•Step 1 Keep your pepper spray handy. Special canisters are made to fit on key chains or belt loops. Designate a convenient place to store your pepper spray so you won't have to waste time looking for it during a date rape situation.
•Step 2 Practice firing your pepper spray before going on a date. Find an open field and practice aiming your pepper-spray stream. Avoid blowback by paying attention to the wind before spraying.
•Step 3 Hold the pepper spray at eye level while spraying an attacker. For best results, you'll want to spray your attacker in and around his eyes.
•Step 4 Use the "fanning" technique while squirting pepper spray. It's likely that your attacker will try to evade the stream. By spraying the stream back and forth, you'll be able to hit your target even if he's moving.
•Step 5 Fire in short bursts of two or three seconds.
•Step 6 Back away while spraying an attacker. This will make it more difficult for him to strike you or swipe the pepper spray container out of your hand.
•Step 7 Yell "stop" or "no" as you spray. Loud sounds will disorient your attacker and draw attention to the date rape in process.
•Step 8 Wave your free hand while spraying. This can be a good way to further confuse your attacker.
•Step 9 Keep your own eyes open while spraying. It's important that you hit your target, so you'll have to resist the temptation to close your own eyes.
•Step 10 Run and call for help once your attacker is incapacitated. Because the pepper spray is temporarily blinding, he'll be unable to chase after you
•Optional If the attacker has his hands over his eyes in pain, a really good swift kick to his balls will be the coup de grâce to end the date and leave no question in his mind that you no longer desire to see him again.
Thanks, Kerry! I will print that out and keep it handy. If I get attacked I will tell the attacker "wait a minute, gotta use my instructions" LOL!
I like the "optional" bullet point!
When I first got the spray I went to my sister's garage and sprayed it in there (yes, blow back is serious business). My BIL walked out and almost fell on the ground from choking. Thankfully he was not hurt!
The spray I carry in my car has a combination of pepper spray, tear gar and an ultraviolet dye (which I dont need) that can be used for tracking down the perp.
TEAR GAS? You *are* prepared! I don't want to give the impression I walk around blinding random dudes with pepper spray. Other than my BIL (LOL! poor thing!) I have never used it!
I've only carried the spray with the kids in areas of downtown Portland that have unsavory individuals or areas with dogs off leash. I got it mainly because my daughter had once been chased around me by a Pit Bull and my foot to the dogs head hardly phased it.
My XW would legally carry something a wee bit more potent than pepper spray. I used to envision us getting mugged and myself reenacting an Al Pacino line from Scarface - "Honey, shoot dis piece of sh!t for me".
I hear you on the unleashed dogs. It is SO dangerous. My dog was (blindly) attacked TWICE last summer by unleashed dogs. We have a leash law and most people do follow it but nothing angers me more than unleashed dogs. It is dangerous to people and other animals.
Have you ever seen those little gadgets that you can carry when you walk a dog? Apparently they give off a sound only dogs can hear and they run away. I have always wondered if they work.
There was a little girl who cut through the park near my house last year and was attacked by a "friendly" dog. This child was near death she was mauled so bad. I followed the news story for a long time and I think she was in the hospital for three or four months.
We all love our dogs but animals are just that. Animals. When their instincts kick in friendly goes out of the window.
My neighbor has a teeny yorkie that weighs maybe 5 lbs. This dog is so aggressive and nasty I can't even go in her house anymore.
I can't blame your daughter a bit. I have a dog and *I* am afraid of unleashed dogs.
