So you decided to get yourself some pepper spray and see if it would work. Not wanting to get it on the furniture or anything inside the house, you went outside to try it out. That's actually a good idea but you didn't check from which direction the wind was blowing when you discharged the spray and now it's in your eyes. OOCH OOCH OUCH OUCH!!

Try to stay calm and not get too excited or panicky. Find your way back inside the house and locate some good old soap and water. Remember that you don't want to trap the pepper spray on your skin so make sure the soap you are using is not an oil base or cold cream based soap. Wash the contaminated area with cool water since warm water can make the burning sensation worse. Also, you may want to rub the area, thinking it will help scrub it off. Don't! That will only irritate the skin and eyes. Also, avoid applying lotions. Lotions, like the oil based soaps or creams, can trap the OC resins on your skin.

Now try to relax and expose yourself to some fresh air. This too will help dilute the OC resins and help you unwind from your ordeal as well.  If the area becomes painful or irritated after these decontamination steps then have it examined by a doctor.

The next time you decide to test your pepper spray make sure the wind is not blowing in your face. Examine the canister and the nozzle to see where the OC will be coming from. Dispense the pepper spray for about two seconds and see how far it sprays and if the spray comes out as a stream or a fog like mist. Learn how it acts in the wind and if you feel you would be able to direct it into the eyes of an assailant.

Remember, if faced with an unwanted advance, you don't want to be grabbed so make sure there is some distance between you and your attacker. It's also important not to announce that you have pepper spray and will use it. Simply aim for their eyes and dispense a two or three second dose. Give it a second or two to work and do it again. The smaller canisters will allow you between five and ten seconds of continual spraying so once you are free to run, do so and call 911 for help.

For more detailed information pick up a manual that outlines tested tactics for pepper spray use. These books are not expensive and are well worth the time and money invested in them to help you be proficient when you need to utilize your self protective sprays.