Rohypnol is a brand name for flunitrazepam (a benzodiazepine), a very strong tranquilizer similar to valium (diazepam), but many times more potent. Rohypnol produces a sedative effect, amnesia, muscle relaxation, and a slowing of psychomotor responses. The effects usually start within 20-30 minutes and lasts for several hours. The drug is often distributed on the street in it’s original bubble packaging which adds an air of legitimacy and makes it appear to be legal.

It is known by several street names: Roachies, La Roche, Rope, Rib, Roche, Rophies, Roofies, Ruffies, Mexican valium, or the “forget (me) pill.” Rohypnol is especially dangerous because it is inexpensive and can cost as little as $1 per pill. This makes it popular in high schools, college campuses, clubs, bars, and at private parties.

Rohypnol became famous because it can cause memory blackouts with periods of memory loss that follow ingestion of the drug with alcohol. Victims who have been raped with Rohypnol have reported waking up in strange rooms, with or without clothing, bruises on their body, etc., but they have no memory of the previous night.

A Common Scenario:

* The victim is at a party or bar and has something to drink. The attacker somehow slips a Rohypnol tablet into the liquid – perhaps when the victim turns their head or leaves their drink to go to the bathroom. Rohypnol tablets are white and are single or cross-scored on one side with ROCHE and 1 or 2 encircled on the other.

* About twenty minutes after finishing their drink, the victim begins to feel very disoriented, or drunk. Victims of Rohypnol have often only had one or two drinks, and they remember feeling much more drunk than they should have been.

* The attacker volunteers to escort the sick or drunk person home. Once out of the public eye, the attacker may take the victim to a hotel, to the victim’s home, or to other places.

* Several hours later, the victim wakes up feeling very disoriented. They can’t remember what happened after they left the party, but they may find evidence that something was done to their body while they were asleep.

* Many victims raped under the influence of Rohypnol are unsure whether or not they were raped, because they have no memory of the event. It can take several days to piece together a story from eyewitness reports.

* Rohypnol has been used to rape both men and women.

What Rohypnol Looks and Feels Like:

* Rohypnol is similar to Valium but about 10 times as strong. In Europe and South America, it is a prescription drug used as a preanesthetic agent and as a potent sedative.

* Rohypnol comes as a small pill that can be dropped into the drink of an unsuspecting victim. The pill can dissolve in either alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, and the drug is odorless and tasteless.

* Initially, Rohypnol causes muscle relaxation, dizziness, and headaches, slows psychomotor responses, and lowers inhibitions. Victims may have difficulty moving or speaking. Victims often remember the effects of the drug as a feeling of being drunk. Rohypnol takes 20-30 minutes to take effect.

* Rohypnol has a synergistic effect with alcohol. When taken with alcohol, Rophypnol can cause severe disorientation and a loss of memory. These memory blackouts are typically 8-12 hours long. The victim may or may not appear awake during this time.

* Victims often feel nauseous the day after they have received Rohypnol.

* Rohypnol is a physically addictive drug. Repeated use will lead to addiction.

* There are multiple forms of the drug on the market. The original tablets, marketed by the pharmaceutical company Hoffman La Roche, look like aspirin and dissolve rapidly in liquid. In response to widespread abuse of this drug, Hoffman La Roche changed the tablets; the new tablets dissolve more slowly and will turn a drink blue. “Copycat” flunitrazepam tablets have also been produced by pharmaceutical companies in South Africa, South America, and possibly Egypt. The copycat tablets are reddish-brown to white and dissolve well in liquids.

* Rohypnol can be found in large urban areas and even in rural areas. The drug is most common in the southern and eastern parts of the U.S., where there have been several widely publicized seizures and rape cases.

* A less common use of Rohypnol: the tablets are crushed, often mixed with other drugs, and snorted. This route of administration is more common for recreational drug users than for rapists.

Legal Considerations:

* There is a urine test for Rohypnol. However, the drug can only be detected for up to 72 hours after ingestion. If you or a friend think you have been raped with Rohypnol, it is important to get a urine test as soon as possible. Rape crisis centers and the police are best equipped to handle any testing.

* A urine test that is performed without police intervention may be thrown out in court. This is because the legal system requires the prosecution to show “chain of custody” of the urine sample- to prove that the sample came from the victim and could not have been mixed up with anyone else’s urine.

