by Jim Kerrigan

Created on: June 21, 2010   Last Updated: June 22, 2010

Pepper spray is a very effective agent. Great care should be used in deploying it. A sudden change in wind or heavy winds in general can cause the stuff to force you down. Pepper spray works by using literally a gas made from peppers. This stuff makes eyes burn and throats strain to allow air to pass. It is pepper spray and not tear gas that is marketed to use against bears! Now the containers used for bruins are a lot bigger than the anti mugger key chain verity.

First a word of caution both on behalf of yourself and anyone else who is sprayed by this stuff; so long as you are not allergic to the product or one who suffers with asthma the chemical is non-lethal. However, persons who have the specific medical conditions mentioned above can be killed by inhaling pepper spray. Persons with respiratory illness can be adversely affected by pepper spray as well. I say this only to make it clear that pepper spray is intended to be non-lethal but there are exceptions to every rule and should you suffer any of these conditions I do not recommend that you use or carry pepper spray. For the rest of us an accidental squirt is painful but for those who have the above conditions it can be life threatening.  

In the field pepper spray is best used suddenly. Never threaten someone with pepper spray either they are doing or about to do something that warrants being sprayed or there is no reason for the weapon to even be in view. The beauty of key chain pepper spray is it can be hidden in your hand. This way it is there if you need it while not telegraphing that it is there. The proper target for the spray is the face and the method is suddenly. This prevents the attacker from anticipating the blast from your keychain.

Two other vital points I would extend both hands toward their face. If you only extend the hand with the spray it makes it easy for the attacker to see the pepper spray device and even easier to grasp the hand that holds it. Two hands coming at once looks like pushing away which isn’t internalized as a serious counter attack; point two is just because you have pepper spray do not forget that having the spray doesn’t mean you can’t use your legs. With a face full of pepper spray it is difficult to see that foot headed toward your groin.

With regard to the spray itself I would give him all of it. While you choose the moment to suddenly counter remember attack with two hands, spray, kick, (to the groin) and hold your breath. Just as suddenly as you counter run away.   

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