Shelf Life of Pepper Spray

Does pepper spray have a shelf life? Canisters may have a shelf life of three to six years. They are usually conservatively dated to expire in one year. Shake the canister about once a month to keep the ingredients mixed. Pepper spray canisters have the active ingredient mixed in a liquid, and a pressurized gas propellant.

Don´t Look Like a Victim, Even If You Have Pepper Spray

Will pepper spray keep me from being a victim? Crime victims are frequently chosen because they are easy targets. Criminals prey on the weak or unsuspecting, and usually avoid people who are aware of what´s going on and might put up a fight. When out in public, look people in the eye, keep your head up, and walk with a confident stride. This tells the predator that you are more likely to see him coming and resist. Without the element of surprise, they will likely pass you up for someone who´ll put up less of a fight. Send the message that you´re calm, confident and know where you are going. Carrying pepper spray will help your confidence.

Don´t Forget About Your Pepper Spray

What do most people do with their pepper spray? Most people will carry the pepper spray canister for a week or two until the novelty wears off and then it will find its way to the bottom of a purse, a glove compartment, or dresser drawer. It´s not going to do much good there.

Trust Your Instincts When Carrying Pepper Spray

How important are my instincts when I carry pepper spray? Listen to what your intuition tells you. Trust those "little voices" when they tell you that something, or somone "just doesn´t look right." All of your senses should come to full alert, and you should be prepared to take action (if it´s necessary) to get out of the situation or away from that person as fast as possible. Use pepper spray when you can´t get away.

How to Test Your Pepper Spray

How do I test my pepper spray? You should get in the habit of testing your defense spray every six months. To do this first go outside and determine which direction the wind is blowing. Remember to always stand upwind from the direction you are spraying. Depress the firing mechanism for ½ second. This test should be performed upon purchase and every six months after that. Be aware that every time you test your spray you reduce the contents of the canister. If you are using a pepper spray key chain model and you test regularly you will need to replace the unit every 18 to 24 months if you follow the recommended testing procedure above.

How to Test Your Canister for Pressure

Is there a good way to test pepper spray pressure? If you wish to test your canister for pressure, make your spray burst only a fraction of a second and don´t do this often, as there may be as little as four seconds or less worth of spray in some models. The label or instructions of a good brand should tell you how many seconds of spray it has. Although floating the device in water to determine the quantity of ingredients left has been recommended in the past, be aware that this may cause the label to fall off or dissolve, and the device will no longer comply with the pepper spray law unlabelled.

Be Aware, Pay Attention, Even If You Have Pepper Spray

How important is it to be aware when I´m carrying pepper spray? An awareness of the reality of crime and violence, as well as an awareness of your environment, are the keys to your personal security. Just use good common sense and remember to pay attention to what´s happening around you, and you will go a long way towards keeping yourself safe. Pepper spray is an important part of self defense.

Be Ready for Surprise Assaults, Even If You Have Pepper Spray

Will my pepper spray protect me from surprise assaults? Your training includes staying away from bad areas, but if you must walk into a dark parking lot or some isolated place you should have the pepper spray canister in your hand and thumb near the trigger. Surprise assaults happen very quickly and usually without warning. If the canister is not in your hand you simply won't be able to get to it in time.

Pepper Spray Can Lose its Potency

How long does pepper spray stay potent? Usually all other sprays expiration date is 3 to 4 years from the date of purchase. Although the spray life is indefinite it does start to lose potency over time. Any use of the spray beyond the expiration date is highly unadvisable. We strongly advise you to replace your pepper spray every year! That way you are always assured of the potency of the spray.

Escape is Your Goal, Even If You Have Pepper Spray

Since I carry pepper spray, do I need to think about escape? If you do end up in a dangerous situation, remember that your number one priority is not to fight, but to escape. Brandishing your pepper spray at your attacker (if he isn´t aiming a gun at you) may be all it takes to be allowed to back away. But if your spray is not handy and faced with someone who demands your wallet, purse, jewelry etc... - give it to them, and get out of there. No possession, however valuable, is worth risking your life over.

When to Carry Your Pepper Spray

When do I carry my pepper spray? You should have your protection pepper spray with you whenever possible. Hopefully, you will never need it for protection. But if you do, you are unlikely to know when until the very moment you need to grab for it.

Things That Can Cause Your Pepper Spray to Fail

Does pepper spray ever fail? The inside of a tear gas canister is like a squirt bottle under pressure. An intake straw dips to the bottom of the canister, into the liquid mixture. For this reason, the canister must remain fairly upright. If it´s held upside down while spraying, only the propellant may escape. If the canister is sprayed upside down, it will loose pressure and may not be able to spray when you need it, even though you may be able to hear and feel the liquid sloshing around and you believe the can is full. Other canister failures are possible. The pepper spray nozzle may become clogged with lint or dirt. The trigger may break off. If left in a car on a hot day, a canister may be exposed to temperatures over 140 degrees F. Even if the it doesn´t explode (which it might), this adverse condition may cause a leak or a loss of the pressure needed to fire the device. It could also shorten the life of the active ingredients.