Pepper Spray is one of the most useful weapons in a woman’s bag. This weapon, that has been of tremendous use to police personnel and law enforcement officers for many years now, is a must have for every woman. With the crime rate, especially those against women, on the rise, it is no more a matter of choice but a matter of necessity.

Overview

In the initial days of its inception, this spray was used as an option for protection against wild animals like boars and bears and also against stray dogs. This spray comes in the form of aerosol spray. This product is also referred to as “Oleoresin Capsicum” which is the basic active ingredient in this spray that makes it so powerful and effective. The capsaicin heat in pepper is what determines how hot the pepper will be. The higher the capsaicin rating, the hotter the pepper will be. The capsaicin rating in the spray is in the range of 2-5,000,000, which makes it pretty hotter than biting into a jalapeno pepper.

Working of the spray

The active ingredient, oleoresin capsicum, is an agent that causes inflammation. When this ingredient comes in contact with the mucous membranes in the nose and eyes, it causes the inflammation of the capillaries which in turn, leads to temporary blindness in the person. Though the attacker will experience some amount of pain and irritation, it is neither lethal nor permanent. The effect of this self defense product will linger long enough to give you sufficient time to escape. The best part is that the victim can use this product on the attacker without feeling the guilt of causing irreparable harm to another person.

Legalities

Sprays containing pepper, though very useful, are not legally permitted in certain regions. Though most of the states in the US allow civilians to possess this spray, there are others that are still deliberating on this issue. Hence, understand the legalities of the region where you stay before purchasing this product.

These sprays today are available in camouflaged containers that look like lipstick or paper dispensers. They are also available as key chains and rings. With all these features and many more in its kitty, sprays containing pepper are not a product that will let you down.