* Rohypnol is illegal in the United States. According to the Drug Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act of 1996, it is a crime to give a controlled substance to anyone, without their knowledge, with the intent of committing a violent crime (such as rape). Violation of this law is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

* There has been much talk of reclassifying Rohypnol into the same legal category as LSD (a Class I controlled substance), which would greatly increase the penalties for possession, but this has not yet happened.

* Hoffmann-LaRoche has established toll-free numbers to provide information on Rohypnol and instructions for drug testing. The general information number is (800) 720-1076.

Reducing Your Risk:

* Never leave your drink unattended. If you have to go to the bathroom, either finish your drink or throw it away.

* Beverages that come in sealed containers (unopened cans or bottles) are much safer than mixed drinks.

* If you order a mixed drink, watch the person who mixes it.

* Do not take any open beverages, including alcohol, from someone you do not know well and trust.

* Never drink anything out of a common punch bowl.

* If someone offers to buy you a drink, go up to the bar with them to accept the drink.

* Subscribe to the “buddy system”. Always party with one or more friends, and keep an eye on each other. If someone begins to appear too drunk, get them to a safe place. Many attempted Rohypnol rapes have been prevented by watchful friends.

Each year shoplifting incidents are estimated to cost retail merchants in the United States well over $12 billion in losses. Since most retail stores operate on very narrow profit margins, those shoplifting losses can mean the difference between profit, loss and even bankruptcy.

Merchants sometimes use store detectives or security personnel in an effort to curb shoplifting losses. Most of the security personnel come armed with the standard arsenal of security equipment such as pepper spray, batons, stun guns, hand cuffs, etc. Unfortunately, some merchants, their employees, and any security personnel (in-house or contract) are untrained, or under-trained in the proper handling of shoplifting incidents. As a result, often store employees or security personnel take actions or make mistakes that lead to increasingly large legal liabilities and negative publicity for their employer, and sometimes personally for themselves.

In May 1999, the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) issued the first in a series of Best Practices dealing with various security issues. The best practices meld together the best practices employed by industry leaders with those recommended by independent security experts. The results were then peer-reviewed by others within the industry. Part of that first best practice, titled Detaining Shoplifting Suspects, is reproduced here (with permission):

Detaining Shoplifting Suspects

Definition: As used [herein], the term “security person(s)” is intended to include only store proprietors and managers, store plainclothes security agents sometimes called “detectives,” and uniformed security officers also called security guards (either proprietary or contract). The term does not include sales clerks, maintenance persons, or stockers, for examples. The term “security person(s)” is not intended to apply to off-duty public law enforcement or special police personnel unless they have been instructed by store management to follow the same procedures required of ordinary citizens, which procedures do not include police powers of arrest.

In almost all jurisdictions in the United States, merchants are legally empowered to detain shoplifting suspects for investigation and possible arrest and prosecution in the criminal justice system. This power is called “merchant’s privilege.”

• The merchant’s privilege provides for detention of persons suspected of shoplifting only when probable cause or reasonable cause exists to believe a person has committed theft. The best practice for establishing this probable cause (as compared to any legal standard) is the security person’s having met all the following six steps: (1) observe the customer approach the merchandise, (2) observe the customer select the merchandise, (3) observe the customer conceal (or otherwise carry away) the merchandise, (4) keep the customer under constant and uninterrupted observation, (5) see the customer fail to pay for the merchandise, and (6) detain the customer outside the store.
• The merchant’s privilege permits detention for limited purposes which vary by state. Common among these limited purposes are: (1) ascertaining that stolen merchandise is possessed by the suspect, (2) identifying the suspect, (3) investigating the alleged theft, (4) recovering stolen merchandise, and (5) notifying the police of the offense. Some states permit limited searches of the suspect, some states limit the extent to which identity may be established; and the use of force which can legally be used is, if mentioned, always non-deadly. Many company or store policies further restrict permissible actions in dealing with shoplifting suspects; e.g., prohibiting pursuing suspects beyond company property.

In some circumstances shoplifting suspects are treated incorrectly by store management and security persons. Such treatment may cause results varying from simple mistakes to the violation of civil rights of suspects. If a best practice is not used, it is better not to detain a suspect than to risk the high cost of a civil liability suit. Two kinds of questionable detentions will illustrate this point. One kind applies to the customer who is truly an innocent party but whose conduct, for any number of reasons, led the security person to believe that a theft had occurred. People in this kind of detention are innocent victims of circumstance. The other kind applies to the customer who is not truly an innocent party, but for any number of reasons is not in possession of stolen merchandise when stopped by a security person.

