Yesterday, we had a personal safety presentation by a local county detective. Here’s what he said on the subject:
Be careful when you purchase pepper spray. The “key-chain” spray is popular but you need to find out one very important thing: How far will it spray? If it sprays like non-aerosol hair spray (a short distance), don’t waste your money. You need something that will reach 10 to 15 feet.
(This has been a public service announcement.)
Posted by Beanny (Member # 7109) on :
Thanks, accio.
That reminds me of the children's book "The Three Robbers". Ah, Nostalgia!
Posted by Goldenstar (Member # 6990) on :
For some reason it made me think of the adult book written in a child's book form , called, The House that Crack Built.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Another safety tip - when you buy a can, make sure to test it before you trust your safety to it.
For that matter, I'd recommend two - one to carry, one to practice with.
And pay attention to the wind before you spray.
-Trevor
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
O_<
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
When I got mine (on a keychain, but farther range and stuff), I had to go through training. With a target.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Practice, young Grasshopper.
Pardon the cliche, but it's seriously good advice - if you're going to carry a weapon, know how to use it.
Otherwise it's just another liability in a dangerous situation.
-Trevor
Posted by accio (Member # 3040) on :
He talked about practice too. Go outside (upwind) and check that the device will throw a spray several feet away in a consistent spray.
According to him more than one victim has incapacitated themselves because they spayed themselves!!. If you use the spray in close contact, there is a good chance that you will get some. Hit your target and get away quickly.
Also, pepper sprays do expire, so re-stock annually.
Posted by gnixing (Member # 768) on :
quote: According to him more than one victim has incapacitated themselves because they spayed themselves!!.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I mostly carry mine for use against dogs or other animals I needed to blind or incapacitate long enough to get away to safety. I wouldn't rely on it for use against another human, mostly because of the large possibility that it wouldn't be of as much good as running and screaming (you have to be pretty sure of what you're doing and have a pretty firm stance to use pepper spray accurately, at least in my experience.) I've had to get out of bad situations before, and I've learned that I can rely on my self-protection instincts as much as anything to work. If they don't get me to safety, there's a large chance nothing really will. The pepper spray gives me one extra weapon to use in a dangerous situation, but there's as large a chance that I won't use it as will in a dangerous situation.
I am a little appalled at the fact that I've forgotten to take it of my keys and it's gotten through airport security 5 times now, though.
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If you use the spray in close contact, there is a good chance that you will get some. Hit your target and get away quickly. ![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)