The most popular non-lethal, self-defense product available to the average citizen today is OC pepper spray, commonly known as, "pepper spray" or mace. Over the past few years mace pepper spray has grown in popularity to become the foremost self-protection product chosen by more everyday citizens than any other defending device. A few top selling brands are Pepper Shot, Mace and Wildfire.
What is there to know about mace pepper spray and how it works? Self defense pepper spray is made from Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), a naturally occurring, safe compound found in hot pepper plants. This is where it gets its name. OC is the active element that makes peppers hot. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is calculated in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). SHU is a scale developed in 1912 by an American chemist named Wilbur Scoville to gauge the hotness or spiciness of a variety of peppers. The number of SHU indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present in any given pepper. For example, a common bell pepper has no capsaicin present and is therefore rated at 0 SHU, however, Jalapeno's are rated at 5000 and a Habanero is a whopping 250,000-300,000 SHU. In order for a pepper spray to be effective on an aggressor it should be rated at 2 million SHU, however, some law enforcement strength pepper spray is rated even higher at 5 million.
Pepper spray acts as an inflammatory agent. It causes immediate closing of the eyes, impaired vision, gasping for air, runny nose and out of control coughing that will bring any assailant to the ground. Self-defense spray is also very effective on perpetrators who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or experiencing any kind of psychotic episode. The effects of defense spray usually last from thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on the potency of the spray, with diminished effects lasting for several hours. Usually the attacker will fully recover from the effects of pepper spray once it completely wears off and he will not endure any lasting unpleasant aftereffects,cheap beats by dre.
The OC in pepper spray is not water-soluble. It cannot be washed off even with large amounts of water. The best way to minimize the effects of pepper spray in the eyes is to blink vigorously to cause tearing. This will help to flush the irritant from the eyes. Also to keep the burning sensation to a minimum and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body it is best not to touch the affected areas. Rubbing oils or creams onto the affected areas will trap the capsaicin in the skin pores resulting in a more severe burning sensation and possibly cause blistering.
Pepper spray normally comes in canisters, which are often miniature enough in size to be carried or hidden away inside a pocket or purse. Pepper spray can also be bought camouflaged as rings, lipstick, or some other everyday item such as a pager or writing pen. Another thing, pepper spray has a shelf life of about 3-4 years. This is because the aerosol propellant could possibly escape from the canister. Should this happen, the spray may not perform as expected. It is best to pay attention to the expiration date found on the label of most models.
Overall mace defense sprays are considered by civilians to be the best non-lethal self-defense devices available. It is not considered deadly force to use them; therefore, they are legal in most states and with no special permit being required. Nonetheless, there are some states that do control the acquisition and usage of mace spray. Inside the sate of New York, it must be purchased from an approved pharmacist or firearms broker. The commonwealth of Massachusetts also requires pepper spay to be purchased from a certified firearms dealer. In Michigan, pepper spray made with OC cannot be stronger than 2%, and in Wisconsin, pepper spray cannot exceed 10%. In California and Florida pepper spray is legally permissible up to a 2oz size canister. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for obvious security reasons. Before purchasing pepper spray it would be wise to check with the police department for local and state laws on its' use or restrictions.
Related articles:
没有评论:
发表评论