Once you’ve chosen the pepper spray product that best suits your circumstances, the next step is becoming proficient with it. Anyone who has chosen to use pepper spray as their feature self-defense tactic needs to know its effective deployment and performance characteristics. As I mentioned in the previous article, many pepper spray manufacturers make inert models of their products (filled with water or some other non-active substance) that you can use to become familiar with the product’s effective range, spray density and spray distribution.
It’s well worth the investment in time and money for the practice and mental rehearsal so you don’t have to be stumbling through it and figuring this stuff out in an actual tactical situation. Knowing the intricacies of your pepper spray product’s performance will also lend itself to a higher level of confidence in your ability to deal with an assailant. Confidence helps to avoid panic. I’ve heard a few stories about people armed with pepper spray who, due to the stress of the situation, have panicked in the face of an assault and failed to deploy their pepper spray or failed to deploy it effectively. (Similar to what some inexperienced and mentally unprepared hunters experience known as ‘Buck Fever.’ The body performs some of the required physical activity, but the cognitive aspects of the exercise just disconnect.)
The second element of proper deployment of pepper spray is preparedness. There are two aspects of preparedness: (1) Situational preparedness and; (2) physical preparedness. Situational preparedness might also be called ‘situational awareness.’ Situational awareness alludes to knowing where and when you are most likely to be accosted. I think everyone understands the basic precautions they should take to avoid being assaulted – don’t park in dark or isolated areas of a parking lot; don’t move about isolated areas alone – move in groups; know where the higher crime trends are in your community and avoid them if possible; etc., etc.
It also encompasses the concept of observing and evaluating your surroundings and all of the tings and people in it – a threat assessment, if you will. I would describe the mindset as paranoia’s 3rd cousin once removed. Identify anyone in the environment that you feel could be a threat. Casually track their gaze in reference to where you are and in reference to where you are moving and your immediate destination. Track any movements they make and note if their movements appear to be furtive. If any movement does appear to be furtive, or if someone’s gaze appears to be untypical or unusual, consider that person a threat. If any aspect of a person’s behavior or appearance seems uncharacteristic or unusual, consider that person a threat. Begin mentally rehearsing a response to an assault.
The second aspect of preparedness is to be physically prepared to deploy your pepper spray when it’s needed. Pepper spray, no matter how potent and no matter how practiced you are with its use, won’t do you any good when it’s sitting in the bottom of your pocket or your purse.
When you find it necessary to move into an environment in which you might be vulnerable, your pepper spray should be maintained in your hand at a casual ready. Many manufacturers of pepper spray products for the civilian markets make models that attach to key rings so that people automatically have them in their hand when moving to and from their vehicles. My personal favorite is a model that attaches with a belt clip and is very similar to the size and dimensions of a cellular telephone – it provides rapid and easy access without actually having the unit in your hand.
Should it become necessary to actuate your response plan, point the nozzle of the canister at the assailant’s target area (the muzzle area of the face) and spray a one- to-two second stream making necessary adjustments to the impact area of the stream. (A one or two-second stream is usually sufficient, but it never hurts to be generous in this situation.) Be prepared to change targets if there are multiple threats. As well as spraying the assailant(s), simultaneously scream and yell as loud as you can. Besides drawing attention to you and your situation the loud screaming and yelling will contribute to the sensory overload your assailant(s) are undoubtedly experiencing.
One of my favorite pepper spray products is the Tornado 5-in-1 Pepper Spray unit. Besides delivering a 10% OC solution (about the same potency of the product issued by most police agencies), the unit sounds a 125dB alarm and activates an extremely bright LED pulsating light that attracts attention to you and your assailant and drives your assailant deeper into sensory overload. The unit provides a little more output to help deliver you from harm.
Once the assailants’ aggressiveness has been neutralized and their mental focus has shifted to obtaining relief from the OC exposure, that is your opportunity to get away from the assailant(s) and get to help. Don’t stick around in close proximity to the assailant(s). Don’t hang around to watch the assailant(s) suffer and admire your handiwork. Repeated applications of the pepper spray aren’t likely to prolong the assailant(s) debility or intensify the effects.
Once you’ve saved yourself, the next step is to do your very best to see that the assailant(s) wind up in the custody of the law. That will be your contribution to the community. Most people who engage in this type of crime are serial criminals. If they recover from their experience with you and your pepper spray, they will likely find another victim at some point and they may even take precautions and/or change their tactics to try to prevent another OC exposure.
Just remember that custody is the function of law enforcement officers. Your only job with respect to that is to do your best to get law enforcement to the assailant(s). The arresting officers will see to the assailants’ decontamination.
