The Taser C2 is one of the newest series of self-defense gadgets using stun technology to come out in the market.  Before the C2, consumers had a range of similar choices that worked well but lacked some points in ergonomics.  The arrival of the C2 has changed that — slightly smaller, lighter and designed to sit well in the hand when fired, this is a weapon that could easily be concealed and deployed when needed.  It also has scored well in terms of effective ratings.

Efficacy
The effective rating of the Taser C2 is near 100%.  This means that it can be relied on to work against an attacker in case of an incident.  The effective ratings came about in actual tests where the C2 was deployed.

The effective rating was also achieved thanks to the high power rating registered by the Taser C2.  This rating is enough to incapacitate a full-grown assailant 9 times out of 10.  In fact, its makers have compared the power of the C2 to that of a 9mm.  The advantage is that being a Taser, the C2 is non-lethal.

Another issue regarding Tasers that the C2 has managed to overcome is its efficacy with people who are drunk or high on drugs.  There have been reports that some Tasers do not work well with people under the influence of chemical substances.  With the Taser C2, however, technology has significantly improved, ensuring that the user is protected regardless of the physical state of his attacker.

Restrictions
The Taser C2 is a very powerful gadget, hence there are certain restrictions as to its use that you have to know about.  First, it’s important that you are aware of any state or local legislations that may be in place in your area that may limit or even totally forbid you to use or even own a Taser.  In many states, there is also an age restriction for its purchase and use.

Second, the Taser C2 requires you to register it online after purchase.  This is the only way that the Taser can be activated.  The registration doubles as a criminal background check.  Only people with a clean record are allowed to own the C2.  This will ensure that the C2 will not be subject to misuse.

The Taser C2 has a lifetime warranty for users who deploy it for self-defense.  If lost or left behind during an attack, the owner can have the unit replaced for free provided the incident is supported with a police report.

Pepper pens are some of the top selling self-defense gadgets in the market.  Many people prefer them because they are handy, easy to hide and carry and can blend in with other everyday objects.  But pepper pens are not created equal.  Here are reasons why not all pepper pens work and what you can do to resolve it:

The pepper pen has a limited range of use
Manufacturers and self-defense experts often recommend that users be aware of the range of their pepper sprays.  Some of the best in the market can be used at a range of about 10 to 15 feet, with some types even stopping an attacker from as far away as 20 feet, depending on wind direction.  A pepper pen spray generally has a shorter range of about 5 to 8 feet.

So why doesn’t this range always work?  There are certain circumstances that may make it dangerous for the user who only has a pepper pen spray and little else.  If an attacker is coming on fast or running towards you, he or she should be able to cover a good 3 to 5 feet in as little as 2 seconds.  Although you could use the pepper pen by then, the momentum will have carried your attacker through the 5 or 8 feet distance in order to topple you.

You could remedy this by being aware at all times and to learn how to avoid an oncoming attack.  That way, you would be able to protect yourself and allow the pepper spray to work its magic so you can make your escape.

The pepper pen spray may be a bit difficult to use
Although quite effective, the shape and size of the pepper pen may sometimes make it difficult for some people to use.  Some people even find that their grip is a bit awkward and that aiming can be a bit challenging particularly during a surprise attack.

The pepper pen spray contents may not suffice during an attack
The key to the efficacy of the pepper spray is to always keep in mind that its main power is in providing a distraction to the attacker.  The effects of the spray is only temporary, which means the user is expected to either physically bring down the attacker after the spray has been used or to run away.

A pepper pen spray may contain only a limited amount of the substance.  Due to the small size of the container (the body of the pen), a pepper pen may contain only a few ounces of spray.  In an ideal situation, such as when the user is confident and is gripping the spray correctly, the pen may be effective enough.  If the user is panicking, he may have more difficulty aiming and firing such a small device.

