Pepper Spray - The Facts

What is Pepper Spray?

Pepper Spray is an inflammatory agent used for policing and widely marketed in the U.S. for self defense. The main ingredient is capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers. It’s the reason you should never touch your face after chopping peppers, which makes it highly effective in distracting or incapacitating an attacker allowing you to escape. The capsaicin's inflammatory effects cause the eyes to tear and close, as well as temporary discomfort and burning of the lungs which causes shortness of breath.

Pepper spray has a very high score on the Scoville heat units (SHU) scale: between 500,000 and 2 million SHU, while bell pepper measures 0 SHU and a jalapeño pepper scores around 2,500–5,000 SHU. Though the duration of the effects vary depending on the strength of the spray, the average full effect lasts from 20 to 90 minutes, with eye irritation and redness lasting for up to 24 hours in some cases.

Pepper spray is ONLY to be used in self defense. It is not a party trick. Never. EVER spray it randomly or unprovoked. Never willingly hand it to someone you wouldn’t trust to literally hold your eyeballs.

How to use Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is relatively easy to use and does not require years of training. However, it is important to have a full knowledge and understanding of how and when to use it, in order to increase its own effectiveness and your own safety. Practice sprays are available,

1. Keep the spray handy. When it comes time to use it, you won't have time to be digging through your purse

2. Unlock the spray. Most pepper spray models come with some form of safety. Get used to how yours works in the event you need to access it quickly

3. Aim and spray. Point the spray at your assailant's face and press down on the actuator (trigger) with your thumb. Using your thumb gives you a firmer grip on the canister with the rest of your fingers.

4. Run. Escape to a safe location as fast as possible, then call for help.

After spraying your assailant and making your escape, rinse your hands thoroughly and change your clothes if possible. Accidentally touching your face after using pepper spray can be extremely painful and cause secondary effects to yourself. There is no immediate cure for pepper spray exposure, but people can often reduce the duration and intensity of the symptoms by:

• moving into an area with fresh air, if possible

• flushing the affected area with lots of water to wash away the contaminants

• avoiding using soap around the eyes as it is an irritant

• removing clothing that may have come into contact with the spray to decontaminate and prevent re-contamination.

• avoiding touching the affected area, as it is easy to spread the oil-based solution to other areas of the body by doing so

• blinking the eyes rapidly to help flush out the chemical

When is Pepper Spray Most Effective?

Pepper spray is best used to provide an opportunity for escape. In some cases, it may not work, and could even anger or provoke your attacker. Once the spray is deployed, get away to somewhere safe immediately. It should only be used if you or another are actively in danger of physical harm from a person or animal.

Pros

• Non-lethal

• Small and portable, easily carried in a pocket/purse or concealed in your hand

• Relatively easy to use, and does not require years of training

• Relatively easily accessible to civilians

Cons

• Not accessible in all states - check your state's laws/regulations

• Doesn’t work on everyone

• Pepper spray doesn't last - after its expiration date, it can become far less effective and should be replaced and properly disposed of.

• Target area is small, can be challenging to deploy in stressful or violent situations

• Deploying pepper spray has legal ramifications. Keep in mind that you may be called upon to justify your actions

Important things to consider:

Without proper practice and understanding of pepper spray, the holder may become a greater threat than defender, accidentally spraying towards themselves or a crowd. Treat pepper spray with extreme caution and never be flippant or neglectful with the proper precautions and procedures.

There is always a risk of accidental self-injury, whether you accidentally hold the spray incorrectly or your attacker is upwind. In the case of accidentally pepper spraying yourself, you are basically handing yourself over to your attacker.

If your attacker has a pre-existing condition such as certain allergies or asthma, they may have a reaction to the spray and die as a result. Of course, there is no way to know if your attacker has these conditions before deploying the spray, but it is wise to note that some non-lethal tools may occasionally have lethal outcomes in rare cases.

As with all self-defense tools - do not use without a full, well-rounded understanding of how it works and when to use it; and practice in a safe, controlled environment often. Otherwise, you are a greater danger to yourself and others. Always be aware and compliant with your state/region’s laws and regulations regarding any self defense tools.

Is Pepper Spray the right tool for you?

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References

• International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics - Civilian Pepper Spray for Self Defense: Understanding User Perception and Impact of Design on User Performance

• Medical News Today - Pepper Spray: Effects, Treatment, and Complications

• SABRE - How to Use Pepper Spray

• Wikipedia - Pepper Spray