| Too many people who purchase pepper spray stow | | | | spray will be less effective in taking your attacker |
| it away in convenient locations and then forget about | | | | down quickly. However, research has shown that as |
| it. It is crucial that you replace your defense spray | | | | the defense spray passes its expiration date, the |
| every few years, or it will lose effectiveness. Can | | | | propellant allowing the spray to leave the can is more |
| you think of anything worse than pulling out your | | | | likely to become ineffective than the defense spray |
| pepper spray in a self defense situation, only to find | | | | itself. |
| that it no longer works as it should? Defense spray | | | | The average effective life of pepper spray is about |
| that was purchased five or more years ago should | | | | 3 to 4 years. Most will have an expiration date |
| not be relied on to stop an attack. If you can't | | | | stamped on the canister; take a look so that you can |
| remember when you bought it, it is probably time for | | | | make a mental note of when it should be replaced. If |
| a replacement. | | | | your canister does not have an expiration date, most |
| Like any other aerosol spray product, the ingredients | | | | experts advise replacing it the next time you change |
| allowing the pepper spray to come out of the can in | | | | your smoke alarm batteries, which should be done |
| a fine mist break down over time. If you try to | | | | yearly. By replacing your pepper spray on a yearly |
| spray a spray that has gone too far past its shelf | | | | schedule, you can be assured that it will work exactly |
| life, it may sputter out of the can rather than coming | | | | as you expect when you need it. |
| out in the solid, forceful stream that you are | | | | You can also test the effectiveness of the aerosol |
| expecting. If too much of the aerosol propellant has | | | | propellant in your can of pepper spray. Outdoors and |
| leaked from the can, it may not spray at all. In other | | | | standing upwind, spray a one second burst. Does it |
| cases, it may not spray as far as usual. As a result, | | | | come out in a solid stream, or does it sputter? Once |
| you may have to get closer to your attacker in | | | | you replace your pepper spray, the old canister can |
| order for the spray to reach them. | | | | be used for training and practice on an outdoor |
| A pepper spray's effectiveness resulting from a | | | | target. Be very careful not to spray yourself with the |
| chemical compound known as Oleoresin Capsicum | | | | pepper spray when testing or training. |
| (OC) may also become reduced over time. A natural | | | | Proper storage of your pepper spray can extend its |
| compound derived from hot peppers, there is some | | | | shelf life. Always store it at room temperature. |
| evidence that OC may become less effective over | | | | Extremes of either hot or cold can cause changes in |
| time, particularly if the canister has been stored in | | | | the chemicals inside the canister. Very hot |
| excessive sunlight. If the OC has degraded, the | | | | temperatures, such as those found inside your car on |
| chemical potency may be reduced, meaning that the | | | | a summer day, can even cause the canister to burst. |