Mace Pepper Spray - How to Use It

Using mace pepper spray as a distraction, testing it, how to use it and what to do after you spray someone. Learn what to do if you get mace on yourself. Why you should consider taking a class, and mace pepper spray in the eyes of the law.

Mace pepper spray is not a toy. It should not be used on a friend as a joke and it is not meant to be a party trick. It should be used ONLY for self-defense and only if you feel that your life is at risk.

When it is used together with the element of surprise, it can make an excellent distraction. You may have been subjected to a trick that goes like this:

Someone says to you, "Look over there!" You naturally look in the direction that they point in. When you do, they either take something (like your lunch) or run away.

Mace pepper spray should be used the same way. As a distraction to give you time to get away.

Testing it

Unlike other weapons, you don't need much practice at using pepper spray in order to be accurate enough to hit your target. You just need to be able to get at it quick enough.

If you decide to get some pepper spray, when you get it, read the instructions! Then take it outside and into an open area like a football field… lots of space.

Give it a quick one or two second test burst.

If you have got a video camera, use it to film the action from a side-on position. You can play it back over and over and really take in how it works. What the spray looks like, how loud it is, how far it goes, how wide and thick it is, and how much it blows around. 

Be sure to test it with the wind behind you, so that when the spray comes out, it goes away from you - down wind. It will be safer for you and will look better on camera if there is no or very little wind.

You should test it to make sure it works. The buttons can be faulty and the canister can become de-pressurized. If this happens, the contents will have no way of being released from the can. Also, once tested, you will know that what you are lugging around with you, will actually function if you need it.

If you want more than a second or two of test time, you can buy cheaper test spray canisters that don't have any mace in them.

How to use it

Using mace pepper spray is basically the same as using fly spray. If you really think about it, pepper spray is a form of pest control. 

Hold the can out in front of you at arms length. Aim straight for the attacker's face and press the button. Be sure to hold on to it very tightly and be ready to pull it in close to your body if he reaches for it! The last thing you want, is for an attacker to take it off of you. Be very aware of this possibility!

The distance between you and the attacker will vary depending on the type and model you are using. You need to read your instructions to get this information. Better still, do the above test and use a video camera. The distance will then be clear to you. Just as it is possible to be too far away, it is also possible to be too close for achieving maximum affects in minimum time.

As a general rule, aim to spray from between 5 and 10 feet away. The effective range of most spray canisters is between 5 and 12 feet. Spraying someone from less than 5 feet away does not allow for the capsicum to disperse as an aerosol, and is likely to reduce the amount of inhalation exposure. 

What to do next

Although he will be helpless for a few seconds, don't hang around to find out. Leave in a big hurry, "spray and run" like mad; run so fast into the sunset that it just won't set.

Blow back

Blow back is a term used to describe stray spray that is going in your direction. If you find that some of the spray goes in your direction, you can either stop spraying and move. Or keep spraying and at the same time move left or right, stepping around your attacker until the spray is moving away from you. Blow back spray will have nowhere near the affect on you, as a direct hit will have on an attacker.

Cleaning it off of yourself

I read somewhere, where if you get spray on yourself, you should rinse the area with cold water. If you have ever eaten chili, you will know that this idea doesn't work. Milk or yogurt is supposed to help cool your mouth, but with the ring burning chili that I like to eat, time is the only thing that really helps. So the key here is, don't panic, try not to touch or rub, and remember, it won't last forever. 

You can pat your face with a dry towel. This may lift a bit of the oil out of your skin and reduce the recovery time. Sitting in front of a fan may ease the burning feeling.

You can buy specially designed capsicum removing sponges.

Take a class

Police are trained to use pepper spray before they carry and use it. They know that proper training may make all the difference in a real situation… it could save their life!

If you are going to carry pepper spray, take a class first! Find a class in your area and do yourself a favor… attend it! Or AT LEAST read Tactical Use of Defense Sprays handbook and learn how to use pepper spray properly.

Pepper spray the law and you

Keep this in mind: Just because you have got mace pepper spray, does not mean that you can go around spraying anyone who upsets you. In the eyes of the law, it could be seen as physical assault. It could be seen in much the same way as a punch on the nose. You could be charged with assault!

You can only use mace to defend yourself against someone who you believe intends to do you PHYSICAL harm.

Conclusion
Remember that mace pepper spray should be used as a distraction, to give you time to get away. Test it in an open area and film it. Use mace pepper spray in much the same way as fly spray, then run like hell! If you get it on yourself, don't panic, and do yourself a favor… go take a class.

If you would like to buy mace pepper spray, or just see what it looks like, the following links will take you to some big, clear, fast loading photos, and buying options:

• Pepper Shot™ 1/2 ounce

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