| How are Self Defense Sprays Made? | | | | When is it OK to use the pepper spray? |
| There are 3 main ingredients that go into self defense | | | | Whenever you feel truly threatened. Just keep in mind |
| sprays. Two of them are types of tear gas and called | | | | that you have to use it in defense of life, and not in |
| CS and CN. They irritate the membranes and cause | | | | defense of property. You are now allow to use |
| uncontrolled tear flow and mucous discharge. It's | | | | sprays in an offensive manner, only self defense. |
| amazing when you see the stopping power of just this | | | | What's better: foam, spray, gel, or fogger? |
| irritant alone. The 3rd and most common ingredient is | | | | It depends on your situation and preference. Mace |
| OC (Oleoresin Capsicum), which is the hot part of chili | | | | brand gels and foams are preferred by many as they |
| peppers. OC is not only an irritant, it is also an | | | | are really hard to wipe off. The spray is actually a |
| inflammatory agent and when it contacts the mucous | | | | stream, and is easier to aim into the eyes and mouth. |
| membranes it causes choking and an unbelievable | | | | Foggers are used for crowd control. |
| burning sensation. It can also cause temporary | | | | What about storage of pepper spray? |
| blindness from the burning pain. | | | | Always store it at room temp as the propellant is |
| What is the difference between pepper spray and | | | | under pressure. Keep it away from children and don't |
| tear gas? | | | | leave in you car on a hot day. You might get a |
| You cant fight thru the pain of tear gas. It will blind and | | | | surprise! You should try to keep your pepper spray in |
| choke you if it contacts the mucous membranes. Tear | | | | a place where you can pull it out and deploy it quickly. |
| gas isnt as effective for intoxicated, crazy, super | | | | You shouldn't have to think twice about it or fumble |
| tough attackers. Pepper Spray is effective on wild | | | | through your purse looking for it. Make sure you |
| animals and dogs, but tear gas is not. Tear gas | | | | practice with it so it becomes 2nd nature. The time to |
| disburses fumes and you don't have to nail the | | | | familiarize yourself with it is not when your being |
| attacker in the eyes. Pepper spray does not emit | | | | attacked! The keychain pepper sprays are very |
| fumes, and it will not deteriorate with age, but it must | | | | convenient, and you are more likely to carry them with |
| be sprayed in the eyes or inhaled directly to be | | | | you all the time because of their smaller size. |
| effective. Tear gas takes about 5 to 30 sec to start | | | | What's the best way to use pepper spray? |
| working whereas pepper spray burns instantaneously. | | | | It is very important that you get some training and |
| Tear gas can't be washed off, while pepper spray | | | | practice with the specific spray you are going to carry. |
| can. MACE has come up with a new gel product | | | | Study the canister, the nozzle, and the dispenser. Take |
| however, that is hard to wipe or wash off. MACE also | | | | your canister to an open field, make sure the wind, if |
| has a "triple action" self defense spray that contains all | | | | any, is at your back, and fire it for about two seconds. |
| three ingredients, plus a special UV dye so that the | | | | How far will it spray? Is the spray a stream or a foggy |
| assailant is easily identified by law enforcement. | | | | mist? How did it react to the wind? Can you spray it |
| So what so good about carrying these types of | | | | into the eyes of an attacker? When threatened, make |
| sprays? | | | | sure you have distance between you and the |
| They have been time tested by police all over the | | | | attacker. Don't get within their striking distance. Fire 2 or |
| world and are still heavily used for crowd control | | | | 3 second bursts directly into the eyes of the attacker. |
| today. They are non-lethal and very effective when | | | | If it is not working, give them another two seconds. |
| sprayed in the face of an attacker, giving you plenty of | | | | The small pocket or purse size will give you between |
| time to run! Because of its non-deadly effectiveness, | | | | 5 and 10 seconds of continual fire. Once the threat is |
| unlike a gun, you may actually use it before being hurt | | | | stopped, run immediately and call the police. If your |
| by your assailant, and this early action may save your | | | | spray contains UV dye, tell the police that so they can |
