, if needed, to replenish the detergent mixture and/or to mix a new batch without the leftover oil residue in it. Burns may last between 15 and 45 minutes depending on the skin type.
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Tips & Warnings
Never rub the area that receives the pepper spray, because this act opens capillaries, magnifies the burning sensations and allows the pain to travel to other parts of the body.
Never apply an oil-based lotion to your skin because it will cause the pepper oil to stay in the skin.
