Pepper-spray:could it be unsafe?Home > Personal Security > Pepper Spray Pepper-spray is considered a non lethal self-defense item that could be carried by anyone feeling in danger of becoming the object of aggression. There are however a few restrictions that should be considered, as we are going to discuss hereafter. We introduced briefly this and other non lethal defense weapons in our page on Personal Security, together with our reservations on their use. Pepper Spray cans are used to spray a jet of a substance called OC = Oleoresin Capsicum, essentially a lachrymatory, inflammatory agent. Its function is to cause tears, pain, difficulty in breathing, coughing, discomfort and even temporary blindness. The purpose is to disrupt an aggressor's attacking plans so that the victim might flee or call for help. Pepper-spray can be used also to stop aggressive animals like menacing dogs or bears. It is reported that since Pepper-spray is an inflammatory agent and not an irritant, those who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs will still feel its effects, which may not be the case with tear gas and other substances. Pepper-spray is used by police forces in riot control. Although considered innocuous, death cases were reported. Concentration of active agent, stand off application distance and targeted part of the body, besides the personal health condition of the victims may have played a fatal part in these occurrences. It may be difficult to establish the real cause of death in certain cases, and legal battles have been raging. For self defense civilian use, the makeup of the product may be less aggressive than that used for riot control. Nevertheless prospective users should take into account that Pepper-spray may not be completely harmless. For a honest citizen looking for an effective defense weapon, the danger of inflicting irreversible damage on a criminal aggressor may not sound much deterring, as the principal and most urgent purpose is to provide personal security against aggression. It is however a risk to be taken with full awareness of the implications. It is known that the legality of carrying and of using Pepper-spray is different from place to place. Therefore anyone considering to obtain such a device would be well advised to ask local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s office if it is legal in that location. Also it is forbidden to carry Pepper Spray on board commercial aircrafts and when entering in official buildings protected by a security check point. Manufacturers offer tips about the best use of Pepper-spray, on the precautions for avoiding blow back, on antidotes (detergent solutions, not plain water) and on first aid to relieve the inflammation in case of an accident. It is important to obtain from the manufacturer or from a distributor some basic training on how to release the safety and on the effective use of Pepper-spray. Prospective users should learn how to avoid spraying on themselves. Readers wishing to explore actual offers of these devices, may look through the three pages appearing when clicking on Pepper-spray. Resources A collection of Less Lethal Weapons Resources will appear in our next Surveillance Guide News No. 09 due to be published online on June 16, 2008. For any questions write us by e-mail using the Contact Us Form.
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