What is a best practice for reducing secondary exposure to bystanders?

• A. Position yourself and the suspect to minimize drift, use ventilation or open doors, evacuate nearby individuals when feasible.
• B. Fire a warning shot to disperse the crowd.
• C. Maintain a barrier between you and the suspect and stand still.
• D. Wait for audible decontamination before acting.

Answer: (B)

Reducing secondary exposure to bystanders comes down to controlling where the spray goes and who may be affected. The best practice is to position yourself and the suspect to minimize drift, use ventilation or open doors, and evacuate nearby individuals when feasible. This approach directly lowers the chance that bystanders will inhale or come into contact with OC spray, keeping innocent people safe. Firing a warning shot is dangerous and inappropriate; it can create unpredictable spray drift, escalate the situation, and endanger others, and it doesn’t reliably disperse a crowd. Merely maintaining a barrier and standing still doesn’t actively reduce exposure to bystanders, since dispersion and proximity to others aren’t being addressed. Waiting for audible decontamination before acting isn’t a real or practical step and would delay necessary action, leaving bystanders at greater risk.