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Pepper Spray 101 · First aid
Pepper Spray First Aid
How to get pepper spray off your skin and out of your eyes, what doesn't help, and when to get medical care.
By POM Industries · Updated · 6 min read
Short answer
Move to fresh air right away. Take out contact lenses, then rinse your eyes with a steady stream of room-temperature water for at least 15 minutes. Blot your skin instead of rubbing it, then wash with soap and plenty of water. Take off and bag anything the spray touched. Get medical help right away for trouble breathing, wheezing, chest pain or eye pain that won't go away.
FIRSTFresh airLeave the room or area
EYES15+ minRoom-temperature water
POISON CONTROL1-800-222-1222Free, 24 hours a day
What to do, step by step.
Work through these in order. The sooner you start, the sooner it ends.
Get to fresh air
Leave the room, car or area where the spray went off. Breathing it in is the main way it keeps reaching you, so moving to fresh air helps more than anything else.
Take out contact lenses
Remove them right away and throw them out. Don't put them back in, even if they aren't disposable.
Rinse your eyes
Start right away. Use a steady stream of room-temperature water or saline for at least 15 minutes, holding your eyelids open and away from the eye.
Blot, then wash your skin
Pat the spray off with a clean cloth instead of rubbing, which spreads it. Then wash with plenty of soap and water. Don't put creams or salves on it.
Take off and bag your clothes
Cut off anything you'd have to pull over your head. Seal the clothes in a plastic bag and wash them before wearing them again. Wash glasses with soap and water.
Shower and wait it out
Shower with mild soap. Most of the burning fades as time passes. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you're unsure about anything.
How to get pepper spray out of your eyes.
Eyes take the worst of it: burning, tearing, redness and trouble keeping them open.
Do
Take out contacts first. Rinse with a steady stream of room-temperature water or saline for at least 15 minutes, pulling your eyelids away from the eye. Wash your hands before you touch your face again.
Don't
Don't rub your eyes. Your hands are probably carrying spray, and rubbing works it in. Don't put your contact lenses back in.
Get medical care for eye pain that won't go away
Also for blurred vision or redness that lasts. Pepper spray in the eyes can scratch the surface of the eye.
How to get pepper spray off your skin, and out of your nose and throat.
The oil in pepper spray clings to skin, so it takes washing, not just rinsing.
Skin
Blot first, then wash with plenty of soap and water. Don't put creams or salves on it. Expect redness, stinging and some swelling for a while. See a doctor if the irritation doesn't ease.
Nose and throat
Get to fresh air and rest in a comfortable position. A saline nasal rinse can help your nose, cool drinks can soothe your throat and a steamy shower can ease coughing.
If some got in your mouth
Rinse your mouth. Don't make yourself throw up. If you're fully alert, drink some water, then call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
If you feel unwell
Call Poison Control or a doctor, and have the canister with you so you can read them the label. They may also ask for the POM Safety Data Sheet (PDF).
Does milk help with pepper spray?
Pouring milk on your face is the most common pepper spray remedy online. It doesn't work any better than water.
So skip the milk and the internet remedies. Fresh air, a long rinse with water and a wash with soap do the job, and then the burning fades on its own.
What the study found
Researchers at Brooke Army Medical Center sprayed 49 law enforcement trainees with pepper spray during training, then treated them with one of five remedies: milk, baby shampoo, an antacid (Maalox), a numbing gel (lidocaine) or plain water. None worked better than the others. What helped most was time. (Barry, Hennessy and McManus, Prehospital Emergency Care, 2008.)
What else doesn't help.
A few more habits that make it worse, not better.
Creams and salves
Don't put them on the area. POM's Safety Data Sheet says to wash with soap and water and not to apply salves or creams.
Rubbing
Rubbing your skin or eyes spreads the spray to more places. Blot instead.
Stopping the rinse early
Keep rinsing your eyes for at least 15 minutes, even if they start to feel better sooner.
Ice-cold water
Poison centers say to rinse your eyes with room-temperature water.
Cleaning up your clothes, room or car.
These are our tips. The goal is to get the spray off things before someone touches it again.
Air it out
Open windows and doors and run a fan. Keep kids and pets out until the air clears.
Bag the clothes
Seal sprayed clothing in a plastic bag. Handle it with gloves so the spray doesn't get back on your hands.
Wipe hard surfaces
Use soap and water and a disposable cloth. Wear gloves and change cloths often so you don't spread it.
Treat pets carefully
If a pet got sprayed, avoid direct contact and call your vet.
How long does pepper spray last?
Most people feel better within 20 to 30 minutes, though it can last a few hours.
The National Capital Poison Center says the effects usually last 20 to 30 minutes, and sometimes several hours, especially when sprayed clothing stays on. The Michigan Poison Center says most people feel irritation for about two hours after they've cleaned up. If you start feeling better within a few hours, lasting harm is unlikely, according to the CDC.
When to get medical help.
Most accidental sprays clear up on their own. These signs mean get help now.
Call 911
For trouble breathing, wheezing or chest pain. People with asthma or COPD can have stronger breathing effects.
Get medical care
For eye pain that won't go away, blurred vision, lasting redness or blistered skin.
Not sure? Call Poison Control
1-800-222-1222. It's free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, including for a child who sprayed themselves.
How to prevent an accidental spray.
Most accidents happen when a can goes off in a pocket or bag, or when someone tests it indoors.
Choose a cover
Every POM has a patented flip-top. The button stays covered until you open it, which makes it much harder to set off by accident in a pocket or bag.
Practice with water
Don't test live spray, and never indoors. An inert unit sprays water, so you can practice opening, aiming and pressing.
Keep it from kids
Store it out of sight and reach of children, like any household chemical.
Store it right
Keep it out of direct sunlight and below 122°F, and never spray it near an open flame. Check the nozzle direction before you press.
Carry one with a cover.
Every POM has the flip-top. Check your state's rules before you order.
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Questions.
What should I do if I accidentally spray myself with pepper spray?
Get to fresh air, take out contact lenses, rinse your eyes with room-temperature water for at least 15 minutes, then blot and wash your skin with soap and water. Bag any clothing the spray touched. Call 911 for trouble breathing or chest pain.
How do I get pepper spray off my skin or hands?
Blot it with a clean cloth instead of rubbing, then wash with plenty of soap and water. The oil in pepper spray clings to skin, so rinsing alone isn't enough. Don't put creams or salves on it.
How do I get pepper spray out of my eyes?
Take out contact lenses, then rinse with a steady stream of room-temperature water or saline for at least 15 minutes, holding your eyelids open. Don't rub. See a doctor for eye pain that won't go away or blurred vision.
What neutralizes pepper spray?
Nothing has been shown to work better than water. In a 2008 controlled study of 49 people, milk, baby shampoo, an antacid, a numbing gel and plain water all gave about the same relief, and time helped most. Wash with soap and water and give it time.
Does milk help with pepper spray?
No better than water. In a 2008 controlled study of 49 people, milk, baby shampoo, an antacid, a numbing gel and plain water all gave about the same relief, and time helped most. Soap and water are enough.
How long does pepper spray burn last?
Usually 20 to 30 minutes, though it can last a few hours, especially if sprayed clothing stays on. Washing it off and getting fresh air shortens it.
How do I get pepper spray out of my throat?
Get to fresh air. Cool drinks can soothe your throat and a steamy shower can ease coughing. Get help right away for wheezing or trouble breathing.
What if I sprayed pepper spray in my house?
Get everyone, including pets, into fresh air. Open windows, run a fan, bag any sprayed fabric and wipe hard surfaces with soap and water while wearing gloves.
Pepper Spray 101