Pepper Spray and Chili Peppers
What is it:
Pepper spray is used in bear and dog repellents, personal defense sprays and in crowd control sprays (by law enforcement). Contains the oily resin from chili peppers (oleoresin capsicum) and a carrier solvent such as rubbing alcohol or a hydrocarbon.
Chili pepper is the common name for the fruit of the genus Capsicum. There are many peppers in this genus including jalapeno and cayenne. Used as a spice.
Is it toxic? Contact with the skin or eyes results in an intense burning sensation and possible redness. Inhalation of pepper spray results in irritation to the respiratory tract. Severity of symptoms depend on concentration, duration of exposure, and proximity to discharge.
Health Effects:
Eyes: Immediate stinging, burning sensation, tearing and redness. Symptoms usually subside once the eyes are rinsed.
Skin: Possible irritation, redness and a burning sensation.
Inhalation - Pepper spray: Burning sensation in the nose and throat, coughing, sneezing and a feeling that you can't catch your breath. Symptoms may be worse if exposure occurred in a confined space such as a small room or basem*nt. People with asthma may have worsening of symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath.
Ingestion: Possible burning or stinging sensation in mouth, nausea and vomiting.
What to do:
Eyes: Rinse eyes with a gentle stream of lukewarm water for 5 minutes by any of the following methods:
- Pour a gentle stream of water from a jug or clean teapot over the eye from the inside corner by the nose, across the eye, flowing out towards the ear.
- Submerge eye in a container (bowl, sink) of lukewarm water. Have patient open and close eye.
- Eye may be irrigated in the shower, if this can be accomplished without delay.
- Young children may be wrapped like a mummy in a towel with arms at side and held over the sink or tub or laid on counter during flushing.
Skin: Pepper spray - Remove clothing and place in a plastic bag. Apply vegetable or cooking oil to the skin. Leave it on area for 5 or 10 minutes then wash off with soap and water. Can repeat this several times if needed. If only on hands from chopping peppers, fingers may be soaked in oil.
Inhalation: Get away from area where pepper spray was released. If exposure occurred indoors go outside and breathe fresh air. Open windows and doors to ventilate room. Inhalation of steam in a warm shower also provides relief of symptoms.
Ingestion: Rinse out mouth and drink a glass of water or milk. Sucking on ice chips may provide relief.
If symptoms persist after the above first aid measures contact the Poison Control Centre.
Clean up instructions: Wear gloves when cleaning contaminated surfaces and use a mild detergent such as dish soap. Launder contaminated clothes.
How can I prevent exposure? Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Wear gloves when chopping chili peppers.
Need more information: Call the Poison Control Centre.
© 2010 BC Drug and Poison Information Centre
FAQs
Pepper spray contains much higher concentrations of capsaicin than chili peppers. Capsicum oil also forms the basis of bear spray, an aerosol designed to protect humans who encounter a bear. Pepper spray has a very high score on the Scoville heat units (SHU) scale, which measures the “heat” of peppers.
Is there chili in pepper spray? ›
Pepper spray is used in bear and dog repellents, personal defense sprays and in crowd control sprays (by law enforcement). Contains the oily resin from chili peppers (oleoresin capsicum) and a carrier solvent such as rubbing alcohol or a hydrocarbon.
Is pepper spray enough? ›
Pepper spray may not be as effective on intoxicated people or those who have a high threshold to pain. Don't rely totally on pepper spray to stop an attack. If you pepper spray an attacker, flee to a safe location and call the police as soon as possible.
What is the solution to pepper spray? ›
Decontamination solution options:
- Normal saline in IV bag: Attach an IV bag of normal saline to a nasal cannula. ...
- Homemade Saline: Mix two (leveled) teaspoons or 10 grams of table salt per liter of water. ...
- Liquid antacid and water: A liquid antacid such as “milk of magnesia” or Maalox is mixed 50/50 with water.
There are several important differences between bear spray and pepper spray. Bear spray is much stronger, covers a larger area and works from much farther away. Bear spray has a range of 20 to 40 feet, depending on the brand, the size of the can and current weather conditions.
Is pepper spray enough for self-defense? ›
When it comes down to it, pepper spray self-defense is just one tool in your toolbox. While it can be effective in certain situations, it's not a magical solution that will solve every self-defense scenario and should not be relied upon as such.
What pepper is hotter than pepper spray? ›
There's a new spiciest chili pepper in the world: Pepper X, a small but fearsome plant that is hotter than most law-enforcement-grade pepper spray. Guinness World Records unveiled the new record this past week, announcing that the Pepper X measures an average of 2.63 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
Is pepper spray hotter than Carolina Reaper? ›
While the Carolina Reaper officially clocks in at 1.64 million Scoville Heat Units, the Pepper X notches an average of 2.69 million units — hotter not only than police pepper spray (1.6 million units) but also than bear spray (2.2 million units), notes the Associated Press.
What kind of peppers are in pepper spray? ›
The active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum (OC), a natural oil found in many types of hot peppers, including cayenne peppers and other chili peppers. OC contains a compound called capsaicin, which is what's responsible for the spicy sensation when you eat a hot pepper.
What is the most effective self defense weapon? ›
What is the best self defense weapon? The best self-defense weapon is the one that you are most comfortable with and that you use properly. Some common self-defense weapons include pepper spray, expandable batons, pocket knives, stun guns, and tasers. All of these can be effective in different situations.
Inhalation exposures can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, nasal and throat irritation, and runny nose. These effects are usually mild and temporary, lasting minutes to hours. However, more severe injury is possible including corneal abrasions, wheezing, and skin blisters.
Will pepper spray stop an attacker? ›
Although there are generally no long-lasting effects of pepper spray, it can be effective in subduing an assailant so you can escape.
Does Vaseline repel pepper spray? ›
Pepper Spray is oil based. It'll cling to your moisturizer. Don't even think about using Vaseline. Dry skin.
Does milk stop 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.
Does water wash off 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.
What is the new alternative to pepper spray? ›
Reflex Protect Tactical has introduced a new, CS-based less-lethal tool called Presidia Gel with the goal of replacing OC spray as a force option for law enforcement. Unlike traditional CS sprays, this gel does not displace oxygen and does not atomize – so you can use it indoors without cross-contamination.
What are the disadvantages of pepper spray? ›
Pepper spray causes irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes. 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.
Does pepper spray work immediately? ›
Its effect is immediate and powerful, and it can distract a person long enough for you to escape an assailant, or for a police officer to take control of a subject. Another reason pepper spray is so widely used is that, most of the time, exposure has no lasting effects.
How many minutes does pepper spray last? ›
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.
