Pepper Spray Symptoms and Treatment Guide for Children

Move your child to fresh air right away if they get pepper spray on them. Take off any clothing that has pepper spray on it.

Your child will feel severe eye pain, have trouble breathing, and their skin will burn – these effects usually last 20-60 minutes.

Rinse their eyes with clean water for 10-15 minutes and wash their skin with mild soap. Tell them not to touch their face or rub their eyes.

Take them to the emergency room if they struggle to breathe, feel chest pain, or pass out. Children who have asthma need to see a doctor immediately.

Follow the steps below to help your child recover quickly.

Understanding Pepper Spray Basics

Pepper spray contains powerful chemicals that can quickly overwhelm adults, so it’s important to know how to handle exposure in children. The main ingredient, oleoresin capsicum (OC), comes from chili peppers and contains capsaicin – a chemical that causes intense irritation. This irritant is much stronger than what you’ll find in regular kitchen peppers.

To understand pepper spray strength, look at Scoville heat units (SHU). Police-grade sprays measure between 500,000 and 2 million SHU, while some types reach up to 5.3 million SHU. These high levels can quickly stop someone in their tracks, which is why police use it to control large crowds.

Law enforcement pepper sprays contain 5-10% capsaicin, making them much stronger than sprays available to the public. This high strength explains why pepper spray can disable an adult in seconds, and why children need quick, careful treatment if exposed.

Common Symptoms in Children

Children exposed to pepper spray will show immediate reactions: their eyes will hurt badly, they mightn’t be able to see for a while, and they’ll have trouble breathing.

Modern pepper sprays contain very strong irritants that affect children more intensely because their skin and tissues are more sensitive. Your child might start to panic and feel distressed, often coughing, feeling a burning sensation on their skin, and struggling to open their eyes.

Most symptoms start getting better after 45 minutes, but breathing problems and eye irritation can last for several hours. Watch children with asthma or other breathing problems more carefully during recovery.

Immediate Physical Reactions

The immediate physical reactions to pepper spray hit children hard and can cause serious distress. Children’s eyes usually slam shut from severe pain, and they can’t see for a while due to intense burning. About 10% of kids get scratches on their eyeballs, called corneal abrasions.

Breathing problems start right away. Kids often struggle to catch their breath, feel burning in their throat, and experience chest pain. They typically cough, wheeze, and gasp for air.

Kids with asthma or other breathing problems may feel even worse effects.

Pepper spray also hurts the skin badly. Red patches show up where the spray touches, and sometimes turn into rashes or blisters. Children feel an intense burning on their skin wherever the spray landed.

Other quick reactions include gagging, runny nose, and trouble talking. Some kids get dizzy or panic, and in rare cases, they might pass out.

Spotting these signs quickly helps you get your child the right care and medical help when they need it.

Duration and Recovery

Children exposed to pepper spray usually feel symptoms for 20 to 30 minutes, though some may take longer to recover. Kids who’ve asthma or breathing problems might feel the effects longer and need to see a doctor.

Different symptoms last for different amounts of time. Eye problems like temporary blindness and pain typically go away within 30 minutes.

Breathing issues such as coughing, wheezing, and throat pain may last longer, especially in children with lung problems.

Skin reactions like rashes and burning feelings usually clear up within a few hours after cleaning the affected areas.

You can help your child recover faster by taking quick action. Get them to a well-ventilated area away from where they were sprayed.

Use clean water to wash their eyes and skin thoroughly. Tell them not to touch their face or rub their eyes because this can make the irritation worse.

If your child has asthma or other breathing problems, watch them carefully while they recover. Call a doctor if their symptoms get worse or last longer than expected.

Immediate Actions After Exposure

Move your child to fresh air quickly and remove their contaminated clothing to prevent further exposure to pepper spray.

When taking off the clothing, don’t rub their skin – instead, carefully remove the items and seal them in a plastic bag for disposal.

Start flushing your child’s eyes right away with clean, room-temperature water for 10-15 minutes. If they wear contact lenses, remove them first.

After you’ve treated their eyes, use soap and water to wash their skin thoroughly, making sure no soap gets into their eyes.

Move Away From Exposure

Move your child quickly to fresh air if they’re exposed to pepper spray. Find a place with good airflow to help reduce the spray’s effects.

Make sure they stay away from where the spray came from to avoid getting hit again.

Take off any clothes that got pepper spray on them. Be extra careful when removing shirts or sweaters over their head to avoid spreading the spray on their skin or making them breathe it in.

Keep these contaminated clothes away from their face and mouth.

Tell your child to keep their mouth closed so they don’t swallow any spray, which could upset their stomach.

Remind them not to touch their face, especially their eyes, nose, and mouth. This prevents the spray from spreading to these sensitive areas.

If they must touch their face, make sure they wash their hands thoroughly first.

Flush Eyes and Skin

Flush your child’s eyes immediately with clean, room-temperature water for at least 10-15 minutes to get quick relief from pepper spray exposure. If your child uses contact lenses, take them out right away to stop further irritation. Keep their eyelids open as you run water over their eyes to make sure you clean the whole area well.

Don’t forget to clean any skin that touched the pepper spray while you’re taking care of their eyes. Take off any clothes with pepper spray on them to stop the burning.

Use mild soap and lots of running water to wash your child’s skin. Be careful not to spread the pepper spray to other parts of their body while cleaning.

