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 is the difference between pepper spray and tear gas? You cant fight thru the pain of tear gas. It will blind and choke you if it contacts the mucous membranes. Tear gas isnt as effective for intoxicated, crazy, super tough attackers.
Only pepper spray works to deter dogs, bears, and other wild animals.
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.
What’s the advantage of self defense sprays? They have proven to be extremely reliable when used correctly. That’s why they are still heavily used for crowd control by police all over the world. In addition, it’s a non-lethal self defense weapon which allows people to use it without hesitation in the event of an attack. Early intervention can save your life instead of waiting until you are really in danger to strike back. Pepper sprays are cheap to keep, and legal to carry and use, almost everywhere.
Even so, you should still be aware of its limitations. Pepper spray may take a few seconds to disable and attacker, so that assailant may be able to take your canister away from you, before the effects of the spray kick in. That means your own weapon may be used against you. Also, wind and rain may reduce its range and effectiveness. You may get spray-back when sprayed against strong wind.
How do I compare various pepper sprays? Pepper spray is rated in 2 ways: OC% and SHU rating. The % you see listed on the package (10%, 15%, etc.) 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 hotness of OC is directly related to the amount of the capsaicin in the OC, which varies significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer. The amount of capsaicin in OC is rated in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). To compare the hotness of two different pepper sprays, SHU rating is more important. The more capsaicin content the OC has, the hotter & more effective the spray will be. Two million SHU will be sufficient.
How long will my pepper spray last? That depends on how big the container is! If your wondering how long you can store it for, its usually about a year. Each container will have an expiration date. The truth is that the OC is not effected by storage time. The propellant however, is not as dependable. If your likely to use it, then you should test spray it every once in a while!
How long do the effects last? The burning takes a few seconds to kick in, and usually lasts from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the SHU rating. The UV Dye can “tag” a person for up to a week!
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.
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.
Where do I store my pepper spray? Anywhere away from kids and heat! It’s tempting to leave it in you car, but don’t leave it there on hot days. The propellant is under pressure and you don’t want it to leak into your car!
Think in advance how you want to carry your pepper spray. In a typical assault, you get no warnings and you will get attacked when you least expect it. Carry your pepper spray with you whenever possible, and keep it in the same place. You can put it in a loose outer pocket of a jacket or inside a pants pocket, or in a purse with an open pocket. Try a few different carrying methods and find good accessible locations for you. Practice and make sure you can draw it quickly in an emergency situation.
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?
When threatened, make sure you have distance between you and the attacker. Don’t get too close to them or they could grab your spray! 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 that to the police.
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.