I'm getting sprayed with mace on Monday for my certification....?

Question

Does anyone have any helpful advice/tips to help get me through this process ? I'm a little nervous on what to expect.

Answer 1

relax, its only temporary and not that bad.

Answer 2

close your eyes really tight!

Answer 3

There really is nothing you can do to prepare yourself for that dreaded moment.  The brightside may be that pepper spray doesn't effect everyone the same.  Hopfully you will be one of those lucky few that has little to no effect.  If your not, just try to keep in mind that it won't last forever.

The few tips that I do have have is

1. Don't rinse off your face but putting it into a bucket of water.  All that does is put the pepper on the surface of the water and reaplly it back on your face as you lift your head out of the water.

2. Remember that when you go and take a shower, you wil have residue on your face and the water from the shower will reactivate the pepper spray and sting your eyes again.  It won't be nearly as bad but if will cause minor irriatation.

3. When taking a shower, try to use cold water.  Warm to hot water seems to cause more discomfort.  

Other than that, good luck!!

Answer 4

It's going to suck so be prepared. For the ones who said close your eyes don't be so dumb. They would not send you threw it if your eyes are going to be closed. Not much you can do but in time and lot's of showers it gets better. It just flat out sucks.

Answer 5

OC stings like h**l...but ya get over it......been there and got a nose full.....lol

Answer 6

Use fresh water that no one else has used to rinse the initial resin off of your face. After that find a fan or an A/C vent. Personally i saw everyone hittin the showers and i could hear them yelling in there because all that water did was reactivate it lol. Meanwhile I was ready to punch my partner in the face if I could find it lol. Luckily I remembered there was a fan in our classroom so I made him walk me in there and I was able to open my eyes pretty quick while keeping my face in the fan. Of course the other people in my platoon saw what I was doing and started all trying to use the fan. My friend said she would rather have 15 babies in a row instead of getting a full face of OC again which made me laugh and kinda forget about the pain. Just make sure when you take your hit you breath in your noise and out your mouth. I guess thats the most advice I can give right now. GL I consider this part of the hazing process because all of us have to do it usually :)

BTW definitely worth taping if someone can. Its nice to watch again at graduation. And having a copy of the uncensored version to keep at home because I assure you there will be things said by people you would never think they'd say lol.

Answer 7

First off most of the other poster are correct, lots of cool water will rinse most of it off.

to reiterate, don't rinse off in a bucket the oil will just go into the bucket then your recontaminate yourself.

If you get to use a hose, maintain control of it yourself!!! This will help the panic factor (and it will be there!) if you can wash your face down when YOU want to compare to some one spraying you in the face.

Make sure you have a partner to help you around and ensure your safety. (I've seen people run/ walk  away and fall into ditches and run into walls trying to get away from the pain)

To dispel a myth :Milk will not help anymore than cold water would and it makes you smell like sour milk after your done!!!

Be careful with the showers after wards. Water will reactivate it and gravity will take it south if you know what I mean!

Wash your clothes by themselves as you can spread it to anything else washed with them. Not pleasant to do with your BF/GF undergarments!!

Best been there done that advise is don't panic! It hurts like blazes but it isn't injuring you, it will pass.

Answer 8

Try to focus on something else while it's happening.  Think about a movie, or listen to a song in your head and focus on that.  It wont be so bad if you don't focus on the pain.

Answer 9

This is what I would try.

The OC in hot peppers dissolves and washes away much faster in milk than water. Ever ate anything with a lot of hot sauce in it, and noticed how drinking water isn't very effective for stopping the pain? Well, drinking a glass of milk washes the pepper away and soothes the burning almost instantly. While I never tried it, I would assume that pouring a gallon of cold milk over your eyes and face after getting sprayed with OC would have the same effect.

Answer 10

I assume you mean Pepper Spray (OC), not Mace (CN)

Cool water, lots of it, then more water. A swimming pool would help, if not a hose of running water. The OC is oil based so the running water with flush the stuff out. You will get it in your eyes/face....it will hurt....its not so painful you cant walk about and do things.....just deal with it.

If your near your car or indoors standing in front of cool air like the A/C or a fan will help for a while.

DO NOT:

Rub (you will rub it in harder)

Use salve or balms (It will trap it in)

Rub with soap, it's in the skin not on it. See above.

Spray with, milk, alcohol, vinigar, wine, or any commerical "anti tear-gas" decon. Trust me, they dont work.

Good luck

PS. Oh yea, bring another full set of clothing to change into. You never know where the stuff will get. And tell whoever does your laundry you were sprayed so they dont "get bit" as we say. Or better yet do it yourself.

Answer 11

Enjoy the burning,

you signed up for the job so deal with it!