Pepper Spray Information
What is Pepper Spray?
Pepper Spray, also known as OC spray (Oleoresin Capsicum), OC gas and capsicum spray is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyse and causes tears, pain and temporary blindness) that is used in personal self defense, crowd control, riot control and even defense against bears and dogs.
Pepper spray comes in canisters, which are typically small enough to easily conceal in a pocket or purse. It can also be bought in disguised items such as pens, lipstick, and walking weights.
Pepper spray is preferred by law enforcement officials as an effective alternative to extreme force.
What is Mace?
There always seems to be confusion over Mace and what it is. Mace is a brand of self defense spray. Currently Mace is a brand
of defense spray marketed by Mace
Security
International (MSI). Mace formulas include numerous pepper spray formulas and a pepper spray, tear gas combination. The popularity of Mace has led to many referring to all self defense pepper sprays as Mace.
Years ago MSI
marketed a
particular tear
gas. Guardian Self
Defense carries
a huge selection
of Mace
defensive
sprays.
What is Tear Gas?
There are three
major chemicals
used as tear
gas
- CS
- CN
- CR
The first two
are CS and CN,
short for
orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile
and
chloroacetophenone,
respectively.
A third, code
named CR (dibenz(b,f)-1,4-oxazepin),
has not come
into civilian
use.
Both CS and CN
tear gas are
synthesized
chemicals known
as lachrymators.
A lachrymator is
a substance that
produces profuse
tearing.
At standard
temperature and
pressure, these
chemicals are
actually white
crystals with
fairly low vapor
pressures, not
gasses, and they
are not very
soluble in
water. In order
to disperse
them, they are
suspended in a
liquid carrier
and aerosolized.
Pepper Spray v. Tear Gas
Pepper spray is
not tear gas.
Tear gas is not
pepper spray.
Pepper spray is
a self defense
spray. Tear gas
can be used as a
self defense
spray.
Two important
differences
between pepper
spray and tear
gas are:
-
Tear gas is
an irritant to
membrane
tissues. They
cause stinging
pain and tearing
and take from 5
to 30 seconds to
be effective. In
cases of persons
who are drunk,
on drugs,
suffering a
psychotic
episode, or
otherwise cannot
feet pain, there
may be no affect
at all as tear
gas relies on
pain compliance
to be
effective. Tear
gas has a high
toxicity level.
- Pepper spray is not an
irritant. If is
an inflammatory
agent; and this
makes all the
difference in
the world. When
a person is
sprayed with OC
two things
happen
instantly.
First, the
person's eyes
clamp shut,
hard. Not only
that, but if
they do manage
to open them
they still can't
see because the
pepper spray
dilates the
capillaries of
the eye and
causes temporary
blindness.
Second, an
immediate fit of
uncontrollable
coughing doubles
the person over
and often sends
them to their
knees. The
pepper spray
causes instant
inflammation of
breathing
tissues,
restricting all
but life support
breathing. The
condition is
temporary but
very
debilitating.
Pepper Spray has
the affect of
putting up a
brick wall
between the
assailant and
the victim. OC
pepper spray has
been proven to
be effective
against
individuals who
are drunk, on
drugs, or
suffering a
psychotic
episode. Pepper
sprays also work
well on animals.
OC pepper spray
is 100%
non-toxic, safe
and will cause
no permanent
damage.
Are All Pepper
Sprays the Same?
No, all pepper sprays are not the same.
OC comes in concentrations of 1% to 21%. But, due to the number of differences in the formulation, these percentages are not necessarily a good indication of the effectiveness of the pepper spray. A 1% spray can be just as effective if not more so, than a 5% or 10% concentration. Three formula factors: the heat rating of the OC, the type of carrier agent, and the spray density, combine to determine how effective any given spray is.
The heat generating capacity of OC is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU's). OC is derived from hot peppers. Peppers range from 0 SHU's for standard bell peppers to 5,000 for Jalapeno peppers up to 250,000 to 350,000 SHU's for Habanera peppers. Pure OC has a heat rating of 15 million. As you can see a 10% concentration of Jalapeno peppers is not going to be nearly as effective as a 1% concentration of Habanera peppers. In actual spray formulations OC from the peppers is processed until it reaches a designated heat rating. The industry standard is 2,000,000 SHU.
The next factor is the carrier agent of the OC pepper spray. The job of the carrier agent is to hold the OC solution and aid in dispersal once it is released from the pressurized canister. Common carrier agents are alcohol, ketone, and other solvents and oils. The best, and safest carrier agent available is HFC 134A. It not only holds the OC in solution but also helps break down the OC into the smallest possible micron-sized droplets once released.
All Guardian Self Defense lines carry use HFC 134A as a carrier agent!
The third factor determining OC spray effectiveness is the spray pattern and dispersal density. These two closely related spray characteristics also determine the droplet size sprayed at the assailant. The smaller the air born droplet size the more effective the spray will be under most conditions because of its ability to be inhaled quickly and completely and to disperse quickly onto membrane tissues. This release the heat and inflammation capabilities as efficiently as possible in the shortest time possible; usually one second.
The Physical
Effects of Pepper Spray
Pepper Spray has four physiological effects that may be experienced:
- Eyes - tearing, involuntary closing or complete closing due to dilation of the eye capillaries. Eyes will appear red/bloodshot for 30 to 60 minutes. People wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses will be equally affected.
