Pepper
spray also known as OC spray
(from "Oleoresin Capsicum"), OC gas,
and capsicum spray, is a chemical compound
that irritates the eyes to cause tears,
pain, and even temporary blindness.
This is why pepper spray is useful for
personal self-defense, including defense
against dogs and bears as well as human
attackers.
Pepper
spray is considered a less lethal agent
and therefore it is the choice of many
customers who are not candidates for
using a gun or other weapon to defend
themselves.
Pepper
spray is naturally derived. The
active ingredient in pepper spray is
capsaicin, which is a chemical derived
from the fruit of plants in the Capsicum
genus, including chilis. Getting oleoresin
capsicum from peppers involves finely
ground capsicum, from which capsaicin
is extracted in an organic solvent such
as ethanol. The solvent is then evaporated,
and the remaining waxlike resin is the
oleoresin capsicum. An emulsifier such
as propylene glycol is used to suspend
the OC in water, and pressurized to
make it aerosol in pepper spray.
How can
you tell how powerful a pepper
spray you are buying? A technology called
liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used
to measure the amount of capsaicin within
pepper sprays. Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
are used to measure the concentration
or "heat" of pepper spray. So, you can
look at the product's Scoville units
to determine potency.
What happens
to an attacker? Pepper spray
is an inflammatory. It causes immediate
closing of the eyes, difficulty breathing,
runny nose, and coughing. The duration
of its effects depend on the strength
of the spray but the average full effect
lasts around thirty to forty-five minutes,
with diminished effects lasting for
hours, thus giving you a chance to escape.
At PersonalSecurityZone.com we stock
only new pepper sprays by the leading
manufacturers. You can choose from...
* Personal Defense Sprays
* Animal Repellents (dog and bear mace)
* Home Protection Sprays
* Law Enforcement Police Model Sprays
* Sportsman Scent Systems
* Civilian Models with Keychains &
Other Features
* Powerful Yet Attractive Fashion Model
Sprays
Here's
a Really Good F.A.Q.
Q. Will cans of Muzzle
have shortened use life (the propellant
effectiveness) if they are shaken on
a daily basis? I ask because I carry
mine in a front pants pocket and, since
I walk fast, it gets shaken up a lot....four
or more miles per walk. Thank you."
A. Don't worry. The
shaking from walking or running won't
affect the effectiveness at all. You
can jiggle it all you want, and it won't
decrease the propellant effectiveness.
Here is some more advice from police
who carry pepper spray all the time...
"As molecules of propellant tend
to leak past the seals over time, it
is recommended that you test spray your
pepper spray a couple of times a year
to make sure its operating properly
and has not lost pressure. All pepper
spray products use a nitrogen,CO2 or
Freon propellant which is nonflammable
and provides a consistent and reliable
spray pattern for years and in a wide
range of temperatures. These products
have a shelf life of around 4 to 5 years
(may be less for 1/2 oz. units due to
its small size and small amount of propellant).
The OC spray does not deteriorate like
tear gas. It is only the pressurization
of the propellant which declines over
time."
Also, please note that Muzzle works
on dogs with muzzles and not pug face
dogs because their tear ducts are not
the same. A regular pepper spray will
actually be more potent and will work
on dogs with muzzles, so you can carry
any pepper spray and it will work on
dogs. The SPCA and animal lovers like
muzzle the best because it is kinder
to dogs, but a lot of folks decide to
carry regular pepper spray for possible
dog attacks or whatever attacker may
come. It is a personal choice.
Does Bear
Spray Work? Research says YES
An Associated Press article of April
21, 2008 reports - ANCHORAGE, Alaska
- A study concludes that bear spray
works 98 percent of the time in warding
off bear attacks, and that in the few
cases it did not work, the problem was
in aiming the spray - not the spray's
effectiveness.
Biologist Tom Smith and others have
published a paper of their research
in The Journal of Wildlife Management.
The study says bear spray is effective
98 percent of the time.
The researchers looked at 83 cases
where bear spray was used and found
that none of the incidents involved
any serious injuries. The red-pepper
spray causes painfully swollen eyes
and nasal passages on its targets.
Smith spent years working in Alaska
as a bear biologist for the U.S. Geological
Survey. He now is a professor of wildlife
science at Brigham Young University.
In the report, Smith noted the risk
for injury is greater with firearms,
the other main means of self-protection.
Wounded bears sometimes turn on people,
he said. For example, Johnny McCoy,
a Baptist minister and former North
Pole mayor, was hurt in 2001 by a grizzly
bear that attacked moose-hunting partner
Gary Corle. Corle shot at the bear with
his rifle, but missed. The bear then
turned on McCoy, who needed surgery
to reattach his ear and close large
gashes in his forehead, arms and hands.
Bear spray has been used in Alaska
for more than two decades. No similar
attacks against those using spray in
self-defense have been reported.
"Bear spray represents an effective
alternative to lethal force," the
researchers wrote. But bear spray also
has its limits. Smith notes there have
been problems with the spray in the
wind, although its biggest drawback
may be the one-shot limit.
Smith reported that in "7 percent
of bear spray incidents, wind was reported
to have interfered with spray accuracy,
although it reached bears in every case."
potent and effective pepper sprays. 
