What is getting OC sprayed?

[lil-punisher]

What is getting OC sprayed during academy?:confused:

[Serpico6]

OC is a term for pepper spray, mace all that bad stuff that makes it hard to breath and your eyes run. OC stands for OLEORESIN CAPSICUM. Sometimes people use the term OC for the same meaning as CS or CN which are not the same. I’m not an expert on OC but if you have to get sprayed, it will not be fun.
I know some academies allow different "application" methods. So, you may not have to actually get sprayed in the face.


:eek: :eek: :eek:

[hightower]

In my training, I got a full one second (seemed like about 10 seconds worth) of OC sprayed directly to my face. This was required of all students. I will tell you that it was not the most pleasant experience, but it was not living hell like some people claim. If I were a bad guy, it would have stopped me in a flash!!

Keith

[Signal_9_CPD]

If you do not get sprayed in trainig , you will on the street.

Most cops, me included, have at least once gone a lil wild with the OC! Nothing like being in a narrow hallway fighting a thug and getting a blast of your buddies Freeze+P

[WILawman]

It is not fun to get sprayed in the face with OC. Advice: Make sure you tilt your head back when you take a shower that night. If the OC got in your hair...it will drip into your eyes again. Then it will be round 2. Good Luck!

[kels]

It is sort of like going to the dentist. Your not
going to have much fun for about an hour.
Volunteer to go first. Watching everyone else go
first, makes it seem worse than it is.
If there is dish soap and water available, lather
your entire head. Then rinse. Repeat if necessary.
For me it wasnt that painful, but not being able to
see was very disorienting. It affects different people
different ways.
Take a shower as soon as possible and change
cloths.
As Signal 9 said, if your around when it gets used
on the street, you will get your share. GRIN

[Olympiccop2002]

If you are going to get sprayed, don't hype yourself up! Keep calm. This may sound easier than it is but getting sprayed isn't going to kill you. The hardest part that I have is getting my eyes to open again. Keep the water running and don't panic. We had a few people that spazed out and for no reason. You will make it through it. It feels like a bad sunburn times ten and your eyes will clamp shut. You will have a streamer of snot flowing out of your nose. Do not suck this back in, blow it out. Also, if you have medical problems such as asthma (spelling?), you need to notify your instructor. I have been sprayed a few times for different jobs and more than a few times by myself (going through my own spray) and by other officers. Just fight through this. Good luck, and have fun.

Bjorn

[nclawdawg2001]

let me tell you this stuff hurts like nothen else, all these guys are just trying to get you to be calm, and belive me when it comes time you won't be calm, I got the 10% foam, then we had to run 25 yards and kick a knee a bag for 25 seconds, then turn and run another 25 yards and elbow stirck a bag for 25 seconds, then turn and run back another 25 yards then hit a bag with your baton, then someone comes running at you with either a knife or a gun, then you have to put them on the ground, take the weapon, search them, cuff them and then walk 50 yards to where you wash your eyes out.

Belive me these guys are great guys and are trying to help, but in this case its best just to tell you, you will more then likely never feel anything else on the earth like it. I just wish someone had told me all this before I got it.

Good luck, and remember, it only hurts for alittle while.

[lil-punisher]

Thanks a ton. Once again i get great insight.
I can't wait till I get sprayed with the stuff and stagger around like a disorientated drunk until i upchuck. I think i will go to my happy place when i get sprayed.

[biggesto]

What happens if you wear contacts and get sprayed? I've also heard that it can be rather painful if the spray washes down to more private areas when you take a shower..lol

[WILawman]

biggesto,

I don't wear contacts but I believe you will required to remove them before being sprayed.

It has never run down to the private parts before, but if it did it would feel like a sunburn...where the sun is not supposed to shine. :) :) :D

[Samurai004]

I was told by a lot of officers to make sure and tilt your head back while in the shower when washing up after getting sprayed, they say it runs down south and can really hurt.

