Buy Pepper Spray But Be Careful
Buy pepper spray for individual protection and some might feel uneasy as if they’ve just violated a law.
Yes, first time we’ve experienced this prejudice too!. It is totally meaningless because pepper spray is legal in all 50 states of the US. As I wrote in my first piece, in some states it is the procedure where to buy pepper spray is restricted, but the spray itself is legal. I will keep a link to my first post at the end of this article so you can familiarize yourself with the few state regulations.
Even though your defense spray is not fatal if someone is hit by it, but it will trigger pain. The pain and suffering are transient. This is the whole point of the use of defensive sprays to start with: to derail someone’s assault by creating a short-term diversion, like pain. When you are successful sending a gush of pepper spray into your assailant’s face, the piercing agony will switch his focus from the assault to protecting himself. At this moment of distraction, you have to leave the danger zone immediately .
Be aware that accidents do occur:
1. Safety Latch
After you buy pepper spray always make sure that your pepper spray container is secured inside the case or that the lid is closed properly. If you customarily leave your pepper spray in a purse for a long time, make a point of taking it out at regular intervals to ensure it is safe. Get yourself familiar with whatever security mechanism the canister has, it’s usually a minimal latch, make sure it’s locked.
2. Car Danger
When it’s hot outside, make sure to get your pepper spray container from your car and carry it with you because even on the warm day your car can quickly become a real oven. When the sun is going full blast, the temperature inside the car can reach approximately 190 degrees (no kidding) or more. This is way above allowed temperature for aerosol pepper sprays. By leaving your can inside the car you are risking to make a leak that may contaminate your automobile and surely destroy your defense spray.
3. Children
Children are naturally curious and also can get their little hands on your pepper spray. Pepper sprays are supposed to make it complex for children to activate them. Difficult but not impossible. Regardless of all protection mechanisms and latches, never leave your defense spray in an unattended purse when your child or someone else’s child is around.
What to do:
If an accident happens and you have pepper spray on yourself, do not panic. If you suffer from pain, remember that the pain will decline over time. First minutes are the hardest because the eyes will dilate and your sight will be impaired. The breath will become shallow and restricted as well. Trying to hose the pepper spray off with cold water brings relief but does not abate the pain. Liquid pepper extract in canned pepper sprays is mixed with oil base which makes it very hard to wash off with just water. No matter how painful it coud be, you have to sit it through. In 20-40 minutes the pain subsides but distress may remain for much longer.
There are products, like napkins and towlettes, saturated in some chemical solution to help you get the spray off yourself. They may reduce the time your skin is exposed to the pepper spray but they do not reduce the initial effects of the pepper spray contamination. You can get these towlettes where you normally buy pepper spray.
Remember when you buy pepper spray products you plan to have them within your reach at all times. Otherwise, why bother? The danger can be around the corner or can never come into your life. Whatever your luck is, if you bought the defense spray, please carry it on yourself at all times and know how to use it.
Practice makes it perfect. The practice is very down-to-earth: try to pull your pepper spray canister from its habitual location, like a belt clip, a purse, a pocket and point it toward the supposed assailant. Make sure, the nozzle is pointed away from yourself and toward the target. Ensure your fingers are familiar with the safety latch and can engage/disengage it easily.
Try this practice few times a week, try it with your eyes closed to ensure your body will execute all these basic movements automatically even when in trouble. It’s that down-to-earth. It’s that crucial. Buy pepper spray, stay aware and alert, get your self prepared, carry it on yourself at all times — you will be much safer!