OC Pepper Spray – What It Is and How It Works
Oleoresin Capsicum Pepper Spray is the most widely used less-than-lethal, self-preservation product in use today. It is more generally referred to as “OC Pepper Spray.” In the past few years its popularity has grown. It has now become the primary personal defense device preferred by more average law-keeping individuals than any other defensive weapon.
Let’s take a closer look at OC spray to discover exactly what it is and how it works. Pepper spray is made from Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), a naturally occurring, safe compound found in hot pepper plants. This is where it gets its name. OC is the active element that makes peppers hot. The effectiveness or hotness of pepper spray is rated by the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale. An American chemist by the name of Wilbur Scoville developed the scale in 1912 to appraise the hotness or tang of an assortment of peppers. The number of SHU assigned to a particular pepper indicates the amount of capsaicin that is present. As an example, an ordinary bell pepper is rated at 0 SHU since it has no capsaicin, but Jalapeno’s are rated at 5000 and a Habanero is 250,000-300,000 SHU for their potency. If a pepper spray is going to be effective against an assailant it needs to be rated at least 2 million SHU, however, some police grade pepper spray is rated as high as 5 million.
OC spray is an inflammatory agent, that when sprayed in the face of an assailant, will force the eyes to close immediately, it also causes temporary blindness, difficulty in breathing, a runny nose and an irrepressible cough that will send him to his knees. OC is also very effective on perpetrators who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or experiencing any kind of psychotic episode. The duration of the OC effects depend on the strength of the spray, but the average full effect lasts around thirty to forty-five minutes, with diminished effects lasting for hours. The assailant will usually make a full recovery once the effects completely wear off and, other than embarrassment, will not suffer any lasting adverse aftereffects.
OC is an oily substance. It cannot be washed away with water despite how much is used. The best way to reduce the consequences of pepper spray in the eyes is to briskly blink it way with tears. This will aid in cleansing the irritant from the eyes. Additionally, to prevent the burning sensation from spreading to other parts of the body it is best to avoid touching the affected spots. Massaging ointments onto the affected areas will only serve to trap the capsaicin in the skin resulting in a heightened burning sensation and possibly even cause blistering to occur.
Pepper spray is usually housed in small aerosol type containers that are petite enough in size to be carried or hidden inside a pocket or pouch. Pepper spray can also be bought camouflaged as rings, lipstick, or some other everyday item such as a pager or writing pen. Another thing, pepper spray has a shelf life of about 3-4 years. This is because the aerosol propellant could possibly escape from the canister. Should this happen, the spray may not perform as expected. It is best to pay attention to the expiration date found on the label of most models.
Overall OC defense sprays are considered by civilians to be the best non-lethal self-defense devices available. Their use is not considered deadly force, the sprays are legal in most states and usually no special permit to own or dispense the chemical is required. However, there are some states that do restrict the purchase and use of pepper spray. In New York, for example, the pepper spray must be purchased from with-in the state, from a licensed pharmacist or firearms dealer. Massachusetts also requires the spray to be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. In Michigan, “OC” pepper spray cannot be stronger than 2%, and in Wisconsin, the spray cannot exceed 10%. In California and Florida pepper spray is legal up to a 2oz. unit. When traveling, OC cannot be taken on board any airplane for obvious security reasons. Before purchasing pepper spray it would be wise to check with the police department for local and state laws on its’ use or restrictions.