Pepper Spray: Using It Effectively For Self Protection

Self-defense pepper spray is the best-selling security product sold on the open market today. It is easy to use and requires very little training to master. Learning the basics of using defense spray will give you the confidence needed to respond to a threat. Acting quickly can help you avoid serious injury and even save your life. Here are some tips to remember as you are using your pepper spray:

(1) It's a good idea to keep your pepper spray in a handy place. Keep it in that same place every time so that reaching for it is mindless and automatic. Otherwise, what's the point in having it at all. Good, accessible locations include inside your pants pocket, clipped to your belt, affixed to the strap of your purse, on your key chain, or in the palm of your hand. It is only useful if it’s readily available the moment you need it.

(2) Do not be afraid to use your pepper spray against your assailant. Reluctance on your part might be taken as a sign of weakness. He might think you are simply making an empty threat and won't use it at all. Use the spray! Don't worry about what it will do to him. Defense spray will not kill him, however, it will give you an opportunity to escape.

(3) Aim the defense spray at the attacker's eyes and face, then release a 1 to 2 second burst. After you have done this MOVE out of the way but do not take your eyes off your attacker. Self-defense pepper spray can take up to a couple of seconds to take effect. Watch the reactions of your attacker to determine if another shot of spray is required.

(4) While you're spraying the pepper spray canister, resist the urge to close your eyes. Closing your eyes will reduce the accuracy of your aim. If you are standing very close to your attacker on a windy day, your eyes may water a bit due to the pepper spray chemicals floating around in the air, however, it is very important that you look where you are spraying.

(5) In order to use pepper spray effectively in a self defense situation, you need to practice, practice, practice. Buy an extra pepper spray and conduct practice drills in an outdoor environment with a target. Actually "waste" it by discharging practice sprays to gauge the range of your product and improve your spraying accuracy. If a dangerous situation arises, the less time you spend thinking about how to use your pepper spray, the better. If you have already practiced a similar situation, you can have your defense spray out in less than a second, quickly taking down your aggressor.

(6) Timing your pepper spray is so important. There’s much more to using pepper spray than point and shoot! It's best to catch your attacker off guard. Refrain from immediately aiming your spray until you’re actually ready to fire. Wait until your attacker is in range and you know the spray will hit him fully in the face  and incapacitate him! The objective is to surprise him before he can have a chance to react.