Pepper Spray FAQ

by Filip Danic Entrepreneur

Pepper spray is one of the leading self-defense tools in the USA due to its very attractive features. It is non-lethal, very affordable, easy to buy and simple to use. However, a lot of people don’t know much about this device which either prevent them from buying it or prevents them from using it to its maximum potential. This article will try to cover the basics of pepper spray, its usage and some advanced tactics you could perform.

To start things, let us note that pepper spray normally comes in aerosol type containers, some no larger than a lipstick. Due to this it is very portable and some are small enough to attach to a key chain. Most of these sprays can be fired several times and have a range of between 8 and 20 feet, depending on model and size. Remember, the smaller the canister, the less pepper spray is inside so either get a couple or try to conserve your shots if you get in a tight situation.

The active ingredient in pepper spray is OC or oleoresin capsicum. A lot of people know about this as it is derived from Cayenne peppers – some of the hottest peppers in the world. OC is a reddish-orange, oily liquid, insoluble in water. The OC agent is dispersed by the aerosol in the container One of the misconceptions about pepper sprays is, that the higher the percentage, the hotter and better it works. In most cases this is not true, most of the best, fastest incapacitating sprays in the world are from 2-10%. The lighter the fluid, the faster it penetrates the membrane.

How does it Even Work?

People often make the mistake of confusing pepper spray with tear gas, however, their effects are rather similar, but the core idea certainly is not. When sprayed into someone's eyes and face, the formula irritates the skin, eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Coughing and choking may be experienced. It is very uncomfortable and there is pain associated with it.

The end result is temporary incapacitation, mostly due to not being able to see. Attackers are too preoccupied with the blinding and painful experience to even attempt to do anything violent to you. If properly contaminated with pepper spray, an attacker will not be able to open their eyes for between10 minutes to an hour, allowing you plenty of time to escape safely.

Body size and weight, asthma, smoking, make little or no difference to the effectiveness of the spray. There may however be a small increase in blood pressure, heart rate and ventilation. Because OC (oleoresin capsicum – chili peppers) is an inflammatory agent and not an irritant, it is still effective on those who feel no pain such as psychotics and those under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

All OC plants, of which there are many different types contain a very powerful substance, an alkaloid called capsaicin. Humans can detect capsaicin even when diluted to one part in ten million.

If you can imagine a really bad case of facial sunburn, a burning sensation in the back of your mouth and VERY hot and sore eyes – you will have some idea of the effects a pepper spray will have on your attacker.