Things To Know About Oc Pepper Spray

By Author: Teresa Bernard
Total Articles: 15
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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" or mace defense spray. In the last few years pepper spray has become the leading weapon of choice for more law-abiding citizens than any other protective device. Some bestselling name brands include Mace, Wildfire and Pepper Shot.

Just what is pepper spray and how does it work? Mace spray is made from a naturally occurring, harmless substance found in hot pepper plants called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). OC is the active component that makes peppers hot. 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 assigned to a particular pepper indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present. As an example, an ordinary bell pepper is rated at 0 SHU since it has no capsaicin, but Jalapeno's are rated at 5000 and a Habanero is 250,000-300,000 SHU for their potency. In order 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 pepper spray is an inflammatory agent, that when sprayed in the face of an assailant, will force the eyes to close immediately, it also causes temporary blindness, difficulty in breathing, a runny nose and an irrepressible cough that will send him to his knees. Defense spray is also very effectual on "perps" under the influence of illicit drugs, alcohol, or suffering with a severe mental disorder. The duration of the OC effects depend on the strength of the spray, but the average full effect lasts around thirty to forty-five minutes, with diminished effects lasting for hours. The assailant will usually make a full recovery once the effects completely wear off and, other than embarrassment, will not suffer any lasting adverse aftereffects.

The OC in 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 help to flush 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.

Mace spray typically comes in canisters small enough to be carried or concealed in a pocket or purse. Defense spray can also be bought disguised as ordinary items such as rings, lipstick, or some other everyday object such as a pager or pen. In addition, pepper spray has a shelf life of about 3-4 years due to possible leakage of the aerosol propellant. If used after the spray has expired, the canister may not spray at a distance it was originally designed to or it could fail to spray entirely. Some manufacturers will have an expiration date imprinted somewhere on the canister.

Overall mace defense sprays are considered by civilians to be the best non-lethal self-defense devices available. Their use is not considered deadly force, the sprays are legal in most states and usually no special permit to own or dispense the chemical is required. However, there are some states that do restrict the purchase and use of pepper spray. In New York, for example, defense spray must be purchased from with-in the state, from a licensed pharmacist or firearms dealer. Massachusetts also requires the spray to be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. In Michigan, "OC" pepper spray cannot be stronger than 2%, and in Wisconsin, the spray cannot exceed 10%. In California and Florida pepper spray is legal up to a 2oz. unit. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for obvious security reasons. Before purchasing pepper spray it would be wise to check with the police department for local and state laws on its' use or restrictions.
Learn more about mace spray and pepper spray by visiting a1selfdefenseproducts.com.