Security persons usually do not actually “arrest” shoplifters, but simply detain them for police authorities. Exceptions arise to this practice in those states where private persons’ arrest powers exist concurrent with but separate from the “privilege” statutes discussed above. In these exceptional cases, security persons arrest after proof of the offense of theft.

Security persons cannot look into the minds of suspects. Security persons can only observe actions of suspects and completely and accurately report such actions. It is up to a judge or trier of fact to determine intent to deprive a merchant permanently of a taken item …. Step number 6 [detaining the customer outside the store] exists to help the judge or trier of fact determine the intent of the customer because the cash registers inside a store are normally the last place a person would have to pay for an item before departing a store. Reports by security persons are normally detailed enough to include other observations which would tend to establish intent.

The International Association of Professional Security Consultants, Inc. (IAPSC) has examined the methods of detaining suspects recommended by security professionals and practiced by merchants throughout the United States. IAPSC sets forth below what it believes to be the best practices.

Best Practices

• Practice. Security persons using best practices detain a suspect only if they have personally seen the suspect approach the merchandise.
  Rationale. The suspect may have entered the store with the merchandise already in hand or otherwise on or about their person (say, in a shopping bag or purse).
• Practice. Security persons using best practices detain a suspect only if they have personally observed the suspect select or take possession of, or conceal the merchandise.
  Rationale. Security persons trust their own eyes and do not rely on reports by others.
• Practice. Security persons using best practices detain a suspect only if they have observed the suspect with the merchandise continually from the point of selection to the point where the suspect has gone beyond the last checkout station without paying for the item. If the surveillance has been broken, or if the person has gotten rid of the merchandise, the security person breaks off following for that offense, but may continue surveillance if it appears the suspect may commit theft again.
  Rationale. The suspect may have “ditched” the merchandise or concealed it. By continually observing the suspect, the security person can observe whether or not the suspect still has the merchandise even if it has been concealed on the suspect’s person.
• Practice. Security persons using best practices detain a suspect outside the store after the suspect has passed the last checkout station and has failed to pay for an item of merchandise. At this point security persons using this best practice immediately investigate to verify or refute a suspect’s claim of innocence. Special care and consideration is exercised when merchandise is displayed for sale outside the store, such as garden supplies, sidewalk sales, etc., or which is displayed for sale inside the store, but beyond the last sales point.
  Rationale. The security person does not do only what is required to meet the minimum requirements of theft laws. The actions of a suspect make it easier to prove intent to deprive the merchant of an item of merchandise. The farther from the actual taking a suspect is detained, the clearer the offense will appear to a judge or trier of fact. The security person is aware of suspects who might claim they were looking for a matching item or looking for someone to give an opinion on the merchandise before it is purchased. A suspect may, however, offer a logical explanation for actions that initially appeared to the security person to be acts of shoplifting, but which may require only a limited investigation to verify the suspect’s explanation.
• Practice. Security persons using best practices normally do not “chase” suspects by running inside a store or in shopping centers that are occupied by customers. Exceptions occur when necessary, but only in such areas as parking lots, and then only when few people are in the area and it is unlikely a bystander could get hurt. Such foot pursuits never leave the property on which the store is located. If a suspect runs, the best practice is for the security person to make a mental note of the appearance of the suspect and the merchandise that appears to have been taken; then to make a written report for the store’s files.
  Rationale. Running may create more problems than it solves. When a suspect runs and a security person chases that person by also running, clients and employees of the store and store employees are endangered more by the combination of two persons’ running, than by the suspects running alone. Handicapped clients may be knocked off their feet. Wheelchairs may be overturned. Store employees who may intervene to help may be injured by security persons in pursuit, or by running into counters or display devices, or by slipping on polished floors. When clerks leave their posts, they leave their own merchandise exposed to theft. An exception to this best practice may exist when it is necessary to chase a suspect down in order to protect customers and store employees from ongoing violence by the suspect.
• Practice. Security persons using best practices treat suspects equally and fairly regardless of a suspects race, color, creed, gender, or national origin.
  Rationale. Anecdotal information suggests certain groups have been marked by some store management and security persons for more surveillance and/or more aggressive anti-shoplifting measures. Color, religious or national dress, gender, and “race” are alleged to have been used to identify persons in such groups. However, there is no scientific evidence regarding the validity of such “profiling,” and this practice is avoided by security persons using best practices. Suspicion of shoplifting depends upon observed actions, not appearance. All law-abiding persons have the right to be treated the same as any other person in the marketplace.
• Practice. Security persons using best practices do not use weapons such as firearms, batons (”nightsticks”), or restraining devices such as thumb cuffs, “come-alongs,” mace, or pepper spray in order to apprehend or detain a shoplifting suspect. Stores using best practices occasionally permit the use of handcuffs by security persons whose training has included instruction in the proper use of handcuffs when necessary to prevent injury to customers or store personnel. Security persons using best practices use handcuffs only when a suspected shoplifter is physically threatening violence or otherwise resisting detention; or there is, in the good judgment of the security person, the risk of imminent serious harm absent their use.
  Rationale. There is no merchandise of such value that it warrants a security person’s injuring a suspect or an innocent customer. Use of weapons and restraining devices except handcuffs should be left to on-duty public law enforcement officers. If it is not possible to get the suspect’s willing cooperation, it is better to let the suspect go free than to risk injuring a suspect or other customer. Risk avoidance is a factor considered in apprehending and detaining suspects. Because handcuffs are restraining devices, they can be painful if improperly applied and can cause injury. Not all persons caught need restraining. Many people caught shoplifting are humiliated by the incident and are cooperative; hence, in such cases restraint is not necessary.
• Practice. Security persons using best practices limit the use of force to “holding” or “restraining” to effect a detention. Security persons using best practices do not use actions such as striking, tackling, sitting on a suspect’s body, or any other action that might cause physical injury to the suspect.
  Rationale. Use of force is subject to criticism, and assaultive use of force is typically unnecessary and unacceptable in the private sector. However, some holding or restraining may be necessary lest potential thieves learn that by simply resisting they may come and steal with impunity. Use of limited holding or restraining force is sometimes necessary to detain a suspect until police arrive, or to prevent a suspect from injuring security persons. Under no circumstances should the force applied be that which may result in injury or death to a suspect. No merchandise is of such value as to justify physical injury to a suspect. The better practice is to allow the suspect to depart the premises rather than to cause any injury by the use of force in detaining the suspect. Assuming the suspect can be identified, the merchant can file a complaint; then the public police have the option of apprehending the suspect at a later time.

