Out of all the non-lethal personal-protection products, pepper spray is the most affordable and one of the easiest to conceal. Law enforcement has been using pepper spray since the late 1980′s. In addition, letter carriers for the United States Postal Office carry defense sprays to repel dog attacks.
When attacked, it is imperative that the defense spray be directed at the assailant’s face. This will have four primary affects on him.
First, their eyes will be forced shut, with the spray’s chemical reaction inducing temporary blindness by dilating the eye capillaries. Imagine the stinging sensation of shampoo in your eye, but magnify it by one-hundred. The attacker’s eyes will remain bloodshot for nearly an hour afterwards.
Secondly, the attacker’s respiratory system will experience sudden inflammation. Their mucous membranes will swell giving them no additional air, save for live support. Their throat will partially close, blocking the airway to a degree. This loss of air will incapacitate them and they will not be able to continue any attack or strenuous physical action. This can last up to forty-five minutes, along with extreme bouts of coughing, gagging, and gasping for air.
Any of the attacker’s skin that has made contact with the pepper spray will instantly become irritated and inflamed, in addition to them feeling that their skin is burning.
Physical and muscle coordination for the assailant will also become impaired, due to their abrupt loss of vision. This will give you the chance to run away and contact the authorities. Never hang around for a second longer than you need to!
In approximately forty-five minutes, the affects of the pepper spray will wear off the attacker, but he still won’t get off scott-free. Most pepper sprays today contain an identifying vegetable dye that will remain on the assailant’s skin for at least a week.
Many people confuse pepper spray with mace and tear gas. First off, Mace is a brand name and technically classified as a form of tear gas. Mace may not bring down an attacker who has a lower pain tolerance, altered by drugs and alcohol. The affects of pepper spray are instantaneous to anyone no matter what their condition. The affects of Mace are not.
If your assailant is in an extreme fit of rage, on a drug like PCP, or has reached the point of insanity, and has basically entered any other such condition where pain can no longer be felt or is dulled – tear gas and Mace is not guaranteed to stop them. Pepper spray will. The affects of pepper spray are longer lasting to the attacker and the identifying vegetable dye will remain on him for some time.
Currently, most pepper sprays have an expiration date somewhere on the canister. The spray itself won’t evaporate and will last indefinitely, however, after some time it will begin to become less potent. In time the aerosol may also leak as well, affecting the spray range. The rule of thumb is that you should not keep your pepper spray for longer than two years, at most. It is far better to buy a replacement and have the peace-of-mind that your pepper spray is as potent as can be, than risk being at a disadvantage later on.
It is crucial that you test the pepper spray and become familiar with using it. To do so, you should go outside to a safe place and, with after determining which way the wind is blowing (you certainly don’t want to be on the receiving end of the spray yourself) and spray for about half-a-second. This should be done once the product is purchased and once every three months thereafter. Also, practice with turning the safety release, so your motion is slick and fluid, should you be thrust into a dangerous, life-threatening situation.
Not only is it imperative that you familiarize yourself with the act of using the pepper spray, but it is equally important to mentally run through a potential situation in which you may need to use the pepper spray. Your mindset at the moment of attack is the first and greatest line of defense you will have against an assailant!
You should always carry your pepper spray on you, whether it’s night or day. A common misconception is that criminals only work the nightshift and lunge from the shadows. This is not true; as much crime, if not more, happens in the day. You never know when an assailant will attack; therefore you should never risk not having your pepper spray on you. It’s an old saying, but its true: ‘better to be safe than to be sorry’. Don’t risk it!
Never show anyone that you have the pepper spray until you’re going to use it and the assailant has no chance to react. Never warn the assailant that you have pepper spray, or threaten that you will spray him. Like poker, never show you hand until the last moment. A one second burst will be enough to bring down even the largest, most imposing criminal – so long as the burst hits his face! The range of a ½ oz canister will reach 6-8 feet while a 2 oz canister will range between 10-15 feet. Keep in mind that most attacks are up-close and personal, which usually means the assailant will be 2-3 feet away from you at the moment of attack.
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