PlanetMace Blog

Why Pepper Spray is a “Must-Have” in Every Woman’s Purse

Nearly 80% of women in America report having been the victim of a violent crime, some are raped by people they know, others abuse by family members, and others assaulted on the streets or even in the safety of their own homes and residences. The dramatic truth, is that in nearly every one of these circumstances, the victims could have protected themselves had they carried and been adequately trained in the use of a personal safety spray product such as the ever popular and easy to use ‘pepper spray’.

Studies, reports, and statistics all back up the very clear and real fact that women are high-risk potential targets for violent attack, and these attacks can happen anywhere and at any time. Despite what the course instructors may tell you, karate and other self defense classes are unlikely to provide a realistic deterrent from a determined attacker that outweighs you by as much as 100 pounds or more, and may themselves be armed with a striking weapon, knife, or worse. The only real chance that a woman has in protecting herself from becoming the victim of violent assault is a self defense product such as pepper spray or a taser.

While a gun may be an option for some women, firearms are very dangerous items to live with, as accidental injuries and deaths pose a significant number of gunshot wounds sustained by Americans every year. Asides from the fact that guns are not tolerated in many workplaces and cannot be carried without a license, guns are also a potential threat to a assault victim’s life if the weapon is taken and used against them; the main point being that if a gun is involved, it is very likely that someone could end up dead, and that person is not always the initial target. Furthermore, most handguns are rather bulky, heavy, and difficult for your average untrained shooter to wield, making them a poor choice for women in self defense situations.

Pepper spray, on the other hand, is a lightweight, easy to use and effective weapon against an oncoming attacker, and is an affordable and practical tool for a woman to protect herself in any situation. Pepper spray canisters are very compact and discreet, and easily fit into any purse or small handbag; many of these personal protection devices are so small that they can even be attached to a keychain or used as a cell phone dongle.

Learning to effectively use a pepper spray self defense device is just as important as arming yourself in the first place, and recognizing the difference between the available products on the market will ensure that you get a product that works well for your lifestyle and your most likely scenarios involving violent crime or attack. There are even several classes available in most communities that demonstrate the effective use of pepper spray, and include valuable supporting information as to how to evaluate a pepper spray product for usability and effectiveness, and what do after you’d successfully defended yourself against an assailant in terms of getting yourself to a safe place and contacting the authorities.

Pepper spray is actually derived from a natural product from several species of the pepper family, and the active ingredient: capsaicin, causes extreme inflammation in the mucus membrane of anyone who gets shot in the face with a steady stream of the caustic substance. The immediate effects include swelling of the eyes, dilation of the pupils, and contraction of the lungs, which makes an attacker unable to breath or see: rendering them essentially useless in terms of being able to continue any form of attack, or even flee the scene. Most commercial pepper spray product contain a concentration between 5 and 10 percent, with some as strong as 15 percent, these will disable an attacker for anywhere from 30 minutes to and hour, which is plenty of time to get yourself to safety and call the authorities.

Pepper spray is also affordable enough that it makes sense to own multiple canisters, and buy 1 extra just to train yourself in using the device, so you’ll be ready to deploy it immediately in the case of an emergency. If you’re the father of any family in America, you should get a canister for at least your wife and each child, and keep one spare pepper spray can in the home in an accessible location: you never know when you’ll need to defend your family even on your own property.

One final benefit to pepper spray is that it is easy to use and easy to find; not to mention it won’t get you in trouble for carrying anything illegal, though you best check the laws in your state to determine what levels of concentration are tolerable in your state and city. Most local drug stores and convenience stores offer pepper spray products, and there are several online stores that provide a wide variety of useful pepper spray products.

If you are a woman living in America today, there are many accessories that you always bring with you when leaving the house, and there’s always more room in your purse for one more item. Remember to make carrying pepper spray with you a top priority; it’s the one item in your purse that can literally save your life if you need to take down a violent attacker, and could very realistically save your life.