Most people will probably do well with a pepper spray sans the holster.  But there is a reason why an accessory such as this can also serve an important purpose, something that many users of pepper spray tend to overlook.  So do you really need a pepper spray with holster?  Here are reasons why you should consider getting one:

A holster keeps your pepper spray can in place
With the variety of designs, shapes and sizes they come in these days, pepper sprays can easily be misplaced.  Of course, no one would probably mistake a pen pepper spray he owns for the real thing but when it’s a small canister you’re carrying around, it could get lost in the chaos of your bag or purse.  If it comes with a holster, you’re more likely to wear it or attach it to your bag where you could easily see it.

There’s no need to waste time digging into your bag or pocket
There’s no telling when you’ll need a pepper spray most.  A holster will make it easier to find and use.  Imagine being in imminent danger of getting mauled by an aggressive wild animal or physically harmed by an assailant and being unable to grab your pepper spray in time.

Most aggressive or violent attacks can occur in a matter of seconds and in those first few seconds lie your chance of escape or survival.  You should be able to act quickly and decisively during this time to prevent or at least minimize physical harm to yourself.  If you can use your pepper spray right away, you probably don’t have much to worry about.

A holster prevents accidental use
It’s easy for anyone careless enough to get a hold of your pepper spray and play with it.  A holster will provide extra protection for the canister and prevent curious hands from accidentally spraying it.  This is particularly a concern when there are young children around, especially those who are prone to picking up and playing with unfamiliar objects.

A holster will also help protect the nozzle of the spray and thus prevent unnecessary use.

A holster keeps your pepper spray accessible outdoors
Probably one of the best reasons for buying a pepper spray holster is to keep your canister easy to use when you’re outdoors.  You can wear the holster on your belt or bag where it will be easy to access so in case you need to use the spray, you don’t have to search for it.  Wearing the pepper spray in a holster is also a practical way of moving outdoors – it frees up your hands so you have better flexibility in terms of movement.

A holster will protect your pepper spray from the elements
Your can of pepper spray can probably withstand some exposure to the environment but if you’re the type who’s frequently outdoors or lead an active life, having a holster can help minimize the presence of dust, dirt and grease and prevent unnecessary wear and tear.

Because of the rise of criminal cases and personal attacks, people, especially women have been very serious in finding self-defense strategies to protect themselves.  One of the popular self-defense tools for both men and women is the pepper spray. Pepper Sprays contain oleoresin capsicum or the oil from hot peppers.  This could definitely cause temporary blindness to the attacker for an hour.  Pepper spray is a very simple, practical and very effective way to fight back when you are being attacked.

Pepper sprays come in different designs.  The most discrete of them is the pepper spray keychain.  Most people who have been attacked carried keys on their hands.  That is why the pepper key chain was developed.  Pepper key chains can be a very good form of disguise.  They are very handy and easy to use.  The pepper spray is contained in a small container that is attached to the key chain.   So it would just look like something of a dangling toy. Pepper sprays can be small but is as effective and strong as the ones contained in larger containers.  Also, pepper spray key chains can be detached in case you want to put your keys inside your purse or wallet.

Pepper key chains are always ready in your hands because it is very handy.  Say, you are in an ATM machine and there are just a few people around and there’s this attacker. Because you have your key chains on hand with a pepper spray attached to it, you are very much ready to defend yourself. One spray is actually enough to incapacitate the attacker.

For women, pepper spray key chains can be a very effective self-defense product for them.  The attackers might think that women are particularly frail and defenseless.  But because pepper key chain sprays present a very good disguise, attackers could be very wrong.  For all they know, they could easily attack them but the thing is, they will not be able to stand and run after a complete spray from the pepper spray that is attached on their key chains.

There are many available keychain pepper sprays available online.  They come in dainty designs and colors so you can choose the best key chain that will suit you. Key chain pepper spray is a very powerful and practical self-defense instrument. Small but definitely powerful.

There are loads of self-defense tools that have been developed due to the increase in crime rates and personal attacks.   One of the effective self-defense tools that have been manufactured is the cell phone stun gun.  The cell phone stun gun looks just like your ordinary cell phone.  Cell phone stun guns are equipped with 900,000 volts -   the highest possible that means loads of protection for you.  There are lots of cell phone stun gun brands available online.

