A Modern Twist on an Ancient Technique

Cayenne pepper, also known scientifically as oleoresin capsicum (OR), is the main ingredient in most commercially available pepper sprays. Cayenne has been used for thousands of years as a method of self-defense. Armies in ancient China wrapped ground, dried cayenne pepper in rice paper and threw it at the faces of their opponents to stun them. Around the same time, the Japanese invented a little box used to blow cayenne into the face of an enemy.

Today’s pepper spray was originally developed in the 1960s as an animal repellent. It was a big hit among mail carriers who had to contend with unfriendly neighborhood dogs. Portable and easy to use, it has become one of the most popular forms of personal self-defense.

Spicing up Self Defense

If you’ve ever felt the burn of spicy food on your tongue, you can probably imagine why pepper spray is so effective. Pepper spray is far more concentrated than your typical spicy dish, and when aimed at the eyes and face of an attacker it produces a number of unpleasant effects:

• Difficulty breathing
• Intense eye irritation
• Temporary blindness or inability to open the eyes
• A painful burning sensation on the skin
• Coughing and runny nose

These effects are temporary – some last about 30-45 minutes. But the skilled use of pepper spray can buy you enough time to get out of a dangerous situation and call for help. Pepper spray is an effective, non-lethal way to protect yourself from a would-be attacker.

Pepper sprays are available in a variety of forms, including many that are small enough to fit inside a handbag or pocket. Whether you choose a large spray canister or a lipstick-sized spray that fits on a key ring, it’s important that you use pepper spray responsibly and follow some basic guidelines:

• Check with your state laws regarding pepper spray. Some states only allow certain sizes and concentrations, and some states prohibit Internet sales of pepper spray – know the rules before you make a purchase.

• Keep your pepper spray in the same place at all times. You should be able to access your pepper spray as soon as you need it – in a dangerous situation, you don’t have time to dig through your purse to find it.

• Test your pepper spray periodically. It’s a good idea to (carefully) test out your pepper spray to make sure it still works. It’s also good practice so you know how to use it if you need to.

• Keep pepper spray out of the reach of children. Although it’s not lethal, pepper spray can be painful. Don’t leave it where your kids can play with it.

© Ralph for Security World News, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: mace, Mace Pepper Spray, pepper spray

When you plan on using pepper spray mace as your self defense weapon then you need to know how to use it in case you ever need it. So it is a good idea for you to practice using it but be careful that you don’t spray anyone with it. You want to hold it in your hand with your finger on the trigger. Then bring it up and spray it in the general direction that an attacker’s face would be. You might want to get out of the way in case the spray is blown back your way.

It is not fun getting sprayed. For each person the effects will be different. However, when you get sprayed you will feel your face burning and you can feel like you are suffocating. It will also make the eyes and nose burn. Most of the times when people get attacked they will start coughing because your chest will start to feel tight, which will cause you to cough.

It is very important that you check with your state to make sure that it is legal for you to carry mace. This can make a very effective self defense weapon but it can be dangerous if you don’t learn how to use it. So always be careful and educate yourself about the pepper spray mace. It is better to be prepared no matter what.

Summary: Do you need to find a good self defense weapon? The best one is pepper spray mace. This is a popular weapon because it is easy to use and it is affordable. However, you need to know how to use mace if you plan to use it for self defense. So find out now how to use it correctly.

© Ralph for Security World News, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: mace, pepper spray