Sunday, August 31, 2008

Safety Tips

* Safety Tips *

All of the Safety Tips in this section were compiled from the NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL (NCPC)

Basic Street Smarts

...Wherever you are, on the street, in a parking lot, shopping mall, driving, waiting for a bus or subway..STAY ALERT and tuned in to your surroundings.

...Send the message that you’re calm, confident, and know where you are going.

...Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid the person or leave.

...Know the neighborhoods where you live and work. Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, and restaurants, or stores that are open late.

On Foot

...Stick to well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through wooded areas, parking lots, or alleys.

...Don’t flash large amounts of cash or other tempting targets like expensive jewelry or clothing.

...Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket not in a back pocket.

...Try to use automated teller machines in the daytime. Have your card in hand and don’t approach the machine if you are uneasy about people nearby.

...Don’t wear shoes or clothing that restrict your movements.

...Have your car or house keys in hand before you reach the door.

...If you think someone is following you, switch directions or cross the street, walk toward an open store, restaurant, lighted house. If you are scared yell for help.

...Have to work late? Make sure that there are others in the building, and ask someone..a colleague or security guard to walk you to your car or transit stop.

On Wheels

...Keep your car in good running condition. Make sure there’s enough gas to get where you are going and back.

...Always roll up the windows and lock car doors, even if you’re coming right back. Check inside and outside before getting in.

...Avoid parking in isolated areas. Be especially alert in lots and underground parking garages.

...If you think someone is following you don’t head home. Drive to the nearest police station, fire station, gas station, or other open business to get help.

...Don’t pick up hitchhikers. Don’t hitchhike.

Safety for Walkers and Joggers

The best thing you can do to be safe while exercising is to join a jogging or walking club. Community centers and some retail stores that sell running and walking gear have these clubs. Safety in numbers!

Before You Go

...Plan your outing. Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Tell friends and family of your favorite exercise routes.

...Know where the telephones are located along the course.

...Wear an identification tag or carry a drivers license. If you do not have a place to carry your I.D., write your name phone number, and blood type on the inside of your athletic shoe. Include any medical information.

...Don’t wear jewelry or carry any cash.

...Wear reflective material.

On the Road

...Tell a friend or family member where you are going and what time you expect to be back.

...Stay alert at all times. The more aware you are the less vulnerable you are.

...Run or walk with a partner or a dog.

...Don’t wear headsets. If you wear them you won’t hear an approaching car or attacker.

...Consider carrying a cellular phone.

...Vary your route.

...Ignore verbal harassment. Use discretion in acknowledging strangers. Look directly at others and be observant but keep your distance and keep moving.

...Run against traffic so you can observe approaching cars.

...If anything happens while you are out exercising call the police immediately when you get home. Remember to get a good description of the suspicious character.

...Again ALWAYS BE ALERT AND TUNED IN TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!


Pepper Spray Inc.

Friday, August 29, 2008

What is Pepper Spray?

What is Pepper Spray ?

OC is a derivative of HOT CAYENNE PEPPERS and is the newest defensive spray agent. It is not an irritant like the tear gases, but an inflammatory agent. Contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat and lungs) will cause IMMEDIATE dilation of the capillaries of the eyes, resulting in TEMPORARY BLINDNESS and instant inflammation of the breathing tube tissues, cutting off ALL BUT LIFE – SUPPORT BREATHING. OC will not deteriorate with age and unlike the tear gasses, WILL NOT CAUSE LASTING AFTER EFFECTS.
One of the biggest misconceptions about pepper spray is that the higher the percentage, the hotter and better it works. In most cases this could not be further from the truth. Most of the best, fastest incapacitating sprays in the world are from 2%-10%. The lighter the fluid, the faster it penetrates the membranes. The percentage has nothing to do with the actual SHU or "hot" in the spray. Also, thicker sprays can inflame the skin area more and last longer with this unnecessary inflammation. A good spray will put the attacker down and out allowing you to escape or take control of the situation.
OC has proven itself to be the ABSOLUTE BEST DETERRENT available for attacking dogs and wild animal control. Another advantage of OC is that it is not volatile and will not emit a lot of fumes like tear gases.
The term OC ( oleoresin capsicum ) is a horticultural term which refers to chili peppers. There are many different kinds of chili peppers ranging from jalapenos, chiletpin, and cayenne to habaneros. They all have one thing in common. They all contain a substance that is very powerful an alkaloid called capsaicin ( cap-say-a-sin ). Just a single drop of tasteless and odorless capsaicin in 100,000 drops of water and the heat can be noticeable. In fact, capsaicin can be detected by humans at one part per ten million!
Capsaicinoids are produced by a gland in the pepper’s placenta, which is the top partition just below the stem. This is also where the seeds are attached. The placenta is about 16 times stronger than any other part of the plant, any OC spray worth its salt will use its active ingredient made from this part.
Back in 1912, a pharmacologist named Wilbur Scoville came up with the standard for measuring the power of capsaicin. Called the Scoville Organoleptic Test, it was needed to calculate the temperature of peppers used in many pharmaceutical products of the time ( such as "Heet" which was used for the relief of sore muscles, arthritis pain and muscular sprains). Scoville measured the ground pepper into a mixture of sugar, water and alcohol. Then, a panel of five tasters sipped the mixture and gave it a grade; it took a majority of three to assign a value.
Today, the value is established through high technology, a computerized method called high-performance liquid chromatography. The pepper scale ranges from zero Scoville unit for a bell pepper to 5,000 or so for a jalapeno to a whopping 200,00-300,000 for a habanero! Pure capaicin is 15,000,000.