What goes into a self defense spray? The one commonly available today to the consumer can a single chemical, or a combination of 3 different irritating agents. Two of them are tear gas which is a mucous membrane irritant. Upon contact, it burns the eyes causing uncontrolled tearing, and copious mucous secretions.
The 3rd and most common ingredient is OC (Oleoresin Capsicum), which is the hot part of chili peppers. OC is not only an irritant, it is also an inflammatory agent and when it contacts the mucous membranes it causes choking and an unbelievable burning sensation. It can also cause temporary blindness from the burning pain.
How does tear gas and pepper spray compare when used? With tear gas, you generally cannot fight through the pain. Since the tearing and choking is uncontrollable, it will blind and choke the victim if it contacts the mucous membranes. However, tear gas isnt as effective for drug crazed, drunk or super tough assailants.
Tear Gas isnt effective on wild animals or dogs, pepper spray is.
Tear gas as the name implies, disburses into a gaseous form; you dont have to nail the attacker in the eyes. You just have to get it close. With pepper spray, you have to either hit the attacker in the eyes or mouth for it to be effective.
Tear gas takes take longer to be effective, anywhere from 5 seconds to 30 seconds, while the effects of pepper spray are almost instantaneous.
You can wash pepper spray off with soap and water, but with tear gas they'll have to suffer the effects for hours or days. MACE has a pepper spray gel however that is hard to wipe and wash off! They also have a "triple action" product, that contains both tear gas AND pepper spray so you have the best of all three chemicals. It also contains a UV dye so the cops can easily ID the person who attacked you.
So what so good about carrying these types of sprays? They have been time tested by police all over the world and are still heavily used for crowd control today. They are non-lethal and very effective when sprayed in the face of an attacker, giving you plenty of time to run! Because of its non-deadly effectiveness, unlike a gun, you may actually use it before being hurt by your assailant, and this early action may save your life. Sprays are cheap, and legal almost anywhere.
Self-defense sprays also have their limitations too. For instance, it may take a moment for the pepper spray to start burning and disable the attacker. In that time he can still attack you, or worse take your pepper spray from you and use it against you! If you spray it into the wind, you may end up with MACE in the FACE!
How is "hotness" measured? Pepper spray is rated in two ways: OC% and SHU rating. The % you see listed on the can explains how much OC is in the container relative to the other ingredients (propellant, dyes, etc.). However, this percentage cannot always be used to compare the "hotness" of different pepper sprays, and there are mixtures of various potencies of OC.
The other standard rating for pepper spray "hotness" is the Scoville Heat Unit or SHU. This number represents the amount of capsasin in the OC. Since different manufactures use different grades of OC, the percentage of OC in a spray becomes irrelavant. It's the SHU or amount of capsasin that matters. Look for a SHU rating of 2 million or higher for a real punch in your pepper spray!
Will pepper spray expire? How often should I replace my pepper spray? Most sprays have an expiration date stamped on the side of the canister. OC will not degrade over time, but the propellant may, and then the unit may not spray as far as expected, if at all. To make sure that propellant does not go bad, you should test your spray every 90 days. Every time you perform a test, you reduce the contents of the canister. If you are using a key chain model and you test regularly you may need to replace the unit every 9 to 12 months.
How long do the effects last? The burning takes a few seconds to kick in, and usually lasts from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the SHU rating. The UV Dye can "tag" a person for up to a week!
In what situations am I allowed to use pepper spray? Whenever you feel that you are in danger of being harmed. It's not ok to use the spray in an offensive manner, and you are not allowed to protect property with it. Only use pepper spray to defend life.
What is difference between foam, spray, gel, and fogger? It depends on what your going to need it for. Mace brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they are really hard to wipe off and they still spray in a stream, and it just spreads and burns! The stream is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. The fogger is good for crowd control.
Storage of pepper spray? Always store it at room temp as the propellant is under pressure. Keep it away from children and don't leave in you car on a hot day. You might get a surprise!
Think in advance how you want to carry your pepper spray. In a typical assault, you get no warnings and you will get attacked when you least expect it. Carry your pepper spray with you whenever possible, and keep it in the same place. You can put it in a loose outer pocket of a jacket or inside a pants pocket, or in a purse with an open pocket. Try a few different carrying methods and find good accessible locations for you. Practice and make sure you can draw it quickly in an emergency situation.
The keychain pepper sprays are very convenient, and you are more likely to carry them with you all the time because of their smaller size.
