Self Defense: Pepper Spray-Why It Is So Effective

When it comes to non lethal self defense weapons pepper spray is right up there at the top of popularity for two main reasons: ease of use and effectiveness.

How It Works

Pepper spray uses Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) which comes from cayenne pepper. Defensive pepper sprays are measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) a common measure of a products' "hotness". A jalapeno pepper has an SHU of 5000, a habanero pepper 300,000 and a typical pepper spray will be in the 2 million SHU range.

A one second spray in the face with a 10 % solution of a pepper spray will get you 20-30 minutes away from an attacker. It will cause the attacker to have shortness of breathe, have temporary blindness due to excessive tearing and the eyes actually shutting down, coughing and choking. He will scream from the pain.

You will survive a potential attack and no permanent damage will be done to the attacker. A well aimed shot from a pepper spray has outstanding stopping power. That is why it has become one of the most effective women's self defense items and crime prevention tools.

Most pepper sprays have an effective range of 6-12 feet. A new gel pepper spray works up to 18 feet. Most models use a fine grain stream. Foam and fogger products are available for those who are unsure of their aiming abilities.

I have seen pepper sprays that can be disguised as pens, pagers, lipstick, and even hand held walking weights. Almost all models are small enough for a purse or to attach on a key chain. Some have velcro straps to attach to just about anything or a clip to hook onto a belt.

Who Uses Pepper Sprays

If you think crime can only happen to the other guy you are wrong. The "other guy" is thinking the same thing and YOU are that "other guy". There is a reason why they call it self defense. You have to protect yourself.

A violent crime occurs every 19 seconds and an assault every 29 seconds. For would be victims of a robbery, assault, theft, rape, murder, or kidnapping an investment of $15- $25 for a pepper spray is certainly worth the peace of mind and sense of security it provides. No one is safe from the crimes of today be it a personal assault or a home break in.

Women are particularly vulnerable, especially those who work late at night, those in sales positions, real estate agents, and those who live alone. They in particular need self defense products such as an effective OC pepper spray.

Please Note that even though pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, some states and cities have restrictions. Check with your local police department. Literally thousands of police departments carry and use pepper spray. Why wouldn't you?

Self Defense- Crime Wave in Phoenix and Washington DC

Recently on the Fox News Network, one of the stories was about a crime wave in Washington DC. What's new you ask? Washington DC has a history of crime waves. These statistics are particularly startling when you consider that Washington DC has so many different levels of police. In the first twelve days of July 14 people have been killed and in the last 30 days robberies are up 14% and armed assaults are up 18%.

The crime wave comes at the height of the tourist season in our nation's capitol. This is the third such crime emergency in the last four years. Tax paying, law abiding citizens are prohibited by city law from carrying lethal weapons to defend themselves because of a thirty year old ban on guns in Washington DC. Apparently only criminals can have guns. Does this show how effective such bans are?

Then came a story of two thugs terrorizing the city of Phoenix. One is called the "Baseline Rapist" because he hangs out in the southern part of Phoenix near Baseline Rd. He started his spree in August of 2005. He is believed to be responsible for 6 murders, and many robberies and sexual assaults. The other "Serial Shooter" has at least 5 murders. Sixteen of his victims have survived since he started his spree in May 2005.

Both killers have put the city in a state of terror. Citizens are rightfully afraid to go out alone after dark. Fear and paranoia are rampant.

Phoenix police are frustrated because after all this time and so many victims they don't have a good description-so they are looking for two people in a city of three plus million.

There is only so much the police can do and they are stretched thin as it is. Citizens across the country would be well advised to start taking more responsibility for their own self defense. They should investigate carrying some form of non lethal self defense weapon such as a stun gun or pepper spray. Personal alarms such as sirens and whistles act as a good deterrent too

Self defense is called that because the responsibility for defending yourself lies with the individual. Police do a wonderful job but cannot be everywhere.

Self Defense-Parking Lot Safety

There is nothing more impressive than shopping in a mega mall with more stores than you can visit in a year. The malls get bigger and bigger every year. With more square footage and more stores comes bigger parking lots. Bigger parking lots mean more and more customers have to park what seems like forever away from the final destination. It is good exercise for sure to make that trek however it is fraught with potential risks among them are theft, vandalism, rape, assault, robbery and even kidnapping.

Unfortunately, predators salivate at the thought of seeing a woman by herself late at night in a near empty parking lot. It is just too much of a temptation. A woman in those circumstances is virtually helpless.

Here are some tips to avoid potential trouble for women's self defense and parking lot safety.

1. Lock your car on arrival. Keyless entry is best for time savings.
2. Park as close to your destination as possible.
3. If help is available, make sure you take advantage of it. Most grocery stores still offer his service.
4. Try making most shopping trips during the day.
5. Be aware of your surroundings. Is the parking lot well lit? Are there areas where a predator could hide?
6. Listen to that inner voice. It is better and wiser to be safe than sorry. If you don’t feel comfortable get a manager or security guard to go with you.
7. Upon approaching your car, look around, in, underneath and next to your car. Last week I heard of a woman who had her foot licked by a pervert as she was trying to get into her car. Be suspicious of a van next to your car.
8. Once inside the car, quickly lock all doors. Most people let their guard down once inside their car.
9. If you are alone wait until others walk by and join them.
10. Sorry to say but avoid strangers.
11. Carry some non lethal self defense weapons like a stun gun or pepper spray or some type of personal alarm.

Distractions are plentiful when shopping. It is so easy to become engaged in something else and not be aware of your surroundings. Especially with children, the possibilities of harm seem to grow the further away you are from the store. Be prepared and carry some non lethal self defense weapons like a stun gun or pepper spray. Self defense personal alarms can be useful as well. It is too easy to believe nothing will happen to you.
Remember to trust your judgment-you can’t ever be too cautious.

I'll Take Chloe and Her Stun Gun on My Team

There she was after leaving Bill Buchanan’s house, sitting in the bar area of a hotel, having successfully eluded the police during curfew in LA, when out of nowhere it happened! A semi drunk patron who had been sitting at the bar approached her not once but twice and just wouldn’t leave her alone. So what’s a heroine supposed to do? Rather than be pestered to death she invited the jerk to sit down and to see what she was doing.

She was in the process of using all kinds of high tech stuff to help Jack Bauer, the super savvy, super agent save the world.

That’s when mild mannered Chloe O’Brien pulled out her stun gun and zapped the guy into unconsciousness. Not just once, twice. Yeah Chloe!! That’ll teach you to bother a single lady working on her top secret laptop in a bar. LEAVE ME ALONE!

The mega hit TV show “24” is drawing to a close for this season and quite frankly I am not sure how millions of fans are going to survive the “off season” but we’ll find a way-maybe.

We should all be so lucky to be that prepared to survive an unwanted approach by a stranger, but then Chloe is a trained counter terrorist agent or is she? Isn’t she just a computer geek-ess extraordinaire? Who knows? But she sure handled herself very well that night and in front of gazillions of viewers.

Seriously, one of three of us in our lifetime will have some brush with crime whether it is assault, rape, domestic violence, burglary, home invasion whatever, it is out there big time. Why do you think prisons are so overcrowded? Is it the food? The atmosphere?

It really is more of a question of when something untoward will happen as opposed to if it will. It is almost a certainty. Crime statistics show that women are more likely than men to be victims.

The good news is that you can-just like Chloe-be prepared! Self defense is certainly part of the answer. Is it unreasonable to carry some kind of a defensive device-stun gun, mace pepper spray, whistle, or other personal alarm? Not when your life is potentially at risk. You can be prepared and survive.