Self-defense these days is as much a means for protection during an actual attack as it is a means for prevention. This is why the Mace baton remains as one of the most popular tools for protection against crime. The baton is a small weapon but it can be very effective in disarming an attacker. This is the type of baton that no majorette will treat as a prop. It’s so much more than that.

What is a Mace baton?
Mace is actually a brand name. The brand carries several types of self-defense tools that use tear gas or pepper sprays as their main components. Tear gas and pepper spray, as we all know, contain a mixture of substances that affect the mucus membranes and cause extreme irritation. It is effective for use for both humans and animals.

The liquid in the Mace baton is kept in a pressurized container. When a trigger is pressed, the liquid is released as very tiny droplets. Once these enter the nose, eyes or mouth, the active ingredients immediately irritate the mucus membranes, causing immediate reactions such as tearing up, gagging and difficulty breathing. The burning sensation will also cause a person to be disoriented.

The reaction can range from moderate to severe, meaning it could last from a few minutes to at least an hour. As a weapon of self-defense, the Mace baton is non-lethal; it won’t cause temporary illness or physical problems and it won’t lead to death. This is why it is considered as an important and effective tool against a possible attack.

What is the formulation used in a Mace baton?
In the past, the substance used in the traditional Mace baton is a mixture of solvents, including butanol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol and cyclohexene. Some manufacturers may even include OC or Oleoresin Capsicum, the main ingredient found in pepper sprays. These days, however, a Mace baton will probably contain only OC since the use and possession of tear gas is severely limited to law enforcement and the military.

Certain limitations
Most retailers will sell the Mace baton only to users who are at least 18 years of age. It’s also the kind of self-defense tool that you can’t hand-carry in case you’ll be traveling by airplane. It has to be included in your checked baggage.

Although the Mace baton is probably legal in your state, there could be certain restrictions in your area. Before purchasing one, check your locality for any regulations.

The Mace baton should also be stored correctly. Extreme temperatures can cause leakages. It also has an expiry, which means that it might lose its power over time. Contents could be refilled, however and old content should be discarded according to local or state regulations.

Tags: mace baton, self defense gadgets, self defense weapon

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 1:56 pm and is filed under Cool Gadgets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.