How should I use my pepper spray? It's very important that you get some practice with the specific spray you are going to carry. Study the canister, the nozzle, and the dispenser. Take your canister to an open field, make sure the wind, if any, is at your back, and fire it for about two seconds. How far will it spray? Is the spray a stream or a foggy mist? How did it react to the wind? Can you spray it into the eyes of an attacker?
When threatened, make sure you have distance between you and the attacker. Don't get within their stiking distance. Fire 2 or 3 second bursts directly into the eyes of the attacker. If it is not working, give them another two seconds. The small pocket or purse size will give you between 5 and 10 seconds of continual fire. Once the threat is stopped, run immediately and call the police. If your spray contains UV dye, tell the police that so they can ID the bad guy.
Is Pepper Spray Legal in my state? Pepper spray is LEGAL in all fifty states. However, some states and cities have specific regulations pertaining to the purchase, possession and use of defense sprays. Please check with your local law enforcement agency for any regulations your state may have.
New York: the sellers must be local licensed firearm dealers or local pharmacies. Massachusetts: the buyer is required to obtain a Firearms Identification Card (FID); the sellers must be local licensed firearm dealers. Michigan: OC Pepper Spray can be no stronger than a 2% concentrate. CS is the only Tear Gas accepted. Both must be no larger than 35 grams per can. No combination sprays allowed. Wisconsin: Pepper spray only. No Tear Gas, UV Dye or combination sprays. OC Pepper Spray can be no stronger than a 10% concentrate. The can must be between 15-60 grams only. They must have safety feature. California: Canisters cannot be more than 2.5 ounces. Animal Repellents such as bear spray and dog spray are legal and can be shipped to New York, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Is there anyplace where I cannot carry pepper spray? Yes. You cannot carry any pepper spray on an airplane or in carry-on luggage or in the passenger area. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) allows one Pepper Spray (up to 4 oz) per traveler in your checked luggage only.
Can I wash pepper spray off? If you get pepper spray on yourself, dont panic. Water, soap and time are all that is needed to decontaminate you. Exposure to fresh air should help, too. Remove all contaminated clothing. Flush the affected area with cool water. Warm water may intensify the burning and inflammation. Do not rub your face! Wash the affected area with non-oil or cold cream based soap. Don't apply oily lotions--they will trap OC resin onto your skin. Have a doctor examine the exposed area if any irritation or pain persists after the decontamination procedures. - 16928
The 3rd and most common ingredient is OC (Oleoresin Capsicum), which is the hot part of chili peppers. OC is not only an irritant, it is also an inflammatory agent and when it contacts the mucous membranes it causes choking and an unbelievable burning sensation. It can also cause temporary blindness from the burning pain.
How does tear gas and pepper spray compare when used? With tear gas, you generally cannot fight through the pain. Since the tearing and choking is uncontrollable, it will blind and choke the victim if it contacts the mucous membranes. However, tear gas isnt as effective for drug crazed, drunk or super tough assailants.
Tear Gas isnt effective on wild animals or dogs, pepper spray is.
Tear gas as the name implies, disburses into a gaseous form; you dont have to nail the attacker in the eyes. You just have to get it close. With pepper spray, you have to either hit the attacker in the eyes or mouth for it to be effective.
Tear gas takes take longer to be effective, anywhere from 5 seconds to 30 seconds, while the effects of pepper spray are almost instantaneous.
You can wash pepper spray off with soap and water, but with tear gas they'll have to suffer the effects for hours or days. MACE has a pepper spray gel however that is hard to wipe and wash off! They also have a "triple action" product, that contains both tear gas AND pepper spray so you have the best of all three chemicals. It also contains a UV dye so the cops can easily ID the person who attacked you.
So what so good about carrying these types of sprays? They have been time tested by police all over the world and are still heavily used for crowd control today. They are non-lethal and very effective when sprayed in the face of an attacker, giving you plenty of time to run! Because of its non-deadly effectiveness, unlike a gun, you may actually use it before being hurt by your assailant, and this early action may save your life. Sprays are cheap, and legal almost anywhere.
Self-defense sprays also have their limitations too. For instance, it may take a moment for the pepper spray to start burning and disable the attacker. In that time he can still attack you, or worse take your pepper spray from you and use it against you! If you spray it into the wind, you may end up with MACE in the FACE!
How is "hotness" measured? Pepper spray is rated in two ways: OC% and SHU rating. The % you see listed on the can explains how much OC is in the container relative to the other ingredients (propellant, dyes, etc.). However, this percentage cannot always be used to compare the "hotness" of different pepper sprays, and there are mixtures of various potencies of OC.