Comments

In addition to the Best Practices listed above, which are the best procedures to use in most circumstances, I also recommend that a minimum of two trained employees be utilized in every suspected shoplifter detainment, also referred to as a “stop.” The best rule of thumb is to use at least one more employee than there are suspected shoplifters. This is not only to ensure the safety of the security personnel, but also to ensure that there is at least one trained witness to what occurs and what is said, from the first moment of the “stop,” until its conclusion.

Where practical, loss prevention personnel should be provided with badge and/or photo-identification card identifying them as security personnel for that store or company. They should display their I.D. card and/or badge when making a stop. Regardless of whether or not they have a badge or card, at the beginning of any stop they should verbally identify themselves as security personnel before doing or saying anything else. (Other store personnel should identify themselves as “store manager” or whatever is appropriate). Grabbing a suspect without warning before identifying themselves, especially if the person is grabbed from the side or from behind, creates a situation that may provoke a violent response from startled persons.

Use of force is the area most likely to lead to lawsuits and to create a bad public image for merchants, damaging their reputation or brand. In the heat of the moment, it is easy for employees or other security or loss prevention personnel to fall into the trap of wanting to catch the thief, and get the merchandise back at all costs! However, self-defense excepted, nothing is so valuable in the store as to risk injury to employees or to customers, or the risk of subsequent bad publicity, and the possibility of a lawsuit for using “excessive” or “unneeded” force.

Likewise, chasing a fleeing shoplifter through the store or parking lot traffic, especially if he or she has already dropped the merchandise, is an invitation for someone to be injured, frequently resulting in a lawsuit against the store or employee. Offensive punching, kicking, tackling, and dragging suspects is always inappropriate and should be prohibited by management. Note that sometimes grabbing a suspect or holding him, including holding him down is necessary for self-defense or defense of others, but such actions should be limited in scope and defensive and holding in nature. Use of force should never exceed the amount of force being used or being attempted by the suspect. Caution and discretion are always the best approach in this area. If management authorizes the use of any more force than simple guiding or touching restraint, (e.g., the use of “come-along” holds, the use of pepper-spray, etc.), the officers should be trained in such tactics by a certified instructor, and that advanced training should be documented. As one government agency frequently states about training, “If it isn’t documented, it didn’t occur.”

