Pepper Spray: Understanding Effects, Legality & Usage

Pepper spray is a defensive spray made up of a chemical called Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). When sprayed on an attacker, pepper spray causes temporary eye dilation and lung inflammation. This results in temporary blindness, difficulty breathing and pain. The effects of pepper spray can last as short as 15 minutes and as long as 90 minutes. In addition, depending on the model of your pepper spray, it can have a range of anywhere from 8 to 20 feet. Pepper spray is legal to carry in most states, making it an effective non-lethal weapon to carry. To ensure your pepper spray is in working condition, test it every 3 months or 90 days.

Instructions

• 1

  Go outside. Do not attempt to test your pepper spray indoors.

• 2

  Find the direction of the wind. Stand upwind so that wind blows away from you, not toward you. If you stand downwind, pepper spray may get blown toward you.

• 3

  Press the firing button for half a second. The pepper spray should come out evenly.

• 4

  Test pepper spray every 90 days.