|
Pepper Spray Information
Pepper
spray (also known as OC spray from "Oleoresin
Capsicum", OC gas, or capsicum spray) is a lachrymatory agent (a
chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and
even temporary blindness) that is used in riot control, crowd control
and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs. The active
ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin, which is a chemical derived
from the fruit of plants in the Capsicum genus, including
chillis.
The
HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) method is used to measure
the amount of capsaicin within pepper sprays. Scoville Heat Unit (SHU)
testing is also used to measure the hotness of pepper spray, but this
is a subjective test which changes from person to person and does not
measure the actual chemical percentage within the product.
Pepper
spray typically comes in canisters, which are
often small enough to be carried or concealed in a pocket or purse.
Pepper spray can also be bought concealed in items such as rings.
Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent, not an irritant like Mace. It
causes immediate closing of the eyes and coughing. The length of the
effects depend on the strength of the spray but the average full effect
lasts around thirty to forty-five minutes, with mitigated effects
lasting for hours.
Do
Not Feed The Animals
Mary
and Nathan are a young newly married couple. One of the things they
enjoy is visiting parks. They are fascinated with all the beauty and
splendor offered in the park and the free price nicely fits their
budget. They never really give much thought to safety in the park,
because most of the time they go together.
There are lots of people there most of the time and they all seem
friendly. One day while Jonathan was at work Mary, wanting to get some
exercise, decided to take a walk in the park alone. She drove to the
park and entered the gates. Being in the middle of the day, there were
not many people, just a few joggers and walkers, so it seemed like a
very peaceful place.
She began to walk the jogging trail joined by the few that were there.
After a while the other joggers started to leave. Pretty soon it was
just Mary and one other guy on the trail. Mary did not think much about
it he seemed to be fully engaged in his own exercise.
On the next round of the trail Mary noticed the guy was gone, and she
seemed to be alone on the trail. She decided this is a good time to
leave. She had to pass a wooded area to get to the parking lot. Just as
she was passing a man jumped from the brush and knocked her to the ground.
She hit the ground with such force that she was disoriented. The man
then tried to drag her into the brush.
She screamed and fought as much as she could. At that time some other
people were entering the park, heard her scream and rushed to help. The
criminal saw them approaching and ran in the opposite direction. He was
never caught and Mary suffered a broken ankle. Mary and Nathan still
enjoy the parks but are more careful these days.
Safety is an issue you must take seriously when you visit a park. Each
day our parks are scenes for horrific crimes. Rape, robbery, kidnapping
and assault occur daily. There is no better place than a park for a
criminal who wants to make a debut. The park is usually full of people
in a relaxed mode and who have no reason to fear their surroundings.
You do not expect to encounter crime when visit a park but the
possibility does exist.
A cell phone to call for help is a necessity. Do not rely on it for
immediate rescue. Never leave your kids unattended in a park. The
reasons for this are obvious but many people fail to take even this
simple life saving precaution. Just sit in a park one-day and count
youngsters left unattended. These children may wander off and become
targets of some of the dangerous characters that make the parks their
home.
Safety in numbers applies when you visit a park. If possible you should
visit the park in small groups of friends. You can enjoy their company
and have an added layer of protection against criminals. Even if it is
just you and your spouse that is better than going alone. Dense wooded
areas often surround parks, which present opportunity for criminals. Be
aware of the area surrounding your park.
Never go into a park after dark. As a safety rule for their patrons,
many parks close after dark. Your chance of becoming a victim doubles
after dark. Criminals know that security is not available during that
time. The likelihood of a criminal getting caught at night is low. Save
yourself the trouble do not go to the park after dark.
Parks are beautiful places of serenity and you and your family should
continue to enjoy them. Realize that criminals use parks as havens and
commit crimes on unsuspecting victims. When you visit a park, you
should have a defense strategy in case of emergency. Be aware of your
surroundings when you visit a park. Know that crime can happen at any
time but the chance always increases after dark.
Back to home |