Likewise, only security personnel who have been trained and periodically re–trained in their use should be permitted to carry and use handcuffs. Handcuffs have sometimes been used as weapons, and, when improperly applied, they have led to serious injuries and, in some cases, deaths. Reasonable policy dictates that handcuffs are used only to restrain a shoplifter who has used force against the merchant or employee, or otherwise physically resisted detention, or, once detained, has verbally threatened to use force. In every case for which handcuffs are used, their use must be reasonable and justifiable for that particular situation (”reasonable” as in reasonable in the minds of a judge or jury). Caution and discretion are extremely important when using or even displaying handcuffs.

Extra special care and restraint, especially in the areas of use of force, length of detention and the use of handcuffs, should also be exercised whenever dealing with juveniles, or the elderly, or those who are sick, injured, or physically or mentally challenged. If someone is injured or sick, or even claims to be, don’t guess! Immediately call for medical assistance! If the person has I.D., you can always pursue criminal charges later if you wish. If he or she doesn’t have I.D., call the police and tell them you have called for medical assistance for a sick or injured shoplifting suspect whom you are detaining, and you are requesting police assistance. They will usually speed up the police response.

Readers desiring additional information on these or related subjects should contact a qualified professional security consultant and/or their attorney.

Disclaimer:

This article is based on generally accepted security principles, and on data gathered from what are believed to be reliable sources. This article is written for general information purposes only and is not intended to be, and should not be used as, a primary source for making security decisions. Each situation is or can be unique. The author is not an attorney, is not engaged in the practice of law, and is not rendering legal advice. Readers requiring advice about specific security problems or concerns should consult directly with a security professional. The author of this article shall have no liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss, liability, or damage alleged to have been caused by the use or application of any information in this article, nor information contained on this or any linked or related web site.

by R. Witherspoon

Metal detector and body scanner technology is a part of our daily lives ranging from leisure to safety applications. The metal detectors in airports, schools and colleges, government agencies, office buildings and prisons help ensure that no one is taking a concealed weapon onto the premises. Consumer and recreational metal detectors provide millions of people with the opportunity to discover artifacts or hidden treasures. Most of the information in this article applies to mounted detection systems, like the ones used in airports, as well as hand held security scanners.

Operating a metal detector is simple. Once you turn the unit on, you move slowly over the area you wish to search. You simply sweep the coil (search head) back and forth over the target area. When you pass it over a metal object, an audible signal occurs. More advanced metal detectors provide displays that show the type of metal detected and can even show what the item could possibly be.

Metal detectors and body scanners use one of three technologies:

· Very low frequency (VLF)
· Pulse induction (PI)
· Beat-frequency oscillation (BFO)

LF Technology

Very low frequency (VLF), also called induction balance, is possibly the most popular detector technology used today. In a VLF metal detector, there are two separate coils:

· Transmitter coil – This is the outer coil loop that contains a coil of wire. Electricity is sent along this wire in different directions thousands of times per second. The number of times that the current’s direction changes each second is called the frequency.

· Receiver coil – This inner coil contains another loop of wire. This wire acts as an antenna to pick up and amplify the frequencies coming from objects being scanned. The current moving through the transmitter coil creates an electromagnetic field. The polarity of the magnetic field reaches outward form the coil and changes directions in step with the frequency. This means that the magnetic field is constantly pushing out and back again as the subject is being scanned.

As the magnetic field pulses back and forth, it interacts with any metallic object it encounters. This causes the hidden item to generate weak magnetic fields of its own. The polarity of the object’s magnetic field is opposite from that of the transmitter coil. If the transmitter coil’s field is pulsing out, then the object’s field is pulsing back.

The receiver coil is completely shielded from the magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil but it is not shielded from magnetic fields coming from target object. So when the receiver coil passes over an object giving off a magnetic field, a small electric current travels through the coil. This current fluctuates at the same frequency as the object’s magnetic field. The coil amplifies the frequency and sends it to the control box of the metal detector, where sensors analyze the signal.

The metal detector can determine the approximate size of the object based on the strength of the magnetic field it produces. The closer to the surface an object is, the stronger the magnetic field picked up by the receiver coil and the stronger the electric current generated. The smaller or farther below the surface the object is, the weaker the field. Beyond a certain size or depth, the object’s field is too weak and is undetectable by the receiver coil.

