Pepper Sprays - What About Them

Pepper spray is for the most part highly used method of less lethal self defense today! It is more commonly known as OC pepper spray. Pepper spray has grown in popularity over the last few years and is one of the top used self defense weapons on the market today.


Self Defense Spray is derived from Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), a compound found in hot pepper plants. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is rated by the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale. Wilbur Scoville, an American chemist developed the scale in 1912 to appraise the hotness or tang of an assortment of peppers. The number of SHU assigned to a particular pepper indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present. For instance a bell pepper is rated at 0 SHU since it has no capsaicin, but Jalapeno pepper is rated at 5000 and a Habanera pepper is 250,000-300,000 SHU for potency. In order for pepper spray to be effective against an attacker it will need a minimum rating of 2 million SHU. There is pepper sprays that are much higher rated at 5 Million.

Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) pepper spray is an inflammatory, so if sprayed into the face of an attacker, the eyes will instantly close, temporary blindness may occur, difficulty breathing, runny nose and severe coughing that will drop the attacker. Pepper spray is very effective on criminals who may also be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or in a psychotic episode mode. The duration of pepper spray effects will depend on the strength of the pepper spray and will last up to 45 minutes with the after affects hanging in there for hours. Let’s just say your attacker won’t be a happy camper! A full recovery will be made once all the effects have worn off with no long term harm.

OC Pepper spray is oil based so water will not take it off your body. Eye tearing is the best way to minimize the effects of pepper spray it will help flush it out. Do not touch the affected areas as this can spread to other parts of the body and cause irritations. Rubbing oils or creams onto the affected areas will trap the capsaicin in the skin pores which will cause severe burning and possibly blistering.

Pepper spray comes in a variety of sizes, strengths and styles all of which can be easily carried on you person. Pepper spray can also be bought disguised as ordinary items such as everyday objects, lipstick, pens! It is also recommended that you pay attention to the expiration date as it will expire and loose its potency. Depending on the brand it usually expires in three to four years.

Pepper spray is regarded as the best Self Defense Weapon on the market and shouldn’t be disregarded to how it can affect a potential attacker. Pepper spray will do the job for you to allow you to get to safety. I do caution though, when spraying make sure you hit the face directly and watch the wind direction as it can spray back at you instead.