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Pepper Spray |  |
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See the Index for more topics, information, hints and tips.
I will update this as I get more experience.
Read more about Safety here.
Unfortunately, and I am very sad about this, with the state of our society it is sometimes not safe to run in some areas. Recently in a very nice neighborhood where I run, several runners were robbed and a runner was killed by a man with a machete.
There are several things you can do to prevent things like this from happening. Don’t run alone. Don’t listen to music or anything else so you can hear what is going on around you. Be aware of the people and what is happening around you.
Consider carrying a can of pepper spray for your protection. Bad things sometimes happen to good people. Runners are occasionally targeted because they are perceived as more vulnerable or running in more isolated areas. Run in groups and keep your eyes and ears alert to what is going on around you.
Pepper spray can also be used to repel aggressive animals like dogs and bears.
Pepper spray is more effective on people under the influence of drugs or alcohol than mace which is tear gas.
Pepper spray comes in three intensities: bear, human, and animal. If you run in bear country, consider the strongest, otherwise stick to the human. The stronger human version won’t hurt animals. They come in canisters about 1” in diameter and 4” long and usually dispense multiple short bursts. This way you can try it out so you know what to expect if you ever have to use it. They have a shelf life of a year or more. You may want to test it during that period. I found The Pepper Spray Store to be a very helpful site with lots of good information. Educate yourself on its use, laws, and first aid. Read the instructions and learn everything you can about using it. You may only have a couple of seconds to react and spray.
There are two basic spray styles – stream and cloud. The ones that spray a cloud are effective under ten feet (like a room deodorizer), and don’t have to be aimed as carefully but are more likely to get on other people, including yourself. The stream styles shoot a longer distance (like a wasp and bee spray) and you need to aim them better but it’s not as likely to get onto others.
Try it once just to be familiar with how hard it is to push the button, how big the cloud is and far the spray goes. Do this in an area away from other people and animals. Understand that you are probably going to get some on you. So know how to decontaminate yourself. Pick a target about 6 feet high (maybe a spot on a tree trunk) so you’ll become familiar with pointing it and be sure the target is downwind from you and anyone else. After you spray, back away to get away from the spray and the danger.
Just know that if you have to use the spray, you are probably going to get some on yourself.
Wash off as soon as possible with lukewarm water. Scrub as best you can. Then use no tears baby shampoo and water on your face and Dawn™ and water on the rest of your body.
Even with a lot of scrubbing you are going to be uncomfortable (that may be an understatement) for a while. Try to cool your body down as much as possible with a ceiling fan and air conditioning. If you can, go to sleep, it helps the time pass more quickly.
If any got on your clothes, don’t try to save them. It’s not worth the effort or the risk.
Resource The Pepper Spray Store.