Cell phone stun guns can be very effective for both men and women.  This self-defense tool enables the user to send a high-voltage electricity charge through the skin of the attacker.  This can disrupt a person’s nervous system. Attackers won’t be able to function normally that they would completely lose control, making them fall over and they won’t be able to move.

Cell phone stun gun ranges from 90, 000 to 900,000 volts.  These could send the attackers to the ground.  So far, the success rate in using stun guns is 80 to 85%.  The self-defense tool is very easy to use.  If you have been attacked, try to get a hold of this cell phone stun gun as if you are going to make a call. If the attacker gets close to you, put and hold the cell phone stun gun toward the attacker, 3 to 7 seconds are good enough to send shock waves to the attacker’s body, making them fall over, although he could get up, it will take him some time to move normally again.  This will be your best time to have a run and call for the police.

Women, being the frailest targets of criminals, can fear no more if they have the cell phone stun guns with them.  All you need to do is be aggressive and brave enough.  Never permit the attackers to take over you.  Cell phone stun gun is very easy to use, but a very powerful one.  It is very handy; you can place it on your pocket or purse like your ordinary cell phone.  Some of them are equipped also with flashlights.

Cell phone stun guns are available online.  They come in different designs, usually in the latest cell phone models to make them look like the real ones. Street predators can turn to a disoriented and frail criminal with these cell phone stun guns.  So get yourself one! Remember, you only live once, so protect you life and defend it.

Cell phone stun guns is a great disguise to protect yourself.  A very powerful self defense to stop your attackers.

Can you make a mistake when using a pepper spray?  After all, it seems quite straightforward and instructions do come with every purchase.  But for the same reason that warnings of ‘Do not swallow’ are printed on labels of products such as shampoos, rubber slippers and toy trains, manufacturers of pepper sprays want you — the consumer — to know that there are indeed some strange ways your trusted can of pepper spray could turn against you.  Here are 5 ways on how to NOT use a pepper spray (and don’t say you weren’t warned):

Do NOT point the nozzle in your direction
This is akin to taking a gun and shooting your foot with it.  Pepper spray can sting — a LOT.  So much so that it even stops those tough police officers during training.  Have a good tactile memory of your weapon so you know exactly where the nozzle is facing when you whip it out to protect yourself.  Otherwise, you’ll risk becoming the butt of jokes at the office water cooler and during family reunions… for years to come.

Do NOT use on an attacker that’s more than 20 feet away
Most pepper sprays do not work at certain distances.  If the situation calls for you to spray, wait till an attacker is at a much closer range.  Otherwise, the air will simply disperse the spray and render it ineffective.  Spraying someone from a good distance away is like spraying someone who’s behind a glass partition — it simply won’t work and will only make you look silly.

Do NOT spray when the wind is blowing in your direction
The wind can be your friend but it can sometimes play tricks on you.  When using the pepper spray, try to be at the more advantageous spot and that’s with the wind on your back.

Do NOT use on yourself just to prove that it works
It does.  It really does.  Pepper sprays are formulated to register their stopping power in SHUs.  That’s short for Scoville Heat Units, which is the unit of measurement used to rate the level of pungency of the substance contained in certain types of pepper sprays.

Furthermore, what you’ll be up against is a substance that, although manipulated and manufacture by man, is made by Nature.  And you know what happens when man battles against Nature… Nature eventually wins.

Don’t be influenced by those grainy night-vision videos of episodes of ‘Cops’ that you saw on TV where some guy got sprayed but merely blinked off the irritant like it were raindrops on his cheeks.  For your own sake, do not believe everything you see on TV.  Pepper sprays are very irritating, so take our word for it and spray it on someone else, like that guy who’s about to rob you or give you a black eye.

Running out of pepper spray?  Don’t pry open your can
Whatever you do, do not attempt to open your pepper spray can.  It could explode or the substance could leak and cause irritation on your skin.  Don’t think you could save more by using your pepper spray to the last drop because you won’t.

