A quality pepper spray can protect you from intruders or attackers.
Quality is the key, however. Some products on the market won't even deter a dog, WTAE-TV Consumer Watch reporter Wendy Bell reports.
There are products in stores and retail outlets that clearly say on the can that they contain food-grade pepper spray. Others fail to provide ingredients, an expiration date or instructions.
Self-defense expert Barbara Gooderham said that consumers need to know what is in a spray, or how hot it is, before purchasing.
The heat of a spray is determined by Scoville heat units. Pepper that you eat is about 30,000 Scoville heat units. Very hot peppers, like those found in hot chicken wings, measure at about 90,000 SHUs. Postal workers carry sprays that are about 300,000 SHUs. A police officer must carry sprays with one million SHUs.
The hottest chemical spray on the market is called StingSpray, Bell reports. It has two million SHUs.
The spray is offered by Advanced Management Solutions for about $20. For information, call
(877) 889-5490.
Copyright 2001 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
