| When it comes to non lethal self defense | | | | Foam and fogger products are available for those |
| weapons pepper spray is right up there at the | | | | who are unsure of their aiming abilities. |
| top of popularity for two main reasons: ease of | | | | I have seen pepper sprays that can be disguised |
| use and effectiveness. | | | | as pens, pagers, lipstick, and even hand held |
| How It Works | | | | walking weights. Almost all models are small |
| Pepper spray uses Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) which | | | | enough for a purse or to attach on a key chain. |
| comes from cayenne pepper. Defensive pepper | | | | Some have velcro straps to attach to just about |
| sprays are measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) | | | | anything or a clip to hook onto a belt. |
| a common measure of a products' "hotness". A | | | | Who Uses Pepper Sprays |
| jalapeno pepper has an SHU of 5000, a habanero | | | | If you think crime can only happen to the other |
| pepper 300,000 and a typical pepper spray will be | | | | guy you are wrong. The "other guy" is thinking |
| in the 2 million SHU range. | | | | the same thing and YOU are that "other guy". |
| A one second spray in the face with a 10 % | | | | There is a reason why they call it self defense. |
| solution of a pepper spray will get you 20-30 | | | | You have to protect yourself. |
| minutes away from an attacker. It will cause the | | | | A violent crime occurs every 19 seconds and an |
| attacker to have shortness of breathe, have | | | | assault every 29 seconds. For would be victims |
| temporary blindness due to excessive tearing and | | | | of a robbery, assault, theft, rape, murder, or |
| the eyes actually shutting down, coughing and | | | | kidnapping an investment of $15- $25 for a |
| choking. He will scream from the pain. | | | | pepper spray is certainly worth the peace of mind |
| You will survive a potential attack and no | | | | and sense of security it provides. No one is safe |
| permanent damage will be done to the attacker. | | | | from the crimes of today be it a personal assault |
| A well aimed shot from a pepper spray has | | | | or a home break in. |
| outstanding stopping power. That is why it has | | | | Women are particularly vulnerable, especially those |
| become one of the most effective women's self | | | | who work late at night, those in sales positions, |
| defense items and crime prevention tools. | | | | real estate agents, and those who live alone. |
| Most pepper sprays have an effective range of | | | | They in particular need self defense products such |
| 6-12 feet. A new gel pepper spray works up to | | | | as an effective OC pepper spray. |
| 18 feet. Most models use a fine grain stream. | | | | |