Pepper spray uses Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) which comes from cayenne pepper. Defensive pepper sprays are measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) a common measure of a products' "hotness". A jalapeno pepper has an SHU of 5000, a habanero pepper 300,000 and a typical pepper spray will be in the 2 million SHU range.
A one second spray in the face with a 10 % solution of a pepper spray will get you 20-30 minutes away from an attacker. It will cause the attacker to have shortness of breathe, have temporary blindness due to excessive tearing and the eyes actually shutting down, coughing and choking. He will scream from the pain.
You will survive a potential attack and no permanent damage will be done to the attacker. A well aimed shot from a pepper spray has outstanding stopping power. That is why it has become one of the most effective women's self defense items and crime prevention tools.
Most pepper sprays have an effective range of 6-12 feet. A new gel pepper spray works up to 18 feet. Most models use a fine grain stream. Foam and fogger products are available for those who are unsure of their aiming abilities.
I have seen pepper sprays that can be disguised as pens, pagers, lipstick, and even hand held walking weights. Almost all models are small enough for a purse or to attach on a key chain. Some have velcro straps to attach to just about anything or a clip to hook onto a belt.
Who Uses Pepper Sprays
If you think crime can only happen to the other guy you are wrong. The "other guy" is thinking the same thing and YOU are that "other guy". There is a reason why they call it self defense. You have to protect yourself.
A violent crime occurs every 19 seconds and an assault every 29 seconds. For would be victims of a robbery, assault, theft, rape, murder, or kidnapping an investment of $15- $25 for a pepper spray is certainly worth the peace of mind and sense of security it provides. No one is safe from the crimes of today be it a personal assault or a home break in.
Women are particularly vulnerable, especially those who work late at night, those in sales positions, real estate agents, and those who live alone. They in particular need self defense products such as an effective OC pepper spray.
Please Note that even though pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, some states and cities have restrictions. Check with your local police department. Literally thousands of police departments carry and use pepper spray. Why wouldn't you?
First Defense Pepper Spray
Clearly, there are different situations that require different protective measures.
Desiring to protect oneself, loved ones, and one's belongings is something that comes naturally to everyone. Especially in dangerous situations, this natural instinct is heightened, such as on a street at night.
The most common suggestion made in such situations is to change one's schedules and routes to avoid possibly dangerous confrontations. However, this is not an option that everyone can avail.
Obviously some people would rather protect themselves than live in constant fear of what might possibly happen.
When people take action to protect themselves against other humans it is very common to hear that an individual who wants to protect himself/herself will end up signing up to attend personal defense classes. This is always great knowledge to have but most would prefer not to get physical and avoid any type of violence.
This also refutes the idea of acquiring a weapon or a firearm, and presents a pepper spray as the best possible option.
Pepper spray is a common substance which is used for self-defense purposes. It can be used against animals and humans if they become violent, aggressive or become a threat. The main active ingredient found in pepper spray is called "oleoresin capsicum" -- this chemical is often linked to chile peppers, chile is not to be confused with chili peppers which are a mixture of spices, meat, tomatoes, beans, etc.
Pepper sprays are classified as non-lethal self defense tool that is very effective at deterring attackers due to its instant effects. The spray works like any ordinary aerosol spray, but has a slightly higher area of effect.
According to the Scoville scale (used to measure the heat in peppers), pepper sprays range from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 units. By contrast, the hottest type of Chile is habanero at 300,000 units.
This makes it a potent inflammatory agent that causes immediate capillary dilation in eyes, lungs and nose the moment is comes in contact with these organs.
There are very few states where one needs a firearms license and ID to acquire a pepper spray. In most of the US though, Pepper spray is considered non-lethal and does not require any special license. This is because it is extremely useful for women as it can easily be carried in a purse.
Both Jack Krohn & First Home Security are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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