Today is day one of Hell Week. Class #92 meets pepper spray!
The proper term is oleoresin capsicum (OC). They were told to close their eyes and mouth. The
instructor sprayed across their eyes and down their nose and mouth with a
concentration of about 1.65% pepper spray solution, the strongest you can get.
The typical concentration is about .65%. They were then required to punch &
knee a punching bag while yelling “Get Back, Get Back”. After completing
multiple punches (side note: they say, “Throw your punches in bunches like you
buy your grapes!”), they had to perform an “Arm-Bar Takedown”, a form of
arrests in which the suspect resists arrests thus requiring use of physical
force. They started at the end of the
alphabet, so Josh was second in line. After completing the requirements, he had
to step in to hold the bag for others. A few of his quotes about the experience
include…
“I would not wish that on my worst enemy.”
“That is like eating a ghost pepper (the hottest pepper
known) times a thousand.”
“It was like a sunburn on steroids.”
"My face feels like a terrible sunburn being heated with a sun lamp, and someone rubbing sand all over it!"
“Unless I get pepper sprayed again, that WILL be the WORST
pain I ever experience in my life.”
Another student said, “My tears are like fire.”
Every time their peppered skin comes in contact with water
for the next 24 hours, the pepper is reactivated. Although Josh posted a “FunFact Sunday” about the history of pepper spray, I don’t think any of them
expected such a bad experience. They
used baby shampoo to literally wash their eyes out. Many of them were drooling,
spitting up, coughing, sneezing, burping, and anything else to attempt to find
relief. Water was their best friend & worst enemy combined. They have to
use it to get the solution off, but every time they use it, it reactivates the
burn. It sounds like they did a good job helping each other get through the exercise. I saw Josh about an hour after the experience, and I felt so bad for him
I couldn’t even laugh. I have no desire to EVER come in contact with pepper
spray! Needless to say, we went for margaritas to celebrate the end of that
journey!
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| Josh about 11/2 hours after being pepper sprayed |
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| Margaritas make everything better! |
Oh man that poor kid!!! Not fun, :(
ReplyDeleteOMG I feel so bad for you. That sounds worse than I thought too. I'm glad you were 2nd in line so the effects of the spay go away sooner. Hugs
ReplyDelete