| life. Sprays are cheap, and legal almost anywhere. | | | | ID the bad guy. |
| Even so, you should still be aware of its limitations. | | | | Is Pepper Spray Legal in my state? |
| Pepper spray may take a few seconds to disable and | | | | Pepper spray is LEGAL in all fifty states. However, |
| attacker, so that assailant may be able to take your | | | | some states and cities have specific regulations |
| canister away from you, before the effects of the | | | | pertaining to the purchase, possession and use of |
| spray kick in. That means your own weapon may be | | | | defense sprays. Please check with your local law |
| used against you. Also, wind and rain may reduce its | | | | enforcement agency for any regulations your state |
| range and effectiveness. You may get spray-back | | | | may have. New York: the sellers must be local |
| when sprayed against strong wind. | | | | licensed firearm dealers or local pharmacies. |
| How effective are the various brands of pepper | | | | Massachusetts: the buyer is required to obtain a |
| spray? | | | | Firearms Identification Card (FID); the sellers must be |
| Pepper spray is rated in two ways: OC% and SHU | | | | local licensed firearm dealers. Michigan: OC Pepper |
| rating. The % you see listed on the container explains | | | | Spray can be no stronger than a 2% concentrate. CS |
| how much OC is in the container relative to the other | | | | is the only Tear Gas accepted. Both must be no larger |
| ingredients (propellant, dyes, etc.). This percentage | | | | than 35 grams per can. No combination sprays |
| cannot always be used to compare the "hotness" of | | | | allowed. Wisconsin: Pepper spray only. No Tear Gas, |
| different pepper sprays, and there are mixtures of | | | | UV Dye or combination sprays. OC Pepper Spray can |
| various potency of OC. The hotness of OC is directly | | | | be no stronger than a 10% concentrate. The can must |
| related to the amount of the capsaicin in the OC, | | | | be between 15-60 grams only. They must have safety |
| which varies significantly from manufacturer to | | | | feature. California: Canisters cannot be more than 2.5 |
| manufacturer. The amount of capsaicin in OC is rated | | | | ounces. Animal Repellents such as bear spray and |
| in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). To compare the hotness | | | | dog spray are legal and can be shipped to New York, |
| of two different pepper sprays, SHU rating is more | | | | Wisconsin and Michigan. |
| important. The more capsaicin content the OC has, the | | | | Is there anyplace where I cannot carry pepper spray? |
| hotter & more effective the spray will be. Two | | | | Yes. You cannot carry any pepper spray on an |
| million SHU will be sufficient. | | | | airplane or in carry-on luggage or in the passenger |
| What's the shelf life of pepper spray? | | | | area. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) allows |
| The truth is that OC doesn't degrade with time. | | | | one Pepper Spray (up to 4 oz) per traveler in your |
| Sometimes however, the propellant goes bad. You | | | | checked luggage only. |
| should plan on replacing it when it reaches the | | | | How do I remove pepper spray from myself? |
| expiration date, which is stamped on the sides or | | | | If you get pepper spray on yourself, dont panic. Water, |
| bottoms of the container. Usually however you should | | | | soap and time are all that is needed to decontaminate |
| plan on replacing it yearly. | | | | you. Exposure to fresh air should help, too. Remove all |
| How long for the spray to work, and how long will the | | | | contaminated clothing. Flush the affected area with |
| effect last? | | | | cool water. Warm water may intensify the burning and |
| It can take 3-5 seconds for pepper spray to take | | | | inflammation. Do not rub your face! Wash the affected |
| effect, and the effects can last anywhere from 15 | | | | area with non-oil or cold cream based soap. Don't |
| minutes to about 60 minutes depending on | | | | apply oily lotions--they will trap OC resin onto your skin. |
| concentration, which will give you plenty of time to | | | | Have a physician examine the exposed area if any |
| escape an attacker and call the police. The UV Dye, a | | | | irritation or pain persists after the decontamination |
| harmless additive used to assist authorities in catching | | | | procedures. |
| the attacker, will generally wear off in about a week. | | | | |