Hi Dennis and Jen,

I live in a safe neighborhood and always careful when traveling or shopping.

Not long ago, as I was getting my car, I was suddenly and brutally attacked  from behind by a large male in his late 20’s or early 30′s.   I am a professional 45 year old married woman who thought I was prepared. Spraying him with a can a pepper spray I was shocked when he simply turned his head and kept coming.  A tall thin man he hit me repeatedly with his fists. I don’t know how I got there but when I woke up in the hospital, I also learned I was assaulted.  My purse had been taken along with all of my credit cards, house keys and ID. After several weeks and months, the physical injuries have healed, but I am tormented by the attack and live in constant fear.

Today I am afraid to be alone much less walk or shop by myself anymore.  Is there anything I can do? Tasers are illegal to carry in my state, I am not a big fan of firearms and don’t have time to spend hours in self-defense classes. Any suggestions would be appreciated …. Thanks, Bernice

Sorry to hear about your experience Bernice…  People don’t realize is that the “hotness levels” of pepper sprays are not regulated by the authorities nor are they tested by manufacturers.

While most producers appear to offer similar concentrations of OC, the main irritant used in many defensive sprays,  simply relying on the Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s) listed on the container is very misleading.   Millions of SHU’s listed  are no guarantee that the product will stop an attacker. All Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) sprays are diluted by 90 to 98% from the original raw product.  Buying an untested defensive spray product at a local retail or sporting goods store or on line is just risky.

That being said, properly formulated pepper sprays and enhanced sprays are extremely effective. They are non-lethal, and allow you to defend yourself against single or multiple aggressors from a distance.  Enhanced sprays are used by federal agencies, police departments, state police and state corrections users across the country with great success.

I am only aware of one U.S. firm Security Equipment Corp. that actually tests its products for effectiveness.  SABRE Red is the only one we offer and suggest our students use.  It is the same product used by the largest police department in the world including the NYPD and US Border Patrol.

As with any defensive tool you need to be trained on proper use and deployment.  Many people purchase defense spray products and presume that it is just like using bug spray.  One or two quick shots and the pest goes away.  Nice thought but  real life that does not work that way.

To rebuild confidence levels we recommend that women take some form of self-defense training that best meets their needs. Given the information  you  shared with us today,  you may want to reconsider the effectiveness of tested defensive sprays and check out our  SABRE Certified (3) hour hands on  Defensive Spray Workshop.