Proposed uses of pepper spray:
(1) personal urban self defense
(2) police suspect or crowd control
(3) personal wilderness protection (against bears or other predators)
Accidental exposure is common, and a criminal can turn it on the owner. In addition, spraying into the wind (like pissing) is a bad idea.
Clinical effects:
(1) burning sensation on exposed skin and eyes
(2) temporary blindness secondary to tearing and facial muscle spasm
(3) oral burning sensation
Complications
(1) corneal abrasions if the eyes are rubbed or the spray contains particulate matter
(2) traumatic injuries associated with temporary incapacitation
(3) respiratory failure if inhaled (reported in infants and small children)
(4) rarely deaths have been reported in police suspects who have been pepper sprayed, but often these cases have implicated other factors
Management:
(1) Do not rub the eyes.
(2) Irrigate eyes and face with water for 15 or more minutes.
(3) Rinse mouth with a milk or casein-containing food product then spit out.
