| So, you have decided to take up jogging in order to | | | | (Scoville Heat Units). A bell pepper has 0 SHU's; a |
| shed a few pounds. Because the neighborhood is not | | | | jalapeño about 5,000 and a habanero can have up |
| what it used to be, you opt to purchase a can of self | | | | to 300,000 SHU's ! Pure OC has a heat rating of 15 |
| defense spray. Simple enough, huh? Not necessarily. | | | | million. Most pepper sprays are rated in both |
| Consider this :There are three basic compounds | | | | percentages and SHU's, which only confuse things. My |
| CS - Orthochlorobenzalmalonitrile - Tear Gas - Irritant | | | | first question would be: A percentage of what? A |
| CN - Alphachloroacetaphenone - Tear Gas - Irritant | | | | 20% concentration of jalapeño peppers will not be |
| OC - Oleo resin Capsicum - Pepper Spray - | | | | as hot as a 2% concentration of habanero pepper. |
| Inflammatory Agent | | | | Therefore I recommend that you judge the strength of |
| Of the three, OC is the newest and most effective. | | | | a pepper spray simply by the SHU's. 2,000,000 SHU's |
| Some manufactures carry a combination of the three, | | | | is very effective,and will do the trick. A hotter |
| such as, OC/CS or OC/CN. They claim that there are | | | | concentration may start to cause tissue damage. |
| documented advantages to these mixtures, as well as | | | | Suspension Medium This is the carrier agent that |
| the OC only formulations. Tear Gas- CN and CS are | | | | keeps the OC floating in solution and aids in the |
| irritants. They irritate soft membrane tissues and cause | | | | dispersal from the can. Most manufactures keep their |
| coughing, tearing and stinging pain. They take between | | | | actual medium formula secret, but there are three |
| 5 and 30 seconds before becoming effective. For | | | | basic ones. Liquids; Gels; and Foams. |
| people who cannot feel pain ( people on drugs,drunk,or | | | | Delivery Types Foams and Gels These are the new |
| having a psychotic attack ) there may be no effect at | | | | kids on the block and they have been documented to |
| all. Because of these reasons, I suggest that these | | | | be very effective. They shoot farther (up to 18ft.), so |
| two chemicals, used alone, be only used by trained | | | | you do not have to be as close to your assailant. |
| professionals. CN and CS also takes longer to wear | | | | They are also more wind resistant. The concept is to |
| off and has been known to cause other complications. | | | | get some of this sticky glue like substance on your |
| Pepper Spray OC on the other hand is an | | | | attackers face. His first reaction is to wipe it off; which |
| inflammatory compound, which when sprayed into the | | | | will only allow more surface area contact with |
| face of an assailant, causes their eyes to slam shut | | | | attackers skin and compounding his problems. Here is |
| IMMEDIATELY. Even if the attacker was able to open | | | | a story of a lady who used pepper gel on her |
| his eyes, he still could not see . The OC will dilate the | | | | attacker. |
| capillaries within the eye and cause temporary | | | | Liquid OC Sprays Foggers The most effective |
| blindness. Next, the uncontrollable coughing and | | | | because the ultra fine mist is easily inhaled and causes |
| accompanying fit will take the person to the ground. | | | | inflammation to respiratory tissues as well as the eyes. |
| The OC also causes inflammation to the respiratory | | | | Foggers have very strong stopping power. They also |
| system which causes labored breathing. It is hard, if not | | | | allow you to put up a barrier between you and your |
| impossible, for anyone, after being sprayed, to continue | | | | attacker and and allow you to make your escape, as |
| with what they were doing. | | | | the fog tends to linger in the air. Foggers are usually |
| OC is manufactured by processing different types of | | | | effective 8-12ft. maximum and can be wind affected. |
| hot peppers. The heat in peppers is measured in SHU's | | | | |