Facts about Pepper Spray

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There can be no definitive answer as to whether or not pepper spray will protect you. It all depends on the type of pepper spray used and the manner in which you use it. I have been a police officer since 2000 and have used pepper spray several times to protect myself and others. As an experienced and trained user of pepper spray, I know that all too often, circumstances beyound our control may render the pepper spray ineffective.

Pepper spray is commonly referred to as OC Spray, which is short of oleoresin capsicum. Just as its name implies, pepper spray is made from Cayenne peppers, which are amonth the hottest in the world. Finally ground capsicum is processed and a “oily resin” extracted. The oleorisin is then mixed with water and pressurized to make it an aerosol, which can then be delivered from a variety of different types of canisters.

When shopping for a can of pepper spray, you will find that you have many options available. The first option you should consider when purchasing pepper spray is the Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Scoville Heat Units are used to measure the hotness of the pepper spray. The higher the SHU, the hotter the spray will be. Although you may find some pepper spray rated at 1 million SHU (which will be part of the canister label), I highly recommend you purchase pepper spray with a rating of at least 2 million SHU.

The next option you will have is the delivery method. Pepper spray can be delivered in a stream, foam, fogger or cone. Although the stream delviery method is the most commonly used, I perfer and recommend the foam. With the stream method, the canister delivers a steady stream of pepper spray to the location that you are aiming for. Unfortunatley, if your aim is off or the wind is blowing, you will probably miss your target. With the foam delivery method, a much wider area is covered with foam and you do not have to be as precise with you aim. Foam also works much better in windy conditions.

The next option you have is canister size. Please don’t spend too much time worrying about whether or not you will have enough pepper spray if you decide on a smaller canister. There will be enough, even in a small canister, to disable an attacker. You should pick a canister size that you feel is suitable to your situation and storage or concealment area. The larger the canister, the harder it will be to conceal. In addition, you can find pepper spray in a variety of different designer “canisters”. From ink pens to fake hair spray, peppery spray has been concealled and marketed in a wide range of products.

Now that you have selected your pepper spray, how should you use it? I would personally like to recommend, to men and women alike, that you have your canister of pepper spray in your hand whenever you feel danger may be lurking. For example, you leave your work at 10pm and walk through a dark parking garage to your car. Or, you’ve just left the shopping mall at closing time andhave to walk two blocks to find your car in the parking lot. Or, it’s 2am and you just left your neighborhood bar and decide to walk home instead of taking a cab. All of these situations and many more just like them should prompt you to have your can of pepper spray available and ready. If you have to dig through your purse or coat to retrieve it, it’s probably too late. The attacker will not accept a “time out” so you can find your pepper spray.

Ok, so you have your pepper spray at the ready, firmly gripped and by your side. The next step you will take is to BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. I don’t know how many times people are attacked and had no clue it was coming. More often that not, the attackers are not hiding in the bushes or behind a tree, they are walking in front of you or behind you. They have taken notice of you in the parking garage, the mall or the bar and are following you. Although pepper spray is a wonderful defensive weapon, the best defense is a good offense. Wherever you go, whether you’re driving or walking, know who is around you. Look behind you. Look to your side. Look to your front. Then do it again and again and again, until you get to where you know you’re safe. You must be paranoid, more so in certain circumstances. Ok, so you are aware of your surroundings and you see someone approaching you quickly from the rear. Do you run? I don’t know, can you outrun him or her? A better choice, if available, is to get to an area where there are other people. You don’t want to be alon if you feel you will be attacked. If this is not an option, find a building or a car and put your back up against it. This method will take away one side of the attack. It will also make it harder for the attacker to knock you to the ground. Although some may argue you are eliminating an escape round, the benefits far outweigh this arguement. Chances are, if you are in the open and have decided you cannot outrun the attacker, you won’t escape.

With your pepper spray in hand, raise the spray to your chest area. DO NOT extend your hand that’s holdingthe pepper spray. If you extend your hand it will be easier for the attacker to take the pepper spray out of your hand. Keep a firm grip on it and keep it close to your body. If you are certain ou are about to be attacked, wait until the attacker gets to within about ten feet of you before “firing” your pepper spray. If he or she gets too close, the pepper spray will not have time to work before the attacker is upon you. If the attacker is too far way, the pepper spray will not reach the target. When aiming at the attacker, aim for the face or just below the face. As explained above, the foam will cover a much broader area than the spray, therefore the foam is my preferred choice of delivery methods. After you administer a 2 or 3 second burst, move away. If the attacker follows you, repeat the above process again. While being attacked it’s important that you try to remian calm and in control of the situation. Remember to scream as lound as you can “HELP I’M BEING ATTACKED” or anything else that might get people’s attention. After you deliver one or two shots of pepper spray to the attacker’s face, neck or upper chest region, he or she will become incapacitated. Once this happens, run to a safe area and call the police. Give the police a description of the attacker, the last known are you saw the attacker and let the police know you sprayed the attacker with pepper spray.

Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent that will cause temporary blindness, disorientation, runny nose, burning sensation, coughing and a variety of other side effects. If used properly, pepper spray is a safe alternative to more lethat forms of slef defense and will provide you with the opportunity to escape and attack or other violent situation. To learn more about pepper spray, training and certification, please contact Trinity Executive Services, Inc. at http://www.nomorecrime or visit Ezine Articles at http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Best-Pepper-Spray&id=1774314.