First Defense® .4% MK-4 Stream OC Aerosol

FIRST AID FOR OC

I. GENERAL:

Remove affected person from the contaminated area to an open space, facing the wind.
Keep subject calm and restrict activity.
Most subjects will be well on their way to total recovery 45 minutes after first aid begins.

II. EYES: Intense burning sensation, temporary inflammation of the tissues around the eyes, causing involuntary closure.
Wash eyes out with large amounts of cool water.
DO NOT allow the subject to rub their eyes or face. If the need arises to use a paper towel, use a blotting motion and discard after one use.
Find out if subject is wearing contact lenses. If so, allow them to remove the lenses or call EMS to remove them. DO NOT attempt to remove unless medically trained to do so. Contacts may become contaminated and may need to be discarded.
Keep eyes open facing wind.
Tearing helps clear the eyes.
Keep exposed subjects out of direct sun light during the decontamination process. The brighter and hotter the direct sunlight is, the more it enhances the burning sensation.

III. NOSE: Irritation, burning sensation, nasal discharge.
Breathe normally.
Blow nose to discharge any material.

IV. SKIN: Burning sensation on affected skin areas. Redness may occur on fair skinned individuals.
DO NOT apply creams, salves, oils, lotions or burn cream as they will only trap the OC on the skin.
Flush the skin with large amounts of cool water and expose the subject to fresh air.
Further relief may be gained by showering with cool water using mild soap and shampooing hair. Wash thoroughly, rinsing often to manage any contaminated water on your body.
Contact Defense Technology® with any questions regarding these procedures

AREA DECONTAMINATION FOR OC

STEP 1: Ventilate the building to remove airborne OC. Open all doors and windows that weather permits. This should be accomplished as soon as possible. If fans can be placed to increase ventilation, this will help.

STEP 2: Surfaces can be decontaminated by washing with water or a damp cloth. Wet clean where possible, using commercially available detergents like Dawn or Simple Green.

STEP 3: Clothing and other fabrics can be cleaned in their usual manner (either by machine washing or dry cleaning).

NOTE: Rubber gloves and a gauze face mask should be used by personnel during the clean-up stage to prevent the possibility of residual contamination. OC is a better indoor deployment option than CN or CS, as positive clean up and re-occupation of the structure can usually take place within one to two hours. Minimal clean-up costs need be imposed on the deploying agency.

STORAGE OF OC PEPPER SPRAY CANISTERS

Poor storage conditions will significantly reduce the shelf life of these products resulting in the replacement of the canisters sooner than necessary or the possible use of defective products. Humidity and heat are the two most damaging factors that destroy OC canisters.

The canisters and grenades should be stored in a controlled atmosphere with temperatures between 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with less than 60% relative humidity.

Canisters should remain sealed in their shipping containers until they are to be used or placed in a duty belt/holster.

Never store canisters in the trunk of a car for prolonged periods. The heat may cause the canisters to build pressure and eventually release propellant and possibly agent or OC.

Stored munitions should be inspected for physical integrity and a representative sample functioned twice a year. Munitions that have surpassed the warranty of 5 YEARS should be replaced.

DISPOSAL OF OC PEPPER SPRAY CANISTERS

The following information is intended only to provide general information for our customers. It is extremely important that anyone using our products comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. We recommend that you consult with appropriate legal counsel or governmental authorities prior to disposing of any of our chemical products.

In 1976, Congress enacted a law entitled, The Resource Conservations and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA). This law was intended to protect human health and the environment from imprudent disposal of “hazardous wastes.”

Outdated or otherwise unusable pyrotechnic items are considered “hazardous waste” under RCRA and are assigned the EPA hazardous waste code of D00 1 due to their ignitable characteristic. Disposal of these items must be done in accordance with all applicable Federal and/or State laws. Many states have hazardous waste management programs that are much more stringent than Federal law. For this reason, you should check with the EPA Regional Office to determine to what extent these laws apply to you.

What is the difference between SHUs and MC%?

Defense Technology® no longer recognizes Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) as a viable means to measure pungency in regards to pepper spray.

Scoville Heat Units are a subjective measurement system dating back to the American Spice Trade. For years SHUs have been used as a measuring system within the pepper spray industry, resulting in confusion and a lack of confidence and consistency regarding the pungency and percentage of OC formulations.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography or HPLC, is the only true way to measure the heat of a formulation. It is a scientific method and ensures consistency. This is the standard used by Defense Technology®. The finished Defense Technology® OC formulations are tested at an independent laboratory tested for the exact percentage of major capsaicinoids (MC%).