The other standard rating for pepper spray "hotness" is the Scoville Heat Unit or SHU. This number represents the amount of capsasin in the OC. Since different manufactures use different grades of OC, the percentage of OC in a spray becomes irrelavant. It's the SHU or amount of capsasin that matters. Look for a SHU rating of 2 million or higher for a real punch in your pepper spray!
Will pepper spray expire? How often should I replace my pepper spray? Most sprays have an expiration date stamped on the side of the canister. OC will not degrade over time, but the propellant may, and then the unit may not spray as far as expected, if at all. To make sure that propellant does not go bad, you should test your spray every 90 days. Every time you perform a test, you reduce the contents of the canister. If you are using a key chain model and you test regularly you may need to replace the unit every 9 to 12 months.
How long do the effects last? The burning takes a few seconds to kick in, and usually lasts from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the SHU rating. The UV Dye can "tag" a person for up to a week!
In what situations am I allowed to use pepper spray? Whenever you feel that you are in danger of being harmed. It's not ok to use the spray in an offensive manner, and you are not allowed to protect property with it. Only use pepper spray to defend life.
What is difference between foam, spray, gel, and fogger? It depends on what your going to need it for. Mace brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they are really hard to wipe off and they still spray in a stream, and it just spreads and burns! The stream is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. The fogger is good for crowd control.
Storage of pepper spray? Always store it at room temp as the propellant is under pressure. Keep it away from children and don't leave in you car on a hot day. You might get a surprise!
Think in advance how you want to carry your pepper spray. In a typical assault, you get no warnings and you will get attacked when you least expect it. Carry your pepper spray with you whenever possible, and keep it in the same place. You can put it in a loose outer pocket of a jacket or inside a pants pocket, or in a purse with an open pocket. Try a few different carrying methods and find good accessible locations for you. Practice and make sure you can draw it quickly in an emergency situation.
The keychain pepper sprays are very convenient, and you are more likely to carry them with you all the time because of their smaller size.
How should I use my pepper spray? It's very important that you get some practice with the specific spray you are going to carry. Study the canister, the nozzle, and the dispenser. Take your canister to an open field, make sure the wind, if any, is at your back, and fire it for about two seconds. How far will it spray? Is the spray a stream or a foggy mist? How did it react to the wind? Can you spray it into the eyes of an attacker?
When threatened, make sure you have distance between you and the attacker. Don't get within their stiking distance. Fire 2 or 3 second bursts directly into the eyes of the attacker. If it is not working, give them another two seconds. The small pocket or purse size will give you between 5 and 10 seconds of continual fire. Once the threat is stopped, run immediately and call the police. If your spray contains UV dye, tell the police that so they can ID the bad guy.
Is Pepper Spray Legal in my state? Pepper spray is LEGAL in all fifty states. However, some states and cities have specific regulations pertaining to the purchase, possession and use of defense sprays. Please check with your local law enforcement agency for any regulations your state may have.
New York: the sellers must be local licensed firearm dealers or local pharmacies. Massachusetts: the buyer is required to obtain a Firearms Identification Card (FID); the sellers must be local licensed firearm dealers. Michigan: OC Pepper Spray can be no stronger than a 2% concentrate. CS is the only Tear Gas accepted. Both must be no larger than 35 grams per can. No combination sprays allowed. Wisconsin: Pepper spray only. No Tear Gas, UV Dye or combination sprays. OC Pepper Spray can be no stronger than a 10% concentrate. The can must be between 15-60 grams only. They must have safety feature. California: Canisters cannot be more than 2.5 ounces. Animal Repellents such as bear spray and dog spray are legal and can be shipped to New York, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Is there anyplace where I cannot carry pepper spray? Yes. You cannot carry any pepper spray on an airplane or in carry-on luggage or in the passenger area. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) allows one Pepper Spray (up to 4 oz) per traveler in your checked luggage only.
Can I wash pepper spray off? If you get pepper spray on yourself, dont panic. Water, soap and time are all that is needed to decontaminate you. Exposure to fresh air should help, too. Remove all contaminated clothing. Flush the affected area with cool water. Warm water may intensify the burning and inflammation. Do not rub your face! Wash the affected area with non-oil or cold cream based soap. Don't apply oily lotions--they will trap OC resin onto your skin. Have a doctor examine the exposed area if any irritation or pain persists after the decontamination procedures. - 16928
About the Author:
Get the latest in quality MACE self defense sprays at PepperMace.org. We also have the lowest prices with FREE SHIPPING onTasers and Stun Guns
No comments:
Post a Comment