I’ve spent many years in the self-defense industry, and it seems like everywhere I go these days, I get asked the same questions about pepper sprays. What are they? What do they do? Do they really work?
The truth is, there’s so much hype out there coming from the wannabe self-defense experts of this world, its no wonder people are confused about pepper sprays.
I’m about to pour a small amount of my years of wisdom into this article, and hopefully help you separate some of the myth from the truth about these defensive sprays.
I’ll start with some of the more common misunderstandings, and then go into a bit more detail from there. So if you’re ready, let’s get started…
Myth…All pepper sprays are the same. Truth…All pepper sprays are not the same.
Pepper sprays are generally rated in two ways: Percentage of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) in the spray, and the “hotness” of the spray, which is measured in Scoville Heat Units.
One of the biggest misunderstandings about pepper spray is the higher the OC percentage, the hotter and more effective the spray is. This is a common misunderstanding that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Pepper sprays can have 2%, 5%, 10%, 17%, or even more OC, and this has nothing to do with how hot or effective the pepper spray is.
This percentage simply means the amount of OC that went into the spray. But different batches of chili peppers can have different heat ratings right from the garden, so a weak batch of peppers needs a higher concentration to reach the same heat rating.
There are pepper sprays with a 5% OC content that have a heat rating far higher than those with 17% OC.
So, the percentage of OC is important, but more important is the SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) rating. A pepper spray with 2,000,000 SHU is twice as hot as a pepper spray with 1,000,000 SHU, regardless of the OC percentage.
When you’re looking for a quality pepper spray, pay more attention to the heat rating than the percentage of Oleoresin Capsicum, and you’ll do OK.
Myth…Pepper spray doesn’t really work Truth…Pepper sprays are very effective self defense weapons
Pepper Spray has multiple effects on the person who gets hit with it.
1. Eyes - It causes the capillaries in the eyes to swell, causing temporary blindness. This is an involuntary reaction in all warm-blooded animals, meaning the person can’t stop it from happening even if they wanted to. It does this because when large amounts of heat, or even perceived heat, comes into contact with our bodies, our natural survival mechanisms cause blood to immediately flow to the area, in an attempt to cool it down.
So the heat sends a signal to the nerve centers, which causes our brain to send blood to the affected area. This causes the blood vessels to swell, and the person’s eyes will automatically shut. Even if the person could open their eyes, they would still be temporarily blinded due to their dilated blood vessels.
2. Respiratory System – Pepper spray causes an immediate inflammation of the mucus membranes in the nose, throat, and lungs. This makes it extremely difficult to breath. And a restricted flow of oxygen will take the fight out of just about anybody, very quickly. Uncontrollable coughing and gasping for air will be the visible reaction.
3. Skin - Inflammation of the exposed skin and a burning sensation are common reactions to pepper spray.
So the short answer is yes, pepper spray really works. If it didn’t work, do you think police officers, security guards, and even military personnel would still use them?
But keep in mind that nothing is ever 100% effective all the time. Even a gun is only 99% effective. Sometimes people get shot, but they still don’t go down. Yet, I don’t know anyone who would say a gun isn’t effective.
So yes, pepper spray works very well indeed, but it’s wise to always have a backup plan just in case you happen to run into a 1% situation.
Myth…Pepper spray will last forever if I don’t ever use it Truth… Although the spray life is nearly indefinite, it does start to lose potency over time.
Most pepper sprays have an expiration date stamped on the canister, usually 3 to 4 years from the time of manufacture, and any use of pepper spray beyond the expiration date is not advisable. Also, like any aerosol canister, pepper spray can lose its pressure over time causing it to lose its ability to spray more than a very short distance.
You should get in the habit of testing your defensive spray every so often. To do this, depress the firing mechanism for ½ second. There’s no need to test-fire it for longer than that, you don’t want to waste it, you just want to make sure it still sprays.
This test should be done when you first purchase your pepper spray, and every 60 to 90 days after that.
Just be aware that every time you test your spray you reduce the contents of the canister. So if you’re using a small key chain model, and you test it regularly, you’ll need to replace the unit every 9 to 12 months. They only cost a few dollars, so it’s a small price to pay to be sure it’ll work when you need it.
Also, if you ever use your pepper spray in a real life situation, replace it immediately. In a real life situation, with adrenaline pumping and confusion abound, it’s nearly impossible to recall if you used 2 seconds worth of the spray, or 5 seconds worth. So if you use it for real, replace it right away.
That covers just a few of the more common misunderstandings I hear about pepper sprays. There’s plenty more where that came from, but this article is starting to get a bit lengthy, so I’ll have to write a part 2 (and maybe a part 3) when I have a few minutes to sit back down at the keyboard.
Until then,
Stay safe and stay alive.
Steve / NASP
SA Rubin is the owner of North American Security Products, LLC. A company dedicated to providing you with the means to protect and defend yourself against crime. For more information on Pepper sprays, visit www.naselfdefense.com where you'll find a complete line of Self Defense Weapons and Personal Security Products |
