| Using pepper spray is very easy, even for the | | | | While you're spraying the canister, resist the urge to |
| untrained individual. Simply aim it at your attacker, and | | | | close your eyes, which will cause you to lose |
| press the button. Many have compared pepper spray | | | | concentration and reduce the accuracy of your aim. |
| canisters to ordinary cans of spray paint, and in fact, | | | | If you are standing very close to your attacker on a |
| the principle is the same. However, actually using the | | | | windy day, your eyes may water a bit due to the |
| pepper spray in a self defense situation can require a | | | | pepper spray chemicals floating in the air, but it is |
| bit more care. Many people panic in this situation. | | | | crucial that you maintain contact between the pepper |
| They may fail to aim before pressing the button, or | | | | spray stream and your assailant's face. Continue to |
| even close their eyes tightly as they aim. Because | | | | follow their head with your aim, because they will |
| defense sprays could save your life, it is vital that | | | | inevitably look away from the stream. |
| you learn and use the proper techniques. | | | | Even if their eyes are clamped shut and their hands |
| Canisters of pepper spray should be held upright. | | | | have flown in front of their face, keep spraying. |
| Ideally, you should be balanced on both of your feet, | | | | Make sure that they get a good dose of the spray |
| although the designers of defense canisters | | | | before you escape the situation. Two to three |
| understand that this isn't always possible as you are | | | | seconds should be enough to take down any |
| being attacked. For maximum effectiveness, the | | | | attacker, although you need not count the seconds in |
| canister must be aimed directly at the assailant's face | | | | your head. Instead, maintain your aim until the |
| and eyes. If you only have a clear shot of an arm, | | | | attacker is down and you can get away safely. |
| leg, or torso, try to wait until you see his face | | | | Before you find yourself in this situation, consider |
| before using the pepper spray. | | | | practicing your aim on an inanimate object. This is the |
| Make sure you're ready to spray and that your aim is | | | | best way to see for yourself what the spray looks |
| at the attacker's face, and then press the button | | | | like as it comes out of the can. There are several |
| down firmly, with no hesitation. Do not stop and wait; | | | | different types of pepper sprays, including a forced |
| your assailant may sense this nervousness and take | | | | cone spray that comes out in a fine mist, or a solid |
| that moment to increase the attack. Do not hesitate | | | | stream spray, or pepper spray released in a fog. |
| at all to spray your self defense weapon. Remember, | | | | Steady stream and fogger sprays can be sprayed in |
| it is not going to kill the person or cause permanent | | | | a back and forth motion to hit everything in their |
| damage, it's just going to get you away from their | | | | path, a particularly useful strategy for fighting back |
| attack. | | | | against multiple assailants. |