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When aerosol/chemical agents enter the subject’s eyes, the eyelids will immediately close to protect the eyes from further damage. The OC will make contact with the cornea and cause a severe burning sensation that can last from a few minutes to an hour, depending on several factors.
- Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s)
These are a measure of how hot the OC is, based on the amount capsicum or capsinoids in the mixture. The relationship between the SHU’s and recovery time of the subject are directly proportional. If officer A sprays a subject with 5% OC 2 million SHU’s and officer B sprays a subject with 10% OC 2 million SHU’s, the subject sprayed by officer A should recover quicker, all other things being equal.
- Amount of contamination
If the subject had to be sprayed several times, then we have more agent to decontaminate from.
- Distance from the aerosol/chemical agent’s nozzle to the subject’s eyes.
Most manufacturers recommend that the aerosol/chemical agents be deployed no closer than 4-6 feet. The OC in the can is under a significant pressure, and if too close to the subjects eyes can cause temporary or permanent injury |
