Only-Pepper Spray

There are many people who unbeknownst to themselves are allergic to pepper  spray. In fact there have been many unconfirmed cases of death due to such allergic reactions.  If such an occurance happens to you or someone near you, I recommend that you start by calling 911.

Be sure to not rub the afected area. As this can be difficult you may need to subdue to person who is affected. Rubbing the skin clean will not stop the pain. The victim is only sreading the inflammation.

Next apply an antidote. If an OC decontamination product is available apply to the affected area. If no antidote is available douse with milk. Or by flushing the affected area with lots and lots of water, one can usually cleanse the affected area in that manner.

In the U.S., different states have different laws and regulations regarding the sale, carrying and use of pepper spray. Massachusetts classifies it as a firearm, and residents interested in pepper spray have to hold a valid license to carry firearms and buy them only from licensed firearms dealers. In Wisconsin, pepper spray cannot be camouflaged and must have a safety feature on it to prevent accidental discharge. In New York, anyone over 18 can legally possess pepper spray, but it must be purchased in person – not by mail order or online – at a pharmacy or from a licensed firearm retailer. In California, the spray container must hold less than 2.5 ounces.

Luckily for those states that have container size restrictions, the pepper spray Pepper Shot comes in containers of 2 ounces or less and still packs a punch. Its 10% pepper spray is rated at 2 million Scoville heat units and made with a very fine grain that is more effective than the coarser grains of other pepper sprays. It comes with various accessories for easy access, including a holster that can attach to your belt loop, an automobile visor clip and a quick release keychain. Pepper Shot is sure to keep your peace of mind intact, no matter what state you live in.

I’ve carried several forms of pepper spray over the years, and I always toss an old can after a few years for fear of it not working as well as a fresh can. Throughout my time carrying this invaluable piece of protection, I’ve observed wonderful innovations that have made keeping pepper spray handy much more easy and convenient. I’ve gone from large, bug-spray-sized cans to pocket-sized pepper spray keychains and everything in between! The handheld, easy-to-conceal versions of pepper spray make me feel the safest.

That said, my favorite kind of pepper spray is a pepper spray baton. Pepper spray batons are long and thin, making them easy to conceal in a closed fist. This gives me an advantage over an attacker, since he can’t see my method of defense soon enough to disable it. Mace batons have a maximum strength formula, and include six powerful bursts of pepper spray that shoot up to five feet. This means you don’t have to let your attacker get too close before you spray him in the eyes with 2 million Scoville heat units worth of burning. For the record, the extremely hot Habanero chili rates 100,000-350,000 Scoville heat units. Grinding Habanero into one’s eyes would be bad enough – imagine the painful burn of this bad baton!

Right before I moved into my first college dorm, my dad gave me a small can of pepper spray. I laughed, thinking he was overly paranoid, but I found that I was very glad I had it over those four years. There were many times that I walked home alone late at night, whether it was from a late night studying at the library or from a friend’s house in a nearby neighborhood. Luckily, I never needed to use my pepper spray, but I clutched it in my fist many times, ready to fire if needed.

Some form of pepper spray is a must for any college student, and mace pepper foam is one of the most effective kinds. It combines 10% pepper and foam to form a powerful deterrent against an attack. A jet of mace pepper foam can spray 8 to 10 feet, stopping an attacker in his tracks before he can get close enough to harm you. The thick foam covers his eyes, making it difficult to see, and the pepper is ground into his eyes when he attempts to wipe it away. This debilitating foam gives you plenty of time to run away and call the police. In a life-or-death situation, mace pepper foam gives you the precious time that’s needed to escape.

On the radio this morning, school bullying was the topic of discussion. A mother was worried about how her daughter should deal with middle-school bullies, and one of the hosts joked that she should carry mace. The mother laughed and said no, and she was right – mace would be overkill for dealing with middle-school aged kids, but she might want to offer her daughter some mace if she’s worried about being physically attacked while walking home. Predators often see teenage girls as easy targets because most can’t fight off a large male attacker, but a mace baton could be the perfect defense.

A mace baton is a very narrow canister that fits easily into a closed-fisted hand, making it nearly invisible to possible attackers. Its size makes it easy to keep handy in case a dangerous situation arises. It also comes in different colors – black is best for concealing it at night, while bright blue or red makes the baton easy to locate quickly in a purse or backpack. A mace baton sprays up to 5 feet, and a four-gram unit contains three one-second bursts. While teens should learn to deal with petty bullying through words, they should also be equipped to deal with more dangerous predators if needed.

