Request for assistance... pepper spray calls

[K9kazoo]

I’m looking for some data for a research paper I’m doing for my Advanced Care Paramedic course. I’m looking for protocols, operating procedures/guidelines, etc... on OC/pepper spray calls for service. We’ve seen a huge spike with the gang bangers in our fine city using pepper spray against innocents and even law enforcement officers. Looking to find a better way of dealing with these patients. Would prefer not to transport as we have a problem with off load delays and a lack of resource issue here too.

Any help you can send my way it would be appreciated. Would prefer links, Word or PDF documents.

Please feel free to forward my request to those you think may be able to assist.

Thanks,

Bryan

 

[medicdan]

I don't have an academic library at my disposal right now, but have you considered doing a pubmed search on this area? I would think there will be a lot of research on this... or on fairly quick treatment modalities.

Good Luck, it would be great if you could share whatever you find.

 

[Shishkabob]

Proparacaine (Alcaine) is used around here for OC / Pepper spray calls.

 

[K9kazoo]

I don't have an academic library at my disposal right now, but have you considered doing a pubmed search on this area? I would think there will be a lot of research on this... or on fairly quick treatment modalities.

Good Luck, it would be great if you could share whatever you find.

Thanks for the quick responses... part of our program allows us use of the Univ. of Manitoba libraries...

I'm curious to see what others are doing around N. America and their protocols.

Thanks,

B

 

[DrParasite]

Would prefer not to transport as we have a problem with off load delays and a lack of resource issue here too.

not to sound rude, but lack of resources means you should put more units on the road to handle the volume. "we don't have enough units" is not a valid reason to not transport the people who were pepper sprayed.

we generally send a BLS unit for calls like this, unless there is difficult breathing. regardless, if they want to go to the hospital, we take them.

 

[K9kazoo]

not to sound rude, but lack of resources means you should put more units on the road to handle the volume. "we don't have enough units" is not a valid reason to not transport the people who were pepper sprayed.

we generally send a BLS unit for calls like this, unless there is difficult breathing. regardless, if they want to go to the hospital, we take them.

In a perfect world... we'd add units... but it's not an option... no funding from the powers that be.

For the most part in my experience... these pts generally do not need transport. Having TEMS training, military experience... a little soap and a lot of H2O generally "cures" these pts.

There is a movement on to stop taking people who want transport to hospital that do not need to go (minor c/o that could be better handled by referrals to clinics or other care centers... not ERs. Here in Winnipeg we're starting researching using the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale... Hopefully once completed a score of 4 or 5 would get you some follow up care documentation and a referral to a local clinic.

Thanks for responding.

B.

 

[LucidResq]

(1997). "Pepper spray antidote successful in one emergency department". Journal of emergency nursing (0099-1767), 23 (2), p. 96.


(2008) "A randomized controlled trial comparing treatment regimens for acute pain for topical oleoresin capsaicin (pepper spray) exposure in adult volunteers." Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors (Oct-Dec; 12(4) p. 432-7