Take care,
James

[Mongo]

I would say definitely go first. I haven't partaken in this fun act formally in LE, but I have as part of a weapons training course taught be a DUSM now an instructor at FLETC. We had a day of weapons training....disarming perps with guns, knives, etc..and then he brought out the non-lethals and asked if we wanted to try them. First was the pepper spray and he got about 10 volunteers, me being one of them. WOW, what a stupid thing to volunteer for, but I really wanted to know what it felt like...so I got it....and it hurt...and for the next hour...I was a blobbering idiot. Then we took our lunch break and I couldn't taste anything. But I ended up going last, and just waiting and seeing everyone else in pain definitely hightened my experience. In the afternoon we did more training....then he asked for volunteers to try the 'stun gun'. Guess what idiot volunteered again out of curiosity?

[Housecop]

Down in FLETC is was a blast in the face. The spray itself wasn't bad, it was washing it off afterwards that hurt. Don't rub your eyes.

[Stinger]

hey gang,

I was just sprayed last week in my academy class, and let's just say it was the most painful experience of my life. Our training officers video taped it, and from the looks of it, my class sergeant hosed me more than anyone. And in response to the run down after taking a shower, it's true. Pretty much every part of my body that the spray touched was on fire. It was definitely an experience I will never forget.

Stinger

[kennethm3]

As part of our academy training we had to be sprayed with OC (in the face) and then fight off an attacker in the red-man suit after a simulated weapons malfunction. Let me tell you that after getting a long blast to the face and chest I was able to engage the attacker with the pistol, hitting him four times center-mass then fought him off using the baton. After it was all over then the OC kicked in, HARD. Couldn't see, couldn't breathe. It took forever it seemed for the effects to wear off. The experience taught me a couple of things. If one had to use it the effects are going to be delayed A LONG TIME and then you are going to have to deal with the mess. The spray can be a bit indescriminate depending on field conditions, you could end up getting your spray blown back at you or in a confined space the air will saturate pretty quickly affecting you just as much as the sprayee. Putting an OC'd individual in my ride isn't something I am looking forward to. Luckily we are only required to carry one "non-lethal" device. I carry the ASP baton instead although a lot of my co-workers carry both. I recommend that everone be sprayed whether they decide to carry it or not, just for the learning experience. Good luck, stay safe out there.

[Lupey]

To carry OC,I had to get sprayed so I know what it feels like, to carry the ASP I had to get hit with it, so I know what it feels like to be hit with one. We had to try to fight out of being handcuffed (boy do they hurt) so I know what it feels like to use those moves. NOW I carried a sidearm but didn't have to get shot with it so I know what it feels like to shoot someone with it :D THEY WHY DID I HAVE TO GET HIT, SPRAYED, & BEAT UP to carry the other things :D :bounce:

[gibby11]

Pour water across your eyes and hold them open with your fingers for as long as possible...It saved me!

later,
gibby

[charles353]

My two cents. I am a volunteer firefighter. Was on a domestic violence call a few months back. My partner and I were working on the woman when she swings at my partner. Then she is on him. I try to pull her off, but it seemed like she had a kung fu grip going. Two officers come to our aid and the pepper spray comes out and I get hit in the face. I have got to say that for an hour I could hardly see. Had to to have our engine roll to take the squad back to the station.

[JHP]

It can be very painful! Just a little story for humor.

My partner and I had caught up with a perp and got into a fight with the idiot! We ended up in a ditch by the road. I yelled, SPRAY and my partner rolled away fast. The perp yelled I GIVE, I GIVE UP and lay down on his stomach.

After I handcuffed him, I asked why did you stop fighting and he said, when I heard you say SPRAY, I saw the look on your partners face as he rolled away and it scared the shit out of me, I did not want whatever was coming! The look on your partners face scared the hell out of me.

It does have its use in dealing with non-compliance individuals.

