What immediate steps should you take if you accidentally spray yourself?

• A. Ignore it and continue
• B. Move to fresh air, remove contaminated clothing, rinse eyes and skin with copious water, wash face and hands, and seek medical advice if irritation persists
• C. Only rinse eyes
• D. Wait for symptoms

Answer: (B)

Immediate decontamination after OC spray exposure centers on stopping further contact and quickly removing the irritant from you. Moving to fresh air reduces inhalation of vapors and helps you breathe more easily. Removing contaminated clothing prevents ongoing skin exposure and minimizes spread of the irritant to other areas. Flushing the eyes and skin with copious water washes away the chemical from mucous membranes and skin, while washing the face and hands ensures residues aren’t left on parts of your body that contact your eyes or mouth. If irritation persists, seek medical advice because some reactions can be delayed or require professional care. Ignoring exposure, rinsing only the eyes, or waiting for symptoms can allow the irritant to continue affecting you and delay appropriate treatment.