Pepper foam, like pepper spray, works as an inflammatory. When used on a person, it causes that person to immediately close their eyes, and experience difficulty breathing, runny nose, and coughing. Pepper foam targets the mucus membranes in the eyes, nose, and throat, and causes them to become agitated. A single burst of pepper foam can immobilize an attacker for more three to fifteen minutes, and significant effect can be felt for half an hour, with residual effects lasting for two to six hours. Despite its ability to immobilize an attacker, pepper spray doesn’t deal long term damage unless the person has an existing condition like asthma. Pepper foam today is legal in most U.S. states, and is widely distributed.

It’s important to be aware of state pepper foam laws before purchasing the product, as it is considered a weapon in some states and can cause the owner to be fined or even risk imprisonment. There are only about five states that have regulations on pepper foam.

It’s important to protect ourselves from those who would seek to do us harm, given the opportunity. Most would-be assailants are cowards by nature, and will only attack if the circumstances are right. We can do a lot to protect ourselves by observing safe practices, especially at night. The crime rate increases at night because darkness provides concealment for criminals, but it’s possible to protect ourselves with good judgment. For example, never walk alone at night, even if it’s just to the car from the office. Walk with a co-worker, a security guard, or even a local law enforcement officer. Avoid dangerous situations as well; don’t walk down a dark alley, or walk through a bad neighborhood if there is another way. It’s also a good to carry protection. Whether it’s concealed protection like a Mace keychain, or something a bit more obvious like a canister of pepper spray, the presence of such protection will make potential attackers think twice.

We’re all entitled to be able to defend ourselves against those who would seek to take away our freedoms. Carrying protection can also boost confidence, and ensure that fear doesn’t take over in a dangerous situation.

While some might see it as a waste, it’s better to practice with a canister of pepper spray before using it.  Most pepper spray canisters are simple to use, but for a person with no experience, it can be a little difficult the first time.  When purchasing a canister of pepper spray, make sure to use at least one of the bursts to ensure that it works and to recognize the projectile range of the spray.  When aiming with any canister of pepper spray, take Wildfire pepper spray for example, it’s not essential to be right on target to be effective.  Pepper spray is designed to blanket an area, and while a direct hit will cause more damage, even a partial hit will incapacitate an attacker.  In general, it’s best to aim for an area between shoulders instead of the head, and let the pepper spray do the rest.  The optimal range also differs between various brands of pepper spray.

When an attacker is at close range, it’s best to aim the canister towards their eyes, but at longer ranges, between the shoulders is better otherwise it’s quite possible to miss.  Don’t rely on a can of pepper spray that is several years old either; take precautions to purchase a new canister at least once every two to three years. 

In some states throughout the nation, it’s illegal for civilians to carry Mace pepper spray without a permit, and in some cases, illegal all together.  It’s important to be aware of the rules and regulations pertaining to pepper spray in states of residence, as not conforming to the law can result in hefty fines and even jail time.  While some states have little to Mace regulations, others can be much more stringent.  There are several options for people living in states like Michigan that have an outright ban on pepper spray.  There are numerous safe pepper spray products that are approved for use in Michigan and other states that have bans on Mace products.  While there are bans on pepper spray for human use, bear pepper spray and pepper spray designed to repel vicious animals is often allowed, however, this pepper spray is not approved for use on humans. 

Bear pepper spray, for example, is designed to knock out a bear, and if used in excess can be fatal to a human.  Check at the state website or with a local law enforcement official before purchasing pepper spray online or bringing it in from another state. 

Depending on the size, a canister of pepper spray can be quite a clumsy object to carry around, and it can be even more difficult to use given a tense situation.  Keeping a large canister of pepper spray concealed in your coat, purse, or backpack can also take up a lot of room, especially for an object so seldom used.  Instead of carrying regular sized pepper spray, keep a pocket pepper spray concealed on your person.  These smaller canisters of pepper spray pack the same amount of power as a regular canister, but are available in a more functional size.  The only drawback to these smaller canisters is that they fire fewer bursts of pepper spray before becoming depleted.  But a single burst of pepper spray is enough to knock out an attacker, and having more is really only necessary for multiple uses. 

All people living in an area with potential danger should carry a canister of pocket pepper spray for protection.  Pepper spray is one of the most reliable and humane ways to deter a potential attacker, and many attackers will be deterred by the presence of pepper spray alone.