The pepper pen is an excellent self-defense gadget — handy enough to conceal in your pocket, light enough to carry and easy to use.  Unlike self-defense lessons, the pepper spray does not have a steep learning curve, so pretty much anyone with sufficient eye-hand coordination can use it for self-protection.  But is it safe to use?  And how effective is it?  If you’re planning to buy a pepper pen, make sure you know how to use it.  Here are tips to keep in mind:

Understand your tool
The pepper pen is a small self-defense gadget that looks like an ordinary pen.  This works as a camouflage, making the pepper pen easy to disguise and carry.  What makes it an effective weapon against attacks is that it contains an irritant called capsaicin.  Capsaicin works on the mucuous membranes, causing inflammation.  Because mucous membranes are affected, the spray causes coughing and difficulty breathing.

Since the substance also affects the eyes, it also leads to the production of tears, which is the body’s way to rid itself of the irritant.  As a result, the pepper pen spray can also cause temporary blindness in an attacker.

The key here is to understand that the pepper pen spray can and will affect the user as well, particularly if you make a mistake.  If you hold the pen in the wrong direction, it probably will not affect your attacker or at the very least, do little damage.  You could also harm yourself.

To use the pepper pen, be careful that you point the spray in the direction of the attacker.  Be mindful, too of wind direction particularly if you’re outdoors.  When using the pepper pen, be sure that the wind is behind you.

Know the effective range of the pepper pen
The pepper pen spray may not be effective at certain distances.  Depending on the spray, it may not, for example, be able to throw as effective a dose from 20 feet away.  Check the manufacturer’s instructions prior to purchase so you know its limitations.

Not all types of pepper pen sprays are considered safe
Be aware that there are certain formulations that are marketed as pepper spray that can cause physical harm not just to the attacker but also to the user.  This is because they are toxic and not safe for the environment.  Some have been criticized because they are known to cause permanent damage to tissues and even cancer while others have not been tested for safety.

When choosing the pepper pen to use, make sure to check thoroughly the component or formulation.  Currently the best choice is one that contains OC or oleoresin capsicum, a substance that is sourced from certain types of peppers.  It can cause major discomfort but is non-lethal.  It’s also safe for the environment.

Age is never a strong deterrent to hardened crooks and other criminals. That’s why it’s never too late for any woman to learn how to properly defend herself from all kinds of threat.

Self-Defense for All Generations
In Lawrence Parks and Recreations, a three-hour self-defense class on the afternoon was attended by a family of three-generations: Christine Winters, her daughter Lori Howard, and her young granddaughter Tanner.

The instructor herself proved that not even size could be a hindrance to learning self-defense; Mandana Hurt was forty-five years old and petite at five-foot-one. Also helping her teach her female students was not just her husband but her pre-teen daughter Natasha as well.

Each class began with a warning: no flashy moves would be taught and pain was sure to follow. Students were then summarily taught how to pinch, choke, stomp, bunch, block, and kick their attackers.

Hurt, who also taught science at Central Junior High School during the day, also imparted other important self-defense prevention tactics to her students. She taught them to be aware of their surroundings, remember locking the door, and even why it was best to stand at the side of a tree when they were loading stuff in the trunk of their cars.

Having taught self-defense lessons for eighteen years, Hurt had noticed how attendance rose and fell, usually hitting the highest point when local attacks were also on the rise.

Other Self-Defense Tips for Women
Attacks will most often catch you by surprise and unarmed as well. But if you have the will to survive then there are many ways when you can still defend yourself.

Practice makes perfect
If you’ve got self-defense skills, don’t let them become rusty. Practice regularly so that if you do end up in danger, you won’t suffer even a second of doubt or confusion as to what you should do next.

Look for substitute weapons
You may be out of pepper spray, your Taser is still charging, but that doesn’t mean you have to fight weaponless. Perfume, hair brushes, and lipsticks can all be excellent weapons when used properly.

Hit strategically
Don’t waste time and effort with wild strikes. If you are going to fight, make sure that you target vulnerable areas like eyes, throats, and groin. Decide which angle it’s best for you to strike.

Be prepared
Never underestimate your attacker. Do not hesitate when you strike and never show your fear. Once you let your fears get to you, your attacker will immediately have the upper hand!

