By far the most popular non-deadly, self-defense product on the market today is Oleoresin Capsicum Pepper Spray or as it is frequently called, “OC Pepper Spray.” Over the past few years pepper spray has grown in popularity to become the foremost self-protection product chosen by more everyday citizens than any other defending device.

Just what is OC spray and how does it work? Pepper spray is made from the naturally occurring, nontoxic chemical called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) found in hot pepper plants. This is where the name “OC Pepper Spray” comes from. OC is the active ingredient in the hot peppers. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). SHU is a scale that was developed in 1912 by the American chemist, Wilbur Scoville, used to measure the hotness or piquancy of various peppers. The number of SHU indicates the amount of capsaicin present. For example, a standard bell pepper is rated at 0 SHU, Jalapeno’s are at 5000 and a Habanero is 250,000-300,000 SHU. For a pepper spray to have an effect on people it should be rated at 2 million SHU, however, some police grade pepper sprays are rated as high as 5 million SHU.

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.

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.

Want to find out more about OC pepper spray, then visit www.a1selfdefenseproducts.com to choose the best self-defense products for your needs.

Personal attacks are one of the more common crimes in our society today. Be it in the form of a robbery, assault, or mugging, it is a most invasive intrusion of our personal security. Why do some individuals become a victim of personal attack while others do not? How do predators choose their quarry? Predators have a feel for noticing the signs of potential prey. You need to know what these signals are so you can avoid becoming the next victim of a personal attack.

A predator is in all actuality a coward and is looking for a victim who appears weak, submissive and unaware. A target that won’t (or can’t) fight back and is easy to ambush. It’s important to know that your potential for becoming a victim is influenced by the unconscious signals you project to a predator. Body language and non-verbal cues are unconscious signals that make up 80-90% of our communication. Predators, whether deliberately or intuitively, form an opinion about you and how easy you will be to dominate and control from these signals.

Fortunately there are ways to reduce your chances of being an attack victim. If these creeps look for individuals who appear to be subdued, passive and distracted, then you must portray the opposite. One way is to convey an air of confidence. Confidence is a non-victim quality. The more confident or self-assured one appears, the less likely are the chances of becoming “the mark”. An attacker will avoid a subject who appears capable of resistance and difficult to subdue. Any display of strength or defiance, whether blatant or implied, is often sufficient to cause a predator to seek out an easier target. One way to portray self-assurance would be to walk with your head held upright, at a brisk pace as if with a purpose and look alert.

Another way to reduce the chances of becoming a statistic is to be keenly aware of your surroundings at all times. You not only increase the odds of detecting a potential assailant, but you also project an image of vigilance. Be aware of who is around you and what activities or events are taking place at all times. Look at people who are walking toward you. Make eye contact with them. Criminals look for prey who are distracted and off guard. So put away the “electronic gizmos!” Get off the cell phone, iPod, PDA and laptop. Using these devices in public places like parking garages, malls, parks, etc., lessens your ability to detect a threat and will make you an easy target. If you are distracted and not paying attention you won’t even know you are being attacked until it is too late.

In addition to depicting self-confidence and being keenly alert, it would be wise to protect yourself from harm by carrying a few standard self-defense devices such as a personal alarm, pepper spray and/or stun gun. A personal alarm is the perfect self-defense device for drawing attention to yourself when needed. These small, inexpensive items are easily carried and emit a loud and extremely obnoxious noise. Pepper spray is a non-lethal aerosol spray made with the pepper derivative oleoresin capsicum (OC). Sprayed in the face and/or eyes of a mugger, it will irritate the eyes, cause tears, pain, and even in some cases, momentary blindness. A stun gun is a self-defense weapon designed to temporarily disable an assailant by delivering a non-lethal, high-voltage electric shock. You must remember security devices will not keep you safe if you do not use them.

To find out more about self defense devices like personal alarms, pepper spray or stun guns visit www.a1selfdefenseproducts.com.

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