In order to be effective, pepper spray must make contact with a person’s or animal’s mucus membranes. That would be in the eyes, nostrils and/or mouth. The term ‘effective,’ in terms of pepper spray, refers to creating a definitive dysfunction or serious reduction in a person’s or animal’s ability to continue to assault or attack you. OC contact will also create a rather intense burning sensation when it contacts exposed skin.
A former associate of mine (a sublime skeptic), upon being issued a canister of pepper spray, conducted a self-exposure exercise. He read the instructions and paid especially close attention to the decontamination procedures. Anticipating the worst (or maybe the best – depending how you look at it) he decided that the best place to proceed with the self-exposure test was in his shower to accommodate rapid decontamination. So he stripped himself down and jumped into his shower. He held the canister out at arms length and gave himself a brief burst of the pepper spray – upon which gravity carried the excess OC to exactly where you do not want an irritant to contact you. Of course he couldn’t see and he had difficulty breathing and his motor coordination was severely limited. He had great difficulty executing the decontamination procedure, but gained supreme confidence in and respect for the effectiveness of pepper spray.
My primary law enforcement function from the mid 1980s through the 1990s was oversight and operation of a police training academy that served a population base of approximately 1,250 law enforcement officers. This was during the period pepper spray was being adapted as a law enforcement tool. Part of my job was to train and certify most of these officers in the use of pepper spray. The pepper spray training curriculum at that time included a voluntary exposure exercise. Of course virtually every officer elected to participate in the exposure exercise for fear of being branded a coward should he or she decline to participate. And, of course, the lead instructor was expected and elected to frequently participate in exposure demonstrations to calm the fears and nervousness of the student/officers and to prove it was effective and safe to participate. (I doubt there is another man on earth who has been exposed to pepper spray more than me.)
Once pepper spray contacts mucous membranes, the effects are as follows:
1. temporary blindness (involuntary closing and temporary inability to open the eyes – I should stress that pepper spray does not actually alter or impede the physical structure or mechanical operation of the eye or ocular components – it’s just the autonomic reaction to the intense burning sensation);
2. temporary inability to breath (due to swelling of sinus and mucous membranes in the nose and throat and involuntary interruption of autonomic responses);
3. due to reduced breathing capacity and compromised oxygen transfer (dilated capillaries), many people exposed to pepper spray report experiencing lightheadedness, disorientation, confusion and loss of muscle control. This is particularly what gives the assailant’s intended victim that brief window of opportunity to escape.
People who have been caught totally by surprise by exposure to pepper spray in an actual tactical situation have reported that they thought they were having a heart attack or some type of coronary episode. (This, however, does not happen in training exercises where participants anticipate and understand the exposure.)
People exposed to pepper spray also experience massive rhinorrhea – a voluminous discharge (snot) from the mucous membranes of the sinuses. (We actually used to take photos of the officers participating in our exposure exercises and give the person with the longest hanging snot string a ‘booger’ trophy.) One of my favorite one-liners in the pepper spray training class was, “… pepper spray impresses the snot out of me.”
Of the thousand plus officers I’ve had participate in pepper spray exposure exercises, I’ve encountered one person whose reflexes were so quick, we had difficulty getting the pepper spray in his eyes or nostrils. Of course he was standing there looking at the canister in the instructors hand fully anticipating being sprayed. I’ve come to the conclusion that no one can avoid pepper spray’s invasion to mucous membranes in the sudden, unanticipated deployment of pepper spray in an actual tactical situation.
We even had people wearing glasses participate in exposure exercises. Glasses may serve to prevent the highest concentrations of pepper spray from invading directly into the eyes, but the indirect invasion of pepper spray always proved to be effective in halting the aggressive actions of our test officers.
The effective deployment of pepper spray does require some minor marksmanship skill, depending on the nature of the pepper spray product you choose to use. There are generally three types of spray dispensers.
One is a very concentrated stream. The spray is dispensed in a narrow stream and requires the most skill to hit the intended target (the eyes, nose and mouth area of the assailant). The advantage of such a dispenser is that it affords greater range and can be deployed without letting the assailant get as close. Another advantage is that when it is deployed competently, there is less chance that it will affect anyone in the vacinity it is not intended to. Some dispensers claim ranges of up to 15 or 20 feet.
Dispensers that produce a less concentrated stream of pepper spray product sacrifice a little range but don’t require the degree of accuracy to make contact with the intended target area on the assailant.
