The pepper spray is an incapacitant agent that effectively shuts down the central nervous system of its targets. It also causes a systemic inflammatory response and temporary blindness, and it is a very effective personal defense tool. This spray works by causing severe pain to the eyes, nose, and lungs, which disrupts communication between nerves in the body's nervous system.
The mixture of capsaicin (the active component found in peppers) with another chemical irritant called oleoresin capsicum makes this popular weapon so useful as a defensive tool. It can be used both at close range or from further away, depending on how much time the user has before an attack occurs.
Who Introduced a Pepper Spray?
In the early 1980s, a criminal justice student, Dr. John Kitchin of Utah State University in Logan, Utah was walking to his car one night when he was suddenly attacked by a would-be rapist. A woman passing by noticed the struggle and ran to help him fend off his attacker. The criminal fled and Dr. Kitchin suffered only minor injuries from the attack.
Just as it seemed that he would be okay after such an ordeal, Kitchin was struck with an idea for a security device that could immobilize attackers without harm coming to them or their victims. The next day, he made some prototypes of his device and tested them both on himself and on a willing victim.
While it had worked in the field, Dr. Kitchin knew that he needed to make modifications to his design before seeking funding from investors. He needed to test the effectiveness of the spray under laboratory conditions as well as in real-life attacks. To prove that his invention would work, Dr. Kitchin offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who could break free after being sprayed with his pepper spray product.
Two years later, Dr. Kitchin had his design perfected and began to seek capital for his company. After obtaining a patent and raising some initial investments, Dr. Kitchin dubbed his product "Pepper Spray" to differentiate it from all of the other sprays that required mixing chemicals before use.
In 1990, Dr. Kitchin's new company, Officer Safety Products (OSP), produced its first batch of this spray and the product was released in 1991. Officer Safety Products would later go on to become one of the largest pepper spray producers in the United States, but it all started with a woman who took the time to help a stranger in need.
Composition of A Pepper Spray
Pepper spray is a common type of self-defense spray that contains oleoresin capsicum, a concentrated irritant material produced from the 2014-16 flowering peppers. Commonly known as pepper gas or OC, it has been used by law enforcement agencies and military units since the 1960s. Its effects are intended to temporarily incapacitate an assailant through chemical irritation (as opposed to structural injury), allowing the user adequate time for escape.
A typical spray consists of a pressurized canister that releases its contents in an aerosol stream at about 10–20 feet (3–6 m) away from the user, propelled by either compressed gas or pyrotechnics. It is commonly sold in 0.5- and 3-ounce (14 ml and 85 mL) canisters, which contain a measured amount of OC, and are priced from $10 to $200. These sprays are also available as small aerosol containers, such as a roll-on deodorant.
Protect Yourself with a Pepper Spray!
Pepper spray is not just something that can be used to keep intruders away from your home. It can also help you in a self-defense situation, like when someone tries to assault you or steal your wallet. Here is the best way you can protect yourself with this spray:
You take the canister and press it against an attacker's face, at the eyes or nose. The spray will be forced into their eyes, mouth, and nose, which can cause temporary blindness, coughing, and burning sensation in the lungs as well as breathing difficulty. The attackers will have to run away immediately in order to avoid any further damage.
You can use this spray in your home, too, especially during an unexpected break-in. Keep it on your kitchen table or the living room. You can easily reach it when you hear a sudden noise or notice a strange person inside the house. Remember that good self-defense is always better than trying to fight against someone who is armed with a knife, gun, or even baseball bat. It is not dangerous and can be used legally; always check with local laws before carrying one on your body.
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