Slightly Different Spray Question(s)

[Joeguitar]

Hey guys!! Thank you, first of all, for all of the great information you provide (at no cost,) about your field of work/expertise.

As soon as I have finished my B.A. in Psychology (in about a year,) I am going to apply to my local police department. For this reason, I have been doing a lot of research on their police academy and police academies in general.

During my research, I found that the recruits that attend the academy I will hopefully attend not only have to endure taser/OC spray exposure, but they must also must do certain tasks while exposed to the non-lethals (i.e. when sprayed with the OC, the recruit must run a modest obstacle course, then encounter resistants from three "assailants," two who have foam pads and one who tries to disarm the recruit. The recruit must "arrest" all three.)

This seems like it would be a very arduous task. Does this sound normal for recruit training (I have done numerous searches and have found that most do not HAVE to go through the spraying, let alone perform under the conditions.) I really want your feedback!

[cecilVA]

Yep pretty normal. If you want to carry OC you'll have to go through with it. Agencies/Academies will differ on just how "required" it may be. But considering how essential spray is to carry, you might as well.

And the academy is meant to be "arduous", thats kinda the whole point of going.

[Joeguitar]

Yep pretty normal. If you want to carry OC you'll have to go through with it. Agencies/Academies will differ on just how "required" it may be. But considering how essential spray is to carry, you might as well.

And the academy is meant to be "arduous", thats kinda the whole point of going.

Well that certainly is a good point. I have no misconceptions about the difficulty of such training (to be quite honest, I look forward to getting my a$$ kicked. I really want to be prepared for whatever I encounter in the field.) I suppose my previous statement about the training being arduous was a relative one, based on the number of verified LEO who have said that the spray was optional in their academy.

[sbrad]

The longest distance I had to run when I got sprayed was to the water source, and I had someone holding onto my arm.

[Joeguitar]

The longest distance I had to run when I got sprayed was to the water source, and I had someone holding onto my arm.

:D That brings up another good question. Is there any way to prepare for the spray itself. More specifically, is there a way in which I could expose myself before joining the academy and build a tolerance to it, or is that just stupid.

[Menace]

Man Dah Tore Rheeeeeee

[valycop]

The longest distance I had to run when I got sprayed was to the water source, and I had someone holding onto my arm.

sbrad said it best and without doubt I felt like a slug that had had salt spread all over my body. Now teargas on the otherhand I use to clear out my stopped up sinuses during hayfever season! :D

[valycop]

:D That brings up another good question. Is there any way to prepare for the spray itself. More specifically, is there a way in which I could expose myself before joining the academy and build a tolerance to it, or is that just stupid.

Yep, give a can of spray to your wife or girlfriend and make her mad enough to empty the can on you and you'll find out real quick! :D

[jarobins]

:D That brings up another good question. Is there any way to prepare for the spray itself. More specifically, is there a way in which I could expose myself before joining the academy and build a tolerance to it, or is that just stupid.

Not a dumb question at all. I would recommend start by spraying yourself every other day with a low SHU OC (5.5%) spray. Slowly work your way up to everyday. Then switch to a high SHU (10%) solution after a few weeks and repeat the same pattern. If you got the patience I am sure that eventually you be virtually immune to its' effects.

[sbrad]

Not a dumb question at all. I would recommend start by spraying yourself every other day with a low SHU OC (5.5%) spray. Slowly work your way up to everyday. Then switch to a high SHU (10%) solution after a few weeks and repeat the same pattern. If you got the patience I am sure that eventually you be virtually immune to its' effects.

The crack you confiscated last night was supposed to go into the evidence locker, not your pipe. :p

[Citicop]

Even if it were optional, I would recommend that you go through it. I will almost guarantee that you will be cross-exposed to OC on the street when you will have to fight. I found it nice to know ahead of time that I could still function in a stress situation after exposure.

Just my opinion-

Citicop.

[Joeguitar]

Not a dumb question at all. I would recommend start by spraying yourself every other day with a low SHU OC (5.5%) spray. Slowly work your way up to everyday. Then switch to a high SHU (10%) solution after a few weeks and repeat the same pattern. If you got the patience I am sure that eventually you be virtually immune to its' effects.

I figured that it would be possible to habituate the nerves in this way. Thank you so much for a great response.

[Joeguitar]

Yep, give a can of spray to your wife or girlfriend and make her mad enough to empty the can on you and you'll find out real quick! :D

I've seen the girlfriend mad enough a FEW times. That might be a dangerous game though.....I want to keep the exposure ABOVE the belt. :p

[ExUSPP]

[QUOTE=Joeguitar](i.e. when sprayed with the OC, the recruit must run a modest obstacle course, then encounter resistants from three "assailants," two who have foam pads and one who tries to disarm the recruit. The recruit must "arrest" all three.)

QUOTE]

If you actually have to run an obstacle course it may just be an indirect exposure and they may not spray it directly in your eyes. The effects of this type exposure aren't as bad. Although I could be completely wrong.

Here is a little side not I just got a sprayed again last wednesday. That gave me 5 direct exposures total. They never get any easier.

[Citicop]

I figured that it would be possible to habituate the nerves in this way. Thank you so much for a great response.

Uh...I'm pretty sure he was kidding...

Citicop.