How are Self Defense Sprays Made? There are 3 main ingredients that go into self defense sprays. Two of them are types of tear gas and called CS and CN. They irritate the membranes and cause uncontrolled tear flow and mucous discharge. It's amazing when you see the stopping power of just this irritant alone.
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.
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.
Pepper Spray is effective on wild animals and dogs, but tear gas is not.
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.
Despite it's effectiveness, you should also know its limitations. Pepper spray can take a moment to take effect and stop an attack. In that time, the bad guy could take the container away from you and use on you! Also, if you were to spray it against the wind, you might get a face full of MACE!
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 only "hotness" rating that matters is SHU (Scoville Heat Units). It directly correlates with the amount of capsasin molecule, in OC. Since the capsasin is the active ingredient, then it make sense that the higher the SHU, the hotter it is. Different manufacturers have different grades of OC with varying amounts of capsasin. Look for 2 million SHU and above for maximum effectiveness!
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.
When is it OK to use the pepper spray? Whenever you feel truly threatened. Just keep in mind that you have to use it in defense of life, and not in defense of property. You are now allow to use sprays in an offensive manner, only self defense.
What's better: foam, spray, gel, or fogger? It depends on your situation and preference. Mace brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they are really hard to wipe off. The spray is actually a stream, and is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. Foggers are used 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.
Carry your defense spray in a place where you can get to it easily. The bottom of a purse is not a good place! Try using a clip so that you can quickly deploy it if needed, and try to keep it in the same comfortable place at all times. Also practice with it so that your already familiar with your weapon when you need to use it.
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.
What should I know about MY pepper spray? It's important that you get some practice with the specific spray you are going to use. 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 from myself? 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.
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.
Pepper Spray is effective on wild animals and dogs, but tear gas is not.
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.
Despite it's effectiveness, you should also know its limitations. Pepper spray can take a moment to take effect and stop an attack. In that time, the bad guy could take the container away from you and use on you! Also, if you were to spray it against the wind, you might get a face full of MACE!
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 only "hotness" rating that matters is SHU (Scoville Heat Units). It directly correlates with the amount of capsasin molecule, in OC. Since the capsasin is the active ingredient, then it make sense that the higher the SHU, the hotter it is. Different manufacturers have different grades of OC with varying amounts of capsasin. Look for 2 million SHU and above for maximum effectiveness!
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.
When is it OK to use the pepper spray? Whenever you feel truly threatened. Just keep in mind that you have to use it in defense of life, and not in defense of property. You are now allow to use sprays in an offensive manner, only self defense.
What's better: foam, spray, gel, or fogger? It depends on your situation and preference. Mace brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they are really hard to wipe off. The spray is actually a stream, and is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. Foggers are used 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.
Carry your defense spray in a place where you can get to it easily. The bottom of a purse is not a good place! Try using a clip so that you can quickly deploy it if needed, and try to keep it in the same comfortable place at all times. Also practice with it so that your already familiar with your weapon when you need to use it.
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.
What should I know about MY pepper spray? It's important that you get some practice with the specific spray you are going to use. 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 from myself? 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.
About the Author:
Get the latest in quality MACE self defense sprays at PepperMace.org. Be sure to also check out our low priced non-lethalTasers and Stun Guns at SmartLifeStore.com
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