What is the immediate action after OC spray exposure?

• A. Immediate decontamination.
• B. Wait for medical staff onsite.
• C. Apply irritant directly to eyes.
• D. Seek to de-escalate verbally but do nothing else.

Answer: (A)

The immediate action after OC spray exposure is thorough decontamination to remove the irritant from eyes, skin, and clothing. This stops ongoing irritation and reduces the likelihood of spread to others.

For eyes, flush with clean water or saline for at least 15 minutes, keeping the eyes wide open to rinse all surfaces. Avoid rubbing, and if possible remove contacts after flushing begins.

For skin, remove any contaminated clothing and wash the skin with soap and plenty of water to dissolve and wash away the oily capsaicin residue. Rinse well and continue washing as needed.

If symptoms involve breathing or coughing, move to fresh air and seek medical help if breathing difficulties occur. Addressing exposure with immediate decontamination is the first and most important step before any medical treatment.