By Johnny Devanty
Pepper spray allows victims to defend themselves against an assailant. There are sprays meant to defend against other humans, dogs, and even bears. When sprayed in the aggressor's eyes, the results are temporary, but effective. When hit with pepper spray, one will feel an intense pain that will cause the eyes to close immediately. Thereafter, the eyes will tear up, and temporary blindness may occur. Eventually, the assailant will have difficulty breathing, may experience a coughing fit, a runny nose, and a burning sensation on his or her skin.
Pepper spray is a chemical compound made from the capsicum plant. The active ingredient is Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), thus, the spray is commonly referred to as OC spray, or OC gas. The strength of the spray will determine the duration of its effects. Generally, the effects last for about 45 minutes, and gradually subside after that. Although no long-term effects have been discovered, there have been deaths said to be caused by pepper spray, usually in the case of asthmatics or other people with allergies to the pepper being sprayed.
Before purchasing pepper spray, you should be aware of the different types. The Scoville Heat Units Scale (SHU) is used to rate the hotness of a pepper. Generally, pepper spray used by common people and the police force holds a rating of about 1 to 2 million. To give you a frame of reference, the lowest rating is a zero, for a bell pepper, and the highest is about 15 million, for pure capsaicin. Pepper sprays are also measured for there capsicum content. When considering which pepper spray you want, it is not recommended to purchase any spray with more than a 5% capsicum content. Anywhere between 2% and 5% is advised, because the thinner the spray is, the faster it will work. These are all things to look for on the label of the spray when purchasing in a store. If shopping online, do not purchase a spray that does not give you all of these details.
Pepper sprays also come in a variety of canisters. Some sprays are meant for a person's pocket, in which case the canister may look like a pen or a money clip. Other canisters may look similar to a pager, or an automatic lock/unlock for a car, and will fit on a keychain. There are also larger canisters meant for use in the home that may be in the shape of a fire extinguisher. Canisters will hold anywhere from ½ ounce to 1 pound of spray. The smaller cans will hit targets five feet away, whereas larger cans can hit targets up to 30 feet away. Although smaller cans are much more convenient, you must able to get to them quickly and use them correctly; 5 feet is enough room for the aggressor to act quick and disable you from getting to your spray. Practicing the right use of the spray may be beneficial, especially if you are purchasing a small container meant for carrying around on your person.
Pepper spray is legal in most states for adults aged 18 and over. Certain states have specific laws about the use of pepper spray. Before purchasing a spray, it's important to research the state laws about the purchase and usage of pepper spray.
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Source:www.isnare.com |