A third type of dispenser is referred to as a ‘fogger.’ It dispenses the pepper spray product in a finely atomized mist that covers a larger area. It is probably the surest way to get the pepper spray to where it needs to be to affect the assailant’s mucous membranes. But you sacrifice even a little more effective range.
Many manufacturers of pepper spray products offer inert samples of their various dispensers for sale as well, that allow users to experience the performance of their selected dispenser type so the user knows better what to expect concerning the deployment of his or her chosen pepper spray dispenser.
Some manufacturers offer pepper spray foams that stick to the assailant’s skin maximizing the contact effects. Another advantage of the foam is that it’s easier to see where the stream is contacting the assailant and allows the user to make adjustments to his or her immediate point of aim.
And some manufacturers offer pepper sprays with UV dyes in the formula that marks the assailant for easier identification later on.
Probably the most extensive research on the effects of pepper spray was conducted at the University of Helsinki, Finland. The researchers used 10 volunteer police officers (5 at a time – conducting the tests twice). They made a battery of scientific measurements and tests of each officer’s eyes just before, immediately after, 1 day after, 1 week after and one month after pepper spray exposure.
The results of the research were published in the July, 2000 volume of Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science Journal. I’ve read the report, but I won’t even pretend to represent to you that I understand it’s scientific techni-speak. But the conclusion stated that although there were some immediate changes to mechanical, temperature and chemical sensitivity, there were no issues that persisted after a week in any of the eyes examined. They determined that a single exposure to Oleoresin Capsicum was virtually harmless.
Manufacturers of pepper sprays promote their products by making potency claims. They represent potency based on the percentage of Oleoresin Capsicum compounds present in relation to the inert ingredients in the contents of the canister. Products on the civilian market range from 2% up to 20%. The pepper spray products carried by police and security officer is generally in the 10% to 12% potency range. (Note: Many states regulate the potency of pepper sprays carried by civilians to the 5% or 6% range.) Bear spray (developed for outdoor sportsmen, hikers, campers, hunters and fishermen) is usually between 18% and 20% OC concentration.
It the nature of our culture to gravitate to the big numbers, assuming that the sprays with higher concentrations of OC will work better. Manufacturers have known this for ages and market it that way. Frankly, if I were going hiking in bear country or fishing in an area populated by feral hogs, I’d go for the higher concentrations, too.
There is another potency indicator that some manufacturers use to promote their pepper spray products. That’s the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating. You see, neither God nor Sam Colt were able to make all members of the Capsicum fila equal. While concentrations speak to quantity, SHU ratings speak to quality. This index was invented by Pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912. Some peppers are hotter than others and produce more highly concentrated capsaicinoids.
If you live in a state that restricts the concentration of OC in your pepper spray, find the products with the percentage of OC concentration allowable and the one with a higher SHU index.
Undoubtedly, the most common and the best known method of self-defense these days is the use of Pepper Spray. It has proven, many times over to be a very effective means for people to protect themselves against assaults.
There are numerous reasons that pepper spray has become the most commonly used self-defense method. But chief among these are:
1. Pepper spray is relatively inexpensive.
2. Pepper spray is uncomplicated and easy to use.
3. Pepper spray is easy and convenient to carry.
4. Pepper spray has a very good reputation (being relied upon as a tool used by various law enforcement agencies for self-defense, to support mechanics of arrest and for crowd control).
5. Pepper spray is essentially safe and relatively harmless.
You may have heard of pepper spray by the name ‘OC Spray.’ The ‘OC’ stands for Oleoresin Capsicum. Oleoresin Capsicums are biological substances from a variety of peppers (the same peppers that are used the world over to make spices) that are extracted from the peppers and processed into the irritant agent. The irritant agent is then packaged with various inert ingredients into a variety of delivery systems for anti-personnel use - self-defense, law enforcement or security.
Not much is known about the history of Oleoresin Capsicum as an anti-personnel agent before the 1960s. There is some anecdotal evidence that in the 400s BC, the Chinese ground Cayenne Peppers into fine powder, packed it into balls, wrapped in rice paper and then launched it at enemy soldiers to degrade their combat effectiveness. About the same time, the Japanese soldiers supposedly carried it in boxes to be blown into the faces of enemy soldiers during combat.
