| Pepper spray comes to the minds of many when | | | | feet away. Many pepper spray containers are |
| they think of women's self defense. It is highly | | | | designed to look like everyday objects such as rings |
| popular with Law Enforcement and individuals | | | | and pens to make concealment easy. |
| because it is portable, easy to conceal, highly | | | | Some pepper sprays contain an ultraviolet dye to |
| effective and easy to use. | | | | make identification of the attacker easier for Law |
| Pepper spray is very extremely powerful. If you | | | | Enforcement. |
| choose to use it, do so with care. | | | | Because the OC is not water soluble, it doesn't wash |
| It takes effect immediately and works by making | | | | away easily. The best way to neutralize its effects is |
| the eyelids shut or spasm. If breathed, it constricts | | | | to blink vigorously to encourage tears which will flush |
| the bronchial tubes causing the recipient to cough and | | | | it out of the eye. Rubbing, scratching or touching the |
| choke. It also causes a great deal of pain if it is | | | | affected areas will only prolong the burning sensation. |
| sprayed into the eyes and face of the attacker. | | | | Pepper spray can be purchased in hardware stores |
| This is enough to temporarily disable most people, | | | | and outlets that sell firearms as well as the internet. |
| even those who are drunk or mentally deranged. It is | | | | But before you make the decision to purchase it, it is |
| also used against dogs and bears. | | | | highly recommended that you check your local laws |
| Oleoresin capsicum, the oil of hot peppers, is the | | | | governing its use. While individuals can use it in most |
| main ingredient of pepper spray. It is mixed with a | | | | parts of the US, that is not the case in Canada and |
| propellant and put into a spray canister. Pepper | | | | many countries in Europe where it is limited to Law |
| sprays come in a variety of concentrations. These | | | | Enforcement. |
| concentrations are measured in Scoville Heat Units or | | | | Many factors will affect its effective use such as |
| SHUs. | | | | specific conditions such as wind and wind direction. |
| The amount of heat for the purpose of women's | | | | While Law Enforcement is generally trained in its use, |
| self defense should be at least 1 to 2 million SHU. | | | | most civilians are not. And, like any weapon, pepper |
| Concentration should be between 1-5%. | | | | spray can be used against you if your attacker is |
| Concentrations above 5% do not atomize well. | | | | able to wrestle it away. |
| To put this into perspective, an oil made of habanero | | | | But if you are going to use pepper spray, keep in |
| peppers produces up to 325,000 SHU. | | | | mind it is far more effective when you hold it in your |
| A standard pepper spray canister can shoot pepper | | | | hand ready to use rather than lying on the bottom of |
| spray far enough to reach an attacker up to 10-12 | | | | your purse. |