How does a VLF metal detector identify different metals? It relies on a phenomenon called phase shifting. Phase shift is the difference in timing between the transmitter coil’s frequency and the frequency of the target object. This deference can result from a couple of things:

· Inductance – An object that conducts electricity easily (is inductive) is slow to react to changes in the current. You can think of inductance as a deep river: Change the amount of water flowing into the river and it takes some time before you see a difference.

· Resistance – An object that does not conduct electricity easily (is resistive) is quick to react to changes in the current. Resistance would be a small, shallow stream: Change the amount of water flowing into the stream and you notice a drop in the water level very quickly.

This means that an object with high inductance is going to have a higher phase shift, because it takes longer to change its magnetic field. An object with high resistance is going to have a lower phase shift.

Phase shift provides VLF style metal detectors and body scanners with an ability called discrimination. Since most metals differ in inductance and resistance, a VLF metal detector examines the amount of phase shift. This is done using a pair of electronic circuits called phase demodulators and they compare the phase shift with the average for a particular type of metal. The detector then notifies you with an audible tone or visual indicator as to what type of metals the object is most likely made of.

Some metal detectors allow you to filter out (discriminate) objects above a certain phase-shift level. This helps greatly when trying to avoid or hunt for certain types of metals. You can usually set the level of phase shift that is filtered by simply adjusting a knob. Another discrimination feature of VLF detectors is called notching. A notch is a discrimination filter for a certain segment of phase shift. The detector will alert you to objects above this segment as well as objects below it.

Advanced detectors even allow you to program multiple notches. For example, you could set the detector to disregard objects that have a phase shift comparable to a soda-can tab or a small nail. The disadvantage of discrimination and notching is that many valuable items might be filtered out because their phase shift is similar to that of “junk.” But, if you know that you are looking for a certain type of object, these features can be extremely useful.

PI Technology

A less common form of metal detector is based on pulse induction (PI). PI systems may use a single coil as both transmitter and receiver or they may have several coils working together. This technology sends powerful, short bursts of current through a coil of wire. Each pulse generates a brief magnetic field. When the pulse stops, the magnetic field reverses polarity and collapses very suddenly. The result is a sharp electrical spike that lasts a few microseconds and causes another current to run through the coil. This current is called the reflected pulse and is extremely short. Another pulse is sent and the process repeats again. A typical PI-based metal detector sends about 100 pulses per second, but the number can vary greatly based on the style and model..

If the metal detector is over a metal object, the pulse creates an opposite magnetic field in the object. When the pulse’s magnetic field collapses, the magnetic field of the object makes it take longer for the reflected pulse to completely disappear. This process works something like echoes: If you yell in a room with only a few hard surfaces, you probably hear only a very brief echo or you may not hear one at all. If you yell in a room with a lot of hard surfaces, the echo lasts longer. In a pulse induction scanner, the magnetic fields from objects add their “echo” to the reflected pulse, making it last a fraction longer than it would without them.

A special circuit in the metal detector is set to monitor the length of the reflected pulse. By comparing the actual length to the expected length, the circuit can determine if another magnetic field has caused it. If the reflected magnetic pulse takes more than a few microseconds longer than normal, there is most likely a metal object interfering with it.

This circuit sends the tiny, weak signals that it monitors to a device call an integrator. The integrator reads the signals, amplifies them, and converts them to direct current (DC). The direct current’s voltage is connected to an audio circuit, where it is changed into a tone that the metal detector uses to indicate that an object has been found.

PI-based detectors are not very good at discrimination because the reflected pulse length of various metals is not easily divided. But, they are useful in situations where VLF based metal detectors would have difficulty, such as in areas that have highly conductive material in the soil or general environment. An example of such a situation is salt-water exploration. PI based systems can also detect metal much deeper in the ground than other systems.

BFO Technology

The most basic way to detect metal is a technology called beat-frequency oscillator (BFO). In a BFO system, there are two coils of wire. One large coil is in the search head, and a smaller coil is located inside the control box. Each coil is connected to an oscillator that generates thousands of pulses of current per second. The frequency of these pulses is slightly offset between the two coils.

As the pulses travel through each coil, the coil generates radio waves. A tiny receiver in the control box receives the radio waves and makes an audible series of tones based on the difference between the frequencies.

If the coil in the search head passes over a metal object, the magnetic field caused by the current flowing through the coil creates a magnetic field around the object. The object’s magnetic