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image credit to sxc.hu

In today’s dangerous times, it is no longer a choice but more of a necessity for a woman to know how to properly defense herself. But besides self-defense skills, presence of mind is just as important: when you are unarmed and trapped, being aware of your situation is your best weapon for saving your life.

It Pays to be Late ¦ Sometimes
Take, for instance, the true story of a young woman who was running late for her exams and about to be mugged. A man had suddenly come up to her, demanding money, to which she replied without missing a beat, Ask me later! I’m running late for my test. And lucky for her, she had been let go without trouble either because the mugger was sympathetic or, and this is more likely, she had just happened to take her attacker by surprise.

Learn the Magic Words to Save Your Life
Words, they say, are more powerful than swords. There are cases in which women had used mere words to scare their attackers off by bluffing about having a stun gun with them or knowing martial arts.

Words of wisdom from your father may also come in handy; one father advises his daughter about learning how to hold her liquor: this, he says, will save her from unsavory people who would try to get her drunk before having their wicked way with her. Another father has an even more sage and eloquent device to his daughter: don’t be stupid. Blunt, but true!

What Else You Can Do to Save Your Life
Of course, there are also times when words are just not enough to hold your attacker off. In such cases, here are a few more things you could do.

Arm yourself
Why bluff when you don’t have to? Stun guns, pepper sprays, and even pocket knives are perfect because they’re compact and often come in deceptive shapes and forms for you to surprise your attacker.

Pay attention
Let your instincts be your guide. If you sense something wrong, leave. Be aware of your situation. Know what’s happening around you. It might help you notice signs of trouble early enough to save yourself.

Don’t let them know you’re scared
Many a female has saved herself just by acting tough and maintaining eye contact with their would-be attacker.

Be resourceful
There’s never a chance an attacker could catch you unarmed if you’re resourceful. Your belt, scarf, or even your jacket can double as a whip. Coins and other small objects can be thrown on your attacker’s face to render him temporarily blind. Even if it’s not pepper, spraying perfume or any other liquid besides water directly at a person’s eyes would still hurt. Anything and everything could be of use to you as long as you don’t panic.

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image credit to mememeandme

There are numerous ways for a woman to defend herself from all kinds of attack. In some situations, however, such ways could end up with the attacker’s death. If you don’t want that on your conscience, here are a few tips to protect yourself without taking another person’s life.

Focus on Escaping
The only time there’d actually be a viable possibility for you to kill your offender is when both of you are involved in a direct confrontation. But why would you want to do that in the first place? Consider only getting in a tussle with your offender as a last resort. What you should focus instead is finding a way to safety and escaping as physically intact as possible.

Give a Warning
If you are confident about your self-defense skills but are loathe to use it unless necessary, give a warning to your offender! Now, this doesn’t mean laying all your cards down the table but suffice to say, just let him know that you are capable of defending yourself and that you don’t want to hurt him but if he forces you to then you would not hesitate.

If you are under attack against a bully, these words may be more than enough to make him hesitate. Bullies, after all, prefer fighting those who are weak. But if you show yourself to be strong, you won’t appeal to them as a victim. Those precious seconds of hesitation could be more than enough to save your life!

Target Vulnerable but not Life-threatening Areas
If direct confrontation is inevitable and you are worried about ending up killing your offender, the next thing to focus on are areas which will effectively weaken or disarm him but will not cost him his life.

For male attackers, the genital area is of course the most vulnerable. A strong, well-aimed kick could effectively put a stop to his attack. Make sure, however, that you really have the element of surprise working for you because most attackers are prepared against such tactics.

Aim to make him unconscious. Use hard blunt objects to hit your attacker on the head; aim well, strike hard, and you can render your attacker unconscious. Do not use pointed objects; your panic and confusion could make you inadvertently hit him using the pointed side and this could cause greater damage and, in worst case scenario, the death of your attacker.

And of course, don’t forget to scream and do what you can to call for help. This could make your offender panic and leave you alone!

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image credit to newhousedesign