Oleoresin Capsicum Pepper Spray is the most widely used less-than-lethal, self-preservation product in use today. It is more generally referred to as “OC Pepper Spray.” In the past few years its popularity has grown. It has now become the primary personal defense device preferred by more average law-keeping individuals than any other defensive weapon.
Let’s take a closer look at OC spray to discover exactly what it is and how it works. Pepper spray is made from Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), a naturally occurring, safe compound found in hot pepper plants. This is where it gets its name. OC is the active element that makes peppers hot. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is rated by the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale. An American chemist by the name of Wilbur Scoville developed the scale in 1912 to appraise the hotness or tang of an assortment of peppers. The number of SHU assigned to a particular pepper indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present. As an example, an ordinary bell pepper is rated at 0 SHU since it has no capsaicin, but Jalapeno’s are rated at 5000 and a Habanero is 250,000-300,000 SHU for their potency. If a pepper spray is going to be effective against an assailant it needs to be rated at least 2 million SHU, however, some police grade pepper spray is rated as high as 5 million.
OC spray acts as an inflammatory agent. It causes immediate closing of the eyes, impaired vision, gasping for air, runny nose and out of control coughing that will bring any assailant to the ground. OC spray is also very effectual on “perps” under the influence of illicit drugs, alcohol, or suffering with a severe mental disorder. The effects of OC usually last from thirty to forty-five minutes, depending on the potency of the spray, with diminished effects lasting for several hours. Usually the attacker will fully recover from the effects of pepper spray once it completely wears off and he will not endure any lasting unpleasant aftereffects.
OC Pepper spray can’t be wash off with water regardless of how much is used. The most effective way to diminish the symptoms of pepper spray affecting the eyes is by blinking rapidly to bring about tearing. This will facilitate in washing the irritant out of the eyes. Moreover, to keep the burning sensation from dispersing to other parts of the body it is best to refrain from touching the affected areas. Rubbing salve or creams onto the affected body regions, only serves to trap the capsaicin in the skin thereby resulting in more severe burning and possibly blistering.
Pepper spray is usually housed in small aerosol type containers that are petite enough in size to be carried or hidden inside a pocket or pouch. Pepper spray can also be bought camouflaged as rings, lipstick, or some other everyday item such as a pager or writing pen. Another thing, pepper spray has a shelf life of about 3-4 years. This is because the aerosol propellant could possibly escape from the canister. Should this happen, the spray may not perform as expected. It is best to pay attention to the expiration date found on the label of most models.
Overall OC defense sprays are considered by civilians to be the best non-lethal self-defense devices available. Their use is not considered deadly force, the sprays are legal in most states and usually no special permit to own or dispense the chemical is required. However, there are some states that do restrict the purchase and use of pepper spray. In New York, for example, the pepper spray must be purchased from with-in the state, from a licensed pharmacist or firearms dealer. Massachusetts also requires the spray to be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. In Michigan, “OC” pepper spray cannot be stronger than 2%, and in Wisconsin, the spray cannot exceed 10%. In California and Florida pepper spray is legal up to a 2oz. unit. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for obvious security reasons. Before purchasing pepper spray it would be wise to check with the police department for local and state laws on its’ use or restrictions.
Learn more about OC pepper spray and other self-defense products. Stop by www.a1selfdefenseproducts.com where you can find out all about defense sprays and what it can do for you.
