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While mace was once the preferred
spray, it has largely been replaced by pepper sprays,
which are more effective against a wider range of
people. The problems with mace was that attacker on
drugs sometimes didn’t feel the effects: with pepper
spray, even drug or alcohol abusers are affected. When
you spray someone with pepper spray, the power of
oleoresin capsicum, an oil derived from cayenne pepper,
comes capably to your defense. Attackers’ eyes shut
involuntarily as the pepper oil causes immediate and
painful irritation, and tearing can continue for more
than an hour after being sprayed.
Other mucus membranes are also irritated: the nose runs,
the throat is affected, causing coughing and choking,
and the skin burns wherever it has been contacted by the
spray: remember the last time you bit into a truly hot
pepper? The pain that coursed through your mouth, that
made your eyes water and your face swell up can be
applied to anyone who tries to bully you. Pepper spray
is a solid argument: even the most determined criminals
find it impossible to ignore the pain!
While there are police-sized versions of pepper sprays,
most of us won’t need canisters with dozens of doses.
For the most basic civilian protection, a small canister
is fine, since we don’t suffer attacks on a regular
basis, thank goodness! You can buy pepper spray in a
mini version, to fit into your pocket or purse! |
