This Example Of How To Use Pepper Spray Needs To Be Shared Because It Is Truly Helpful And Informative

If you've been carrying pepper spray around for years but don't really know how to use it in case of an emergency, this is for you.

Hi, I'm Krista, and, as your designated BuzzFeed Mom 👋, it's my mission to make sure we all learn those basic skills you probably weren't taught in school.

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It amazes me that so many parents send their kids off to high school and college with self-defense mechanisms like pepper spray and no practice on how to use them. So, today we're changing that and learning how to deploy pepper spray using credible sources and tips from Jennifer Cassetta who is a self-defense expert, health and empowerment coach, speaker, and author of The Art of Badassery: Unleash Your Mojo with Wisdom of the Dojo.

Instagram: @jenncassetta

If you don't quite understand what pepper spray is, it is a self-defense spray composed of oleoresin capsicum which includes chili peppers. It causes a burning sensation on the skin and usually leads to temporary blindness. 

Here is a "how to" video on how to use it, or you can scroll down for the steps below:

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How to spray pepper spray- send this to someone who needs it! #howto #howtospraypepperspray #pepperspray #selfdefense

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Learning the specifics means understanding what kind of top, or unlocking mechanism, it has. The next thing you need to know is how far away it sprays. This will help you understand how far away you need to be from a threat. Lastly, figure out what kind of spray it is.

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Learning about the special features of your pepper spray is great to know, too. For example, the one I have has an unlocking top that glows in the dark so you can see it easier. It also contains a UV dye so you can see where you are spraying.

There are four types of pepper spray — fog, stream, gel, and foam — but the most common is stream spray.

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According to Stun & Run Self Defense, here is a breakdown of the four kinds:

1. Fog Sprays: This is good for spraying a large area and covering the face easily, but the very fine droplets that come out don't make it ideal for distance or windy situations.

2. Stream Sprays: The most commonly used pepper spray because it can spray up to 20 feet typically, and it sprays powerfully.

3. Gel Sprays: These sprays are ideal for indoor situations, but they do tend to have a little bit longer range than stream sprays.

4. Foam Sprays: This is also ideal for indoor use, and it covers a larger area of the face when deployed.

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I would NOT practice spraying your pepper spray for obvious reasons, but if you want to practice IRL, Jen recommends getting a practice spray that just has water in it! You just want to make sure that the spray has the same type of top as the pepper spray you have so you're familiar with what you've got.

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"The water canisters help you get used to pulling it out quickly and knowing how to spray it at the attacker's face," said Jen. And, the sprays are all over Amazon, so you can just find one that deploys similarly to the one you have.

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In general, you want to grip the spray in a fist, having your thumb free to unlock and deploy the spray. The reason for this is because in case you need to punch someone, your knuckles are facing them, according to Jen.

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Now, we already discussed the four types of sprays, and for each kind, you want to extend your arm straight out and deploy the spray from ear to ear as a rule of thumb. Spray back and forth for a few seconds.

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However, Sabre states that if you have a fog spray, they recommend deploying up and down between the eyes and mouth.

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You can create a target and start getting comfortable spraying the water practice spray at that. (And even though you could technically ask a person if you could spray them since it's just water, as a mom, it is my duty to warn you that it does shoot out pretty fast and quick, so it might hurt!)

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Here are some important things to remember:

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And, lastly, let's end with what to look out for before buying pepper spray:

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When it comes to the spray strength, the ones with the highest Scoville Heat Units (SHU) — this measures the heat of the actual pepper — will be the strongest. 

Lastly, Jen said she often gets asked if pepper spray is legal — and it IS legal in every US state. However, how much you can carry and where you can buy it may vary. ⁣You can review the pepper spray laws from state to state here.

OK, that's all for today's skill. Hopefully, this was helpful to you in some way! If you've got a skill they never taught you in school that you wanna learn, let me know in the comments or DM me on insta @callmekristatorres, and I'll see what I can do!