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 is an oily substance. It cannot be washed away with water despite how much is used. The best way to reduce the consequences of pepper spray in the eyes is to briskly blink it way with tears. This will aid in cleansing the irritant from the eyes. Additionally, to prevent the burning sensation from spreading to other parts of the body it is best to avoid touching the affected spots. Massaging ointments onto the affected areas will only serve to trap the capsaicin in the skin resulting in a heightened burning sensation and possibly even cause blistering to occur.
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.
By and large, the general public regards OC spray to be the best non-deadly personal security weapon on the market. Their use is not considered lethal force, therefore, they are lawful in most states and usually no special permit or license is mandatory. Nevertheless, there are some states that do limit the possession and application of pepper spray. In New York state pepper spray can only be purchased from a certified pharmacist or firearms merchant. Massachusetts also requires defense spray to be purchased from a commonwealth sanctioned firearms broker. In the state and Wisconsin, OC in pepper spray cannot exceed 2%, and in Wisconsin, it cannot go over 10%. In California and Florida only 2oz size containers of pepper spray are legal. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for safety reasons. Before making your purchase it would be a good idea to check with your local police department for laws or restrictions governing the possession and use of pepper spray.
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