| v> | | | | percent is usually the most effective. Most higher |
| Over 1,400,000 people are the victims of violent | | | | concentrations will be too thick to atomize. Any less, |
| crime every year (The White House). You have to | | | | and the spray will simply not be powerful enough. |
| do something to protect yourself, as the police will | | | | However, there are some exceptions. Mace, a |
| not be there to help you. Pepper Sprays are one of | | | | company that makes self-defense sprays, offers a |
| the best ways to protect yourself from being | | | | 10-percent solution that is well known to immediately |
| attacked. | | | | incapacitate any would-be attacker. The Wildfire 18% |
| While violent crime rates have actually fallen in the | | | | sprays are also very effective. As a last resort, even |
| last 10 years, almost 1,400,000 people are still the | | | | dog or bear sprays will take down an attacker. The |
| victims of violent crime every year (The White | | | | most important thing to consider, once you decide if |
| House). You have to do something to protect | | | | pepper spray will protect you, is the state you live. |
| yourself, as the police will not be there to help you. | | | | Several states, and some cities and counties, have |
| One product that has the potential to deter or stop | | | | restrictions on concealing and carrying pepper sprays. |
| you from being a victim of crime is self defense | | | | Other states may require a permit. Still others may |
| sprays, or pepper sprays. | | | | restrict what kind of pepper sprays are allowed, |
| The active ingredient is pepper spray is Oleoresin | | | | require the holder to carry a permit or take classes, |
| Capsicum, a chemical derived from hot cayenne | | | | or flat-out prohibit pepper spray. The best thing to |
| peppers. This ingredient, sometimes referred to as | | | | do is call your local police station, and ask them what |
| OC, is mixed with a carrier and a propellant in a can | | | | self-defense items you can legally carry. |
| with a spray nozzle to release the spray. | | | | Most spray pepper canisters feature a safety |
| When pepper spray is sprayed into an attackers | | | | function to prevent accidental discharge, belt loops |
| face, the pepper spray affects the skin, eyes, nose, | | | | for easy carrying and quick deployment, and a serial |
| throat, and lungs. You know what happens when you | | | | number for quality-tracking purposes. |
| rub your eye after touching a chili pepper. Imagine | | | | Pepper sprays usually come in three types of sprays: |
| that pain by 10,000 percent! Immediately, the | | | | stream, mist, and fog. The fogger sprays are the |
| capillaries in the eyes dilate, which slams the eyelids | | | | most effective because they put out a super fine |
| shut. The attacker's bronchial tubes will swell tightly, | | | | mist that is difficult to avoid. You can spray in front |
| making it extremely difficult for the attacker to | | | | of you and fall back, and your attacker must walk |
| breathe. The effects normally last from a few | | | | through the fog, which he will start breathing. Your |
| minutes, up to 60 minutes, depending on the | | | | other two choices are streams and mists, which are |
| concentration of pepper spray. Plenty of time for | | | | both effective, though they have to be aimed |
| you to run to safety and call the police. | | | | directly into an attacker's face for maximum effect. |
| Pepper spray has been used for years by police and | | | | Each individual pepper spray has an effective range |
| governments in riot and crowd control, and personal | | | | from 4-20 feet depending on the size and type of |
| self-defense, including a lower percent version of | | | | projection. Pepper Sprays contain a varying number |
| 1-5% for defending yourself against dog and bear | | | | of bursts of spray depending on size and model. |
| attacks. It is a non-lethal agent that can be deadly in | | | | Pepper sprays are rated in Scoville Heat units (SHUs), |
| rare cases. Pepper spray works well to reduce a | | | | with 2 million scoville heat units being close to a very |
| police officers exposure to attack, and has | | | | hot habenero pepper. |
| decreased the total number of cases of officer | | | | Pepper sprays start under $10 and go up from there |
| injury. | | | | depending on the size, a small price to pay when |
| The effectiveness of pepper spray prompted | | | | you're considering your personal safety and peace of |
| manufacturers to offer the weapon to the general | | | | mind. Pepper sprays do work and will protect you |
| public. Pepper spray typically comes in variety of | | | | from being a victim of crime. If you use pepper |
| canisters that range from ½ oz to 1 pound or | | | | sprays in conjunction with street smarts, a good stun |
| more. Typically the 1/2oz or 1oz sizes are small | | | | gun, and some type of hand-to-hand self-defense |
| enough to be carried on your key chain, or concealed | | | | classes, pepper sprays are a highly effective tool for |
| in a pocket or purse. Pepper spray can also be | | | | staying safe and sound. |
| bought concealed in items such as lipstick, pagers, | | | | That's our report on "Will Pepper Spray Protect Me?". |
| pens, and rings. | | | | It's one of the best non-lethal defense products on |
| When you go to buy pepper spray, keep in mind | | | | the market, and used with a stun gun, gives you a |
| that the concentration of OC varies from 1% up to | | | | 1-2 punch that should take down the most |
| 18% or more. As a general rule of thumb, 1-5 | | | | aggressive of attackers. |