- Respiratory System - immediate inflammation, including swelling of the throat lining which can restrict the airway size. Respiratory functions return to normal within 10 to 45 minutes. The airway will be open enough to allow for sufficient oxygen flow for survival. Due to the reduced airway flow, the person will probably not receive enough oxygen to continue fighting or other sustained physical exertion. Temporary paralysis of the larynx. Uncontrollable coughing, retching, and gasping for air with a gagging sensation in the throat.
- Effect on the skin: inflammation of the exposed skin with a burning sensation.
- Effects on muscle coordination: pepper spray exposure may cause a person to lose balance due to the effect of pepper spray on vision.
How To Use Pepper Spray Correctly?
- Practice, Practice, Practice. Be familiar with the product, you should be able to grab it with your eyes closed in a dark room or from a bag or purse and point correctly at the attacker.
- You need to know what the product does and what to expect. Pepper spray will shut the attackers eyes involuntarily so he can't see. It will create intense buring wherever it contacts the skin. It will incapacitate his breathing level.
- Some are concerned that it could be taken from them. It is important to apply a firm grip on your pepper spray to prevent it from being taken away. Wrap your forefingers firmly around the can and use your thumb to activate it.
- Works from a distance so stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Trust your instincts and your less likely to be caught off-guard.
- Know how to arm and disarm your spray.
- When you determine it's time to spray, present with authority. Put it out there while putting your non spraying hand up so if need be you can push off your threat and escape to safety.
- Distance and number of shots is very important. Know the sprays effective range and the approximate amount in the cannister.
- Aim for the eyes, spray from ear to ear accross the eyes. If you miss go in reverse back the opposite way. Spray until you saturate the occular area taking away their vision.
- Spray must be accessible, everything disscussed previously is irrelevant if you don't have the pepper spray with you and quickly accessible.
- Stay alert and aware of your surrounding and you'll be ready if trouble finds you.
You should get in the habit of testing your defense spray every 90 days. To do this first go outside and determine which direction the wind is blowing. Remember to always stand upwind from the direction you are spraying. Depress the firing mechanism for 1 second. This test should be performed upon purchase and every few months after that. Be aware that every time you test your spray you reduce the contents of the canister.
How Long Will My
Pepper Spray Last?
Most pepper sprays have an expiration date stamped on the canister, usually 2 to 4 years from the time of manufacture.
Although the spray life is indefinite it does start to lose potency over time. Any use of the spray beyond the expiration date is highly unadvisable. We strongly advise you to replace your pepper spray long before the expiration date! That way you are always assured of the potency of the spray.
Take your old one to a safe place and target practice with it. Become familiar with how far it will spray, how to unlock it, etc. When practicing with your defensive spray, be aware of air movements and wind patterns and be very careful not to contaminate yourself.
What spray pattern
is most effective?
OC sprays
generally come
in two spray
patterns: a stream pattern which gives good range but requres aiming directly at face and a cone fogger which has a shorter range but does not require true aiming.
In addition to these factors there are two other important comparsions. First, in a breeze the stream spray is more controllable. The cone fogger can be blown back at the sprayer in a strong wind.
Second is the question of inhalability. OC works best when it hits the eyes or is inhaled. The fogger is inhaled instantly while the stream may require slightly longer exposure time.
The History of Pepper Spray
Oleoresin
capsicum spray
was developed at
the University
of Georgia by
Professor James
H. Jenkins and
Dr. Frank Hayes,
DVM, in 1960.
That formula
under the brand
name Halt Animal
Repellent was
first sold in
1963. Like tear
gas, oleoresin
capsicum (OC) is
non-lethal and
induces
temporary
incapacitation
with no known
long-term
effects. In 1989
the Firearms
Training Unit
(FTU) of the FBI
Academy in
Quantico,
Virginia,
completed three
years of
intensive
research on OC,
following which
the FBI
authorized the
use of OC for
its special
agents and SWAT
teams. In
addition, OC has
proven effective
against domestic
and wild animals
without
endangering the
animals or the
environment. OC,
in proper
dispensing
systems, has
been
successfully
used to stop
grizzly bear
attacks in
Alaska and pit
bull dog attacks
in California
and Texas. The
US Postal
Service also
issues OC to its
letter carriers
and animal
control
facilities also
issue animal
repellent to its
officers to
protect them
from dog bites.
The History of Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Scoville Heat Units (SHU's) is the measurement of the "hotness" of pepper.
All types of chili peppers, including green peppers, jalapeno's, and habanera's, all contain an unusually powerful compound found in no other plant, an alkaloid called capsaicin.
Capsaicin is the horticultural term for the genus that chili peppers are classified. A single drop of tasteless and odorless capsaicin in 100,000 drops of water is very noticeable. In fact, capsaicin can be detected by humans at one part per million.
In 1912, pharmacologist Wilbur Scoville developed a standard for measuring the power of capsaicin: the Scoville Organaleptic Test.
Scoville measured exact weights of chili peppers and dissolved the capsaicin in alcohol. This solution was then diluted with sugar water until it was no longer detectable to the human palate. A panel of five taste testers would taste the solution and three of them had to agree before a value was assigned. If, for example, it took 1,000 parts of water to one part of capsaicin, it was said to have 1,000 Scoville Heat Units.
This method was useful for calculating the temperature of peppers used in many pharmaceutical products such has heat rubs. Today, high-performance liquid chromatography is used to measure the capsaicin content in peppers. It measures capsaicin levels in parts per million which is then converted to Scoville Heat Units (SHU's). The pepper scale ranges from zero Scoville Heat Units for a bell pepper to 5,000 or so SHU's for a jalapeno, to a whopping 200,000 to 300,000 SHU's for a habanera. Pure capsaicin is 15,000,000 SHU's.
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