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.
What is there to know about OC spray and how it works? Pepper spray is made from a naturally occurring, harmless substance found in hot pepper plants called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). This is where it gets its name. OC is the active component that makes peppers hot. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is calculated in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). SHU is a scale developed in 1912 by an American chemist named Wilbur Scoville to gauge the hotness or spiciness of a variety of peppers. The number of SHU indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present in any given pepper. For example, a common bell pepper has no capsaicin present and is therefore rated at 0 SHU, however, Jalapeno’s are rated at 5000 and a Habanero is a whopping 250,000-300,000 SHU. For a pepper spray to be effective on an aggressor it should be rated at 2 million SHU, however, some law enforcement strength pepper spray is rated even higher at 5 million.
OC spray will inflame any area of the body that it comes in contact with. It will cause abrupt closing of the eyes, temporary loss of sight, labored breathing, runny nose and uncontrollable coughing that will bring down any goon to his knees. OC is also very effective on individuals who are under the effect of narcotics, liquor, or subjected to Psychosis. The strength of the spray will determine how long the effects will last, but the average full effects last around thirty to forty-five minutes, with diminished effects lasting for hours. Once the effects have completely worn off, the assailant will make full recovery and will not suffer from any long lasting harmful 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.
On the whole, the populace regards pepper spray as the best non-fatal self-protection tool that is accessible today. It is not considered deadly force to use them; therefore, they are legal in most states and with no special permit being required. Nonetheless, there are some states that do control the acquisition and usage of pepper spray. Inside the sate of New York, it must be purchased from an approved pharmacist or firearms broker. The commonwealth of Massachusetts also requires pepper spay to be purchased from a certified firearms dealer. In Michigan, pepper spray made with OC cannot be stronger than 2%, and in Wisconsin, OC pepper spray cannot exceed 10%. In California and Florida pepper spray is legally permissible up to a 2oz size canister. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for understandable security reasons. Before purchasing pepper spray it is a good idea to inquire with your local police department about any laws or restrictions.
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