Fresh air plays a key role in helping your child feel better. Keep them in a room with good airflow while you clean their eyes and skin. This helps reduce how much of the spray they breathe in.

Watch for any signs that the burning won’t go away or gets worse – you might need to see a doctor if this happens. Using fresh air, washing the eyes well, and cleaning the skin properly will help ease the pain from pepper spray exposure.

First Aid Treatment Steps

Move the child to a clean, open area with fresh air right away if they’ve been exposed to pepper spray. This keeps them from breathing in more of the spray.

Stay calm and talk to them in a soothing voice to help them remain relaxed during this scary experience.

To start treating the symptoms, rinse their eyes with cool or room-temperature water for 10-15 minutes. This will help ease the burning sensation.

Remove any clothes that have pepper spray on them, but don’t pull them over the head. Instead, use scissors to cut the clothes off to avoid spreading the spray.

Wash any skin that touched the spray with mild soap and water. Don’t rub the skin hard or use strong soaps because this can make the irritation worse.

Keep your hands away from the areas with pepper spray to avoid spreading it and causing more pain.

Keep a close eye on how your child is breathing. If you notice they’re coughing a lot or having trouble breathing, take them to a doctor immediately.

If your child has asthma medication like salbutamol, you might need to give it to them to help with their breathing.

When to Seek Medical Help

Medical Warning Signs After Pepper Spray Exposure

Act quickly if your child shows serious symptoms from pepper spray. Call for medical help right away if you notice:

• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Fainting or passing out

While waiting for help, encourage calm breathing, but don’t let this delay getting medical care.

Take your child to a doctor if symptoms last longer than 45 minutes or get worse. Watch closely for severe eye irritation and breathing problems, as these need a doctor’s attention.

Children who’ve asthma or COPD face higher risks from pepper spray, so get medical help quickly if your child has these conditions.

Some injuries need immediate medical care. Take your child to the emergency room if you notice:

• Eye injuries that might damage the cornea
• Skin burns
• Extreme pain or discomfort
• Problems swallowing

Stay on the safe side when your child gets exposed to pepper spray. Kids face greater risks because they’ve smaller airways and more sensitive skin than adults. This makes them more likely to have serious reactions.

Recovery and Long-Term Effects

Most children bounce back quickly from pepper spray exposure, with symptoms lasting 20-60 minutes in mild cases. If your child has asthma or other breathing problems, symptoms may last longer than an hour, so you’ll need to watch them more closely.

Taking slow, deep breaths can help ease symptoms while they sit upright in a quiet place.

Some kids might have symptoms that stick around longer. Keep an eye out for ongoing coughing, trouble breathing, or skin irritation that lasts several hours or days after exposure. Don’t wait to call a doctor if these symptoms aren’t getting better.

Watch your child extra carefully if they’ve been exposed to pepper spray multiple times, as they might become more sensitive to it. Getting sprayed repeatedly can make existing health problems worse, especially breathing conditions like asthma or COPD.

Make sure to monitor any breathing problems or chest pain during recovery.

To help your child recover fully, make sure they get proper medical care. Call your doctor if symptoms don’t improve or get worse after the initial exposure to prevent any complications and ensure they heal completely.

Prevention and Safety Measures

Protect your child from pepper spray by teaching clear safety rules and prevention steps. Talk to your children about pepper spray risks and help them understand why they should stay away from places where people might use it, like during protests.

Keep at least 6 to 20 feet away from any pepper spray use – teach your children to maintain this safe distance.

Keep all pepper spray products locked up where children can’t see or reach them. Train your children how to react if they encounter pepper spray. Tell them to move quickly to an area with fresh air and not touch their face, as this spreads the irritant and makes things worse.

Create a simple emergency plan that includes cleaning steps, like washing eyes with clean water, and know when you need to call a doctor.

Help older children learn about safety gear and how to spot situations where someone might use pepper spray. Talk about safety often to make sure these lessons stick and your children stay ready.

Review and update your safety rules regularly and make sure everyone in your family knows what to do to avoid pepper spray problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Treatment for Pepper Spray?

Flush your eyes with lots of water, quickly wash any areas where the spray touched you with soap, and move to a place with clean, fresh air. Use basic first aid steps like rinsing with saline solution and applying cool, wet cloths to reduce the burning. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or severe reactions.

What Are the Symptoms of Pepper Spray Exposure?

Pepper spray immediately causes your eyes to burn and water, making it hard to see clearly. Your skin will turn red, burn, and itch where the spray touched it. You might find it difficult to breathe, feel sick to your stomach, and become panicked. All these effects happen right away when you get sprayed.

How Do You Get Pepper Spray Out of Kids Eyes?

Flush your child’s eyes with cool water immediately for 15 minutes straight. Apply tear drops to help soothe the irritation, then gently dab around the eyes with a clean, soft cloth. Stay with your child and keep them calm throughout the process. Tell them not to rub their eyes, as this can make the irritation worse. If they need to go outside while recovering, have them wear protective goggles to prevent further irritation from wind or debris.

What Is the Best Antidote for Pepper Spray?

While no single cure exists for pepper spray, you can take several steps to feel better. First, flush your eyes thoroughly with clean water or saline solution. Get to fresh air right away and take off any clothes that have pepper spray on them. If you have a severe reaction, you should see a doctor immediately. Remember, these steps will help reduce the pain and discomfort, but it will take some time for the effects to wear off completely.