Personal mace and pepper spray products help many people defend themselves from threats every year, but taking care to use them safely is very important. While very few people are ever harmed by pepper spray and mace due to negligence, you should still follow a few simple rules to make sure that you never have an accident.

Most individuals who purchase mace are responsible adults, but accidents can happen nonetheless, and you should take a little extra time to make sure that your pepper spray doesn’t discharge when it shouldn’t.

Pepper spray and mace designed for personal use might not be fatal to someone who is affected by it, but it can still cause temporary injuries. For safety’s sake, always ensure that your pepper spray is secured inside of its carrying case or that the lid is closed properly. If you are in the habit of leaving your mace in a purse and not checking it for long periods of time, make a point of taking it out periodically to make sure it is secure and sealed.

While personal pepper spray products are meant to be kept within reach in case they are needed in an emergency, you should not ever put it within reach of children. Many mace products are designed to make sure that it is difficult for children to activate them, but never leave a purse containing pepper spray around unattended children.

If an accident occurs and you get pepper spray on yourself, don’t panic. Keep in mind that the discomfort will wear off with time. Trying to rinse pepper spray or mace off with water doesn’t do much good, since it is an oil-based product. Instead, try patting off the substance with a dry towel, which will remove some of the oil from your skin and reduce recovery time.

In many metropolitan areas, it is possible to sign up for self-defense classes in which you can be trained how to safely use pepper spray mace. These classes can help you feel more confident and minimize the likelihood of accidents, so it’s a good idea to attend one if you have the chance. The more comfortable you are with a self defense tool, the more likely you are to use it properly.

Remember, you should only use your pepper spray on another individual if you feel that you are actually in physical danger. Although mace does not cause death, it is still considered assault if the product is used without just cause. Making a point of leaving your pepper spray in your purse or pocket at all times, unless you feel threatened, can help you ensure that it never accidentally discharges when it shouldn’t. Mace is not a toy, and should never be treated like a toy!

Purchasing pepper spray mace for defense is a wise choice if you’re worried about your own personal safety, and if you are careful there is little chance that you’ll ever harm yourself with it accidentally. Taking a few extra precautions to ensure you don’t have an unnecessary accident is well worth the time.