:bounce: JHP

[OHcop2BE]

Just reading the title to this post brought back terrible memories. Getting sprayed with OC is one step below HELL..lol. But unfortunately it is REQUIRED with many departments, we got video taped and it was put in our personal file. That way we would be able to justify it's use if ever taken to court on it and we knew how we PERSONALLy react to it some dirtbag were to ever try to use it against us (another justification to take that "wonderful" use of force continuum a level higher). Another nasty tool we use at the court house is something called the R.E.A.C.T. Belt which....yes...we also had to experience for ourselves. Basically it is this belt with a box that is placed on the small of the back with 2 contacts on it. Ever see a shock collar for dogs??? Well basically that is what this is, 50,000 volts for 8 seconds. Between that and the OC I think I would take the R.E.A.C.T. Belt over the OC anyday!!!!

[five-oh]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. OC irritates the skin around my eyes by does not affect my vision or my sinuses. Due to my reaction (or lack thereof) I use OC often in the field. I once used a whole can at a gang fight!

Now real pain is getting hit with the taser. I took a two second blast with the Air Taser (volunteered :eek: ) and that HURT. Good thing about the taser is when its off the pain stops.

[drugdog]

I am a Chemical Weapons Instructor and have been on the receiving end of several different types of OC/CS spray during training. As an instructor I have also sprayed over a hundred students as part of their training. Everyone needs to know that OC or CS does not work 100%. Some people are barely effected and others want to curl up and die. It has a great deal to do with how you handle the spraying mentally.

My advise to someone who is going to get sprayed is to first accept it. Prepare your mind and know that you can prevail. Once you get sprayed talk to yourself, remember to remain calm and control your breathing. Do not rub your eyes or exposed skin. Use copious amounts of water and fresh air. The best method to decon is by using Johnson's Baby Shampoo and water. Lather up and rinse a few times. This will normally clear you up in 10-25 minutes or less (depends on which formula you get sprayed with).
The Johnson's has a good grease cutting agent and is safe for the eyes. Make sure you open and rinse out your eyes. If you have to use your fingers to force your eyelids open then make sure you do.

It's not really a big deal, remember it only lasts for a short period of time. Yes it does burn and hurt but remember it will end soon.

Be safe!

[williamssd]

I read that there is not water-based OC, meaning ordinary water will completely wash it off.

Why not use this during training? The article I read stated it is still 10%, giving it the exact same effects of the oil-based OC spray.

Just a quick question... I haven't had it yet, but my gut still tightens up when I ready about it!

- Steve

PS: Thanks, JHP! Your "humorous" story make me worry even more! LOL :D I can just picture that incident in my mind... ;)

[drugdog]

Water based or not the OC spray will come off your skin with just plain water. The difference is time and you want that in your favor so use the baby shampoo or buy the Sudecon Decon Wipes from Fox Labs International. Also OC stands for the oily resin of the pepper plant. It is an oily resin and water does not take it off the skin very quickly without some help from baby shampoo.

Also the 10% means absolutely nothing about how effective the spray is. The 10% or 5% or whatever is the concentration level of the spray. This only effects the duration of the sprays effects not how hot it is or how well it works on the subject.

[Bonk]

I've been sprayed once in the academy (intentionally) and a bunch of times (accidentally) on the street. Going into the academy shot, I heard several comparisons about what it would feel like. On former corrections officer said it was like bobbing for apples in a running french fry fryer, while a former Marine embassy guard said it was like trying to "eat a porcupine tail first without de-quilling it." I think both are adequate.

[jaybird]

OC ='s the Fires of Hell in one can.

[jaybird]

In regards to Kenneths Post,
The effects of OC are going to be different with every person.

Because it took a long time to work on him doesn't mean it will do the same thing with the next guy.

When I got sprayed, my nose ran like crazy, my eyes watered and breathing was interesting.

Another guy in our group didn't even react to it. Throwing a cup of water on him would have accomplished the same thing.

Also, the first person on the street I saw get sprayed had nothing happen to him. He kept on going.