The contemporary OC agent delivery system was developed in the 1960s at the University of Georgia by Professor James H. Jenkins and Dr. Frank Hayes (DVM). It was first marketed to the public in 1963 as ‘Halt Animal Repellant.’ The first big marketing push was to mail carriers, bicyclists, and pedestrians who were sometimes bothered by dogs. ‘Halt Animal Repellant’ was promoted as, while being very effective on animals, virtually harmless to them and caused no long-term damage. (Note: While pepper sprays work very well on the typical nuisance and even wild animals, this writer has seen well-trained attack dogs ‘fight through’ a dose of pepper spray. This, however, was undoubtedly due to the animal’s dedicated training and fighting nature. These are not the typical dogs that a typical person is likely to encounter in normal circulation throughout his or her community.)
In the 1980s, Law Enforcement began looking at Pepper Sprays as a tool to help control resistive subjects and for purposes of crowd control. Until then, police were using other similar synthetic chemical agents commonly known as tear gas or ‘mace.’ (‘Mace’ was the term that referred to these substances packaged in smaller aerosol delivery systems for use on individuals per arrest situations. ‘Tear Gas’ was the term typically used to refer to larger munitions packaged as incendiary or explosive devices for use in crowd control and as a tool to deal with barricaded suspects. ‘Mace’ has since become a brand name trademarked by a company that manufactures chemical agents and munitions including pepper spray.)
In the 1980s the FBI embarked on a three-year study of pepper spray and determined that it was preferable to (safer than) CN or CS (mace) agents and was suitable for issuance to their field agents. Local law enforcement agencies followed suit in the early 1990s. Now, thousands of law enforcement agencies around the world issue pepper spray to their officers. The pepper sprays typically issued for use in the United State and Canada are similar to the biological agent developed at the University of Georgia in 1963. The agents that are typically issued to police for use in Europe are one of two different synthetic derivatives similar to biological pepper spray.
The U.S. civilian sector became interested in pepper spray for self-defense purposes in the 1990s. Many police officers and police agencies in the United States lobbied their state legislatures to pass laws allowing civilians to legally posses pepper spray for purposes of self-defense. Pepper spray is legal for civilian use (with some restrictions) in all 50 states. Generally, it is restricted to possession by persons 18 years of age and older. Many states also left municipalities with authority to ban its possession by civilians as well. (Anyone considering carrying pepper spray for self-defense should consult with their local law enforcement agency to ensure they are not in violation of any statute or ordinance in the process.) A few states prohibit the purchase of pepper spray products through the mail and restrict sales to licensed firearms dealers.
At the same time states passed legislation allowing civilian access to pepper spray, many states passed companion legislation defining and outlawing criminal use of pepper spray. This usually involved adding ‘penalty enhancements’ to sentences for crimes when they involved illegal use of pepper spray. (In other words, if someone used pepper spray in the commission of a robbery, they would be sentenced according to the sentencing guidelines for robbery plus given an additional two to five years for the use of pepper spray in the commission of the robbery.)
Once the civilian population showed interest in pepper spray, the manufacturers began to produce and package pepper spray products specifically for the civilian markets. They made the canisters smaller and easier and more convenient to carry and conceal. The law enforcement models carried four or five ounces of pepper spray product and required a holster to carry them on a duty belt. For civilians, the industry developed canisters that ranged from ½ to 2 ounces of product and they made them pocket and purse friendly (they placed safety caps or covers on them to prevent accidental discharges). Some manufacturers actually made them to attach to your key ring for convenient access. They began to make canisters and leather holsters in bright, designer colors including hot pink for those who refused to compromise their sense of fashion even in the act of self-defense.
The industry also responded to various state legislation to make sure that citizens could obtain a pepper spray product that met the legal requirements or restrictions placed on them by state laws. The State of Michigan was the most restrictive (in terms of the OC concentration of pepper spray product available to civilians – 2%). But the industry developed a product that met those criteria. Wisconsin passed the most complex legislation regulating both volume and concentration (10% maximum based on volume of inert ingredients), minimum and maximum range of the unit, certain container appearance and labeling criteria, trigger safety specifications, etc. You almost have to be a chemist attorney to fully comprehend pepper spray requirements/restrictions in Wisconsin. But the industry has you covered with products that meet even Wisconsin’s legal model.
It also encompasses the concept of observing and evaluating your surroundings and all of the tings and people in it – a threat assessment, if you will. I would describe the mindset as paranoia’s 3rd cousin once removed. Identify anyone in the environment that you feel could be a threat. Casually track their gaze in reference to where you are and in reference to where you are moving and your immediate destination. Track any movements they make and note if their movements appear to be furtive. If any movement does appear to be furtive, or if someone’s gaze appears to be untypical or unusual, consider that person a threat. If any aspect of a person’s behavior or appearance seems uncharacteristic or unusual, consider that person a threat. Begin mentally rehearsing a response to an assault.
