Most people have heard of pepper spray, but do you know how it works, or what exactly is inside the can that you are carrying?
All pepper sprays are not the same. They are rated in Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), just like very hot peppers. This measurement is directly related to how effective the pepper spray will be. Most pepper sprays currently available have a rating of around 2 to 3 million SHU. A very hot habanero pepper is close to 2 million SHUs, for comparison. The higher the SHU, the hotter the spray, although any of the commercially available pepper sprays should be plenty to stop an attacker. Pepper sprays come in a variety of effectiveness ratings. Most are designed to stop humans, while others are rated for dogs or bears.
The first personal defense sprays, first developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, contained Oleoresin Capsicum, or OC. This oil extracted from peppers of the Capsicum family is known to cause coughing, watery eyes, and a burning sensation on the skin. The oleoresin capsicum is what gives the peppers their heat. Originally, it was extracted from chili peppers, and then powdered for use in pepper sprays.
Today, most pepper sprays are actually made from chemicals, such as Chloracetophenone (CN) or Orthochlorobenzalmalonitrile (CS). These chemicals usually affect the tear ducts, as well as irritating the eyes, nerve endings, mucous membranes, and skin. Modern pepper sprays also restrict breathing. Today, pepper sprays may include CN, CS, OC, or a combination of these chemicals, because some people are more affected by one than by the other two.
To turn these chemicals into a useful spray, the chemical compounds are suspended in water, and then pressurized in the canister. Some pepper sprays also contain a UV dye which marks the attacker. Once apprehended, the dye on the attacker’s face, hands, and clothing will glow under UV light for up to 48 hours, aiding in a positive identification.
The spray mechanism itself works just like a can of spray paint. Simply aim at the attacker’s face and press the button, and this pepper spray will hit anyone within a 4 to 20 foot range, depending on the size and type of spray you are carrying. Some pepper sprays come out as a fine mist, which is ideal if you have doubts about being able to accurately aim at the attacker. Others come out in a solid stream, which is thought to be more effective but harder to aim, since it must hit the attacker’s face directly to be most effective.
After spraying an attacker with this pepper spray, the person will instantly become quite uncomfortable. Their eyes will usually shut immediately and begin watering profusely in an attempt to wash out the pepper spray. It may also cause temporary blindness. The attacker will become immobilized by the irritants in the pepper spray as their skin develops a burning sensation. These effects take just a second or two to appear, instantly stopping the attack.
Author Resource:
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