What is a Self Defense Spray made from? There are three types of chemicals used in Self Defense Sprays. The first two are type of tear gas and are called CS and CN. These man made chemicals are irritants to the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat, and lung). In large quantities, they cause heavy flow of tears and produce mucus and some choking.
The third and most widely used ingredient is OC (Oleoresin Capsicum). This is the molecule that makes chili peppers hot, so of course, you'll find it in pepper sprays. It's an inflammatory agent that causes uncontrolled choking and intense burning of the membranes, including the eyes.
What's the difference between pepper spray and tear gas? First, you can't fight through the effects of tear gas. The tearing and mucouse secretion are uncontrollable, so it will blind and choke you if it contacts the mucous membranes. Tear gas isnt as effective for though for drunken, super tough attackers.
Only pepper spray works to deter dogs, bears, and other wild animals.
Tear gas disburses fumes and you dont have to nail the attacker in the eyes. Pepper spray does not emit fumes, and it will not deteriorate with age, but it must be sprayed in the eyes or inhaled directly to be effective.
Tear gas takes take longer to take effect: from 5 to 30 seconds, while the effects of pepper spray are almost instantaneous.
Tear gas can't be washed off, while pepper spray can. MACE has come up with a new gel product however, that is hard to wipe or wash off. MACE also has a "triple action" self defense spray that contains all three ingredients, plus a special UV dye so that the assailant is easily identified by law enforcement.
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![I:0:T]
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 fast does it work and how long does it last? Pepper spray usually begins intense burning within 3-5 sec, and can last up to an hour or longer. The UV dyes can last up to a week to wash off.
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. [I:2:J]
What should I get: foam, spray, gel, fogger? It just depends on your specific application and preference. Mace brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they are really hard to wipe off. It just spreads and burns! The spray is actually a stream, and is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. The fogger is good for crowd control.
How should I store & carry pepper spray? Store your defensive spray in a safe place at room temperature. Keep it away from children. Do not leave it in your car during summer because high temperatures may cause the seals to leak.
You should try to keep your pepper spray in a place where you can pull it out and deploy it quickly. You shouldn't have to think twice about it or fumble throught your purse looking for it. Make sure you practice with it so it becomes 2nd nature. The time to familiarize yourself with it is not when your being attacked!
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 do I use pepper spray? It is very important that you get some training and 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?
In an emergency situation, make sure you have distance between you and the attacker. Don't get within their grabbing 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. It can help the police to identify your attacker.
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.
How do I remove pepper spray? 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 physician examine the exposed area if any irritation or pain persists after the decontamination procedures.
The third and most widely used ingredient is OC (Oleoresin Capsicum). This is the molecule that makes chili peppers hot, so of course, you'll find it in pepper sprays. It's an inflammatory agent that causes uncontrolled choking and intense burning of the membranes, including the eyes.
What's the difference between pepper spray and tear gas? First, you can't fight through the effects of tear gas. The tearing and mucouse secretion are uncontrollable, so it will blind and choke you if it contacts the mucous membranes. Tear gas isnt as effective for though for drunken, super tough attackers.
Only pepper spray works to deter dogs, bears, and other wild animals.
Tear gas disburses fumes and you dont have to nail the attacker in the eyes. Pepper spray does not emit fumes, and it will not deteriorate with age, but it must be sprayed in the eyes or inhaled directly to be effective.
Tear gas takes take longer to take effect: from 5 to 30 seconds, while the effects of pepper spray are almost instantaneous.
Tear gas can't be washed off, while pepper spray can. MACE has come up with a new gel product however, that is hard to wipe or wash off. MACE also has a "triple action" self defense spray that contains all three ingredients, plus a special UV dye so that the assailant is easily identified by law enforcement.
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![I:0:T]
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 fast does it work and how long does it last? Pepper spray usually begins intense burning within 3-5 sec, and can last up to an hour or longer. The UV dyes can last up to a week to wash off.
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. [I:2:J]
What should I get: foam, spray, gel, fogger? It just depends on your specific application and preference. Mace brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they are really hard to wipe off. It just spreads and burns! The spray is actually a stream, and is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. The fogger is good for crowd control.
How should I store & carry pepper spray? Store your defensive spray in a safe place at room temperature. Keep it away from children. Do not leave it in your car during summer because high temperatures may cause the seals to leak.
You should try to keep your pepper spray in a place where you can pull it out and deploy it quickly. You shouldn't have to think twice about it or fumble throught your purse looking for it. Make sure you practice with it so it becomes 2nd nature. The time to familiarize yourself with it is not when your being attacked!
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 do I use pepper spray? It is very important that you get some training and 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?
In an emergency situation, make sure you have distance between you and the attacker. Don't get within their grabbing 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. It can help the police to identify your attacker.
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.
How do I remove pepper spray? 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 physician examine the exposed area if any irritation or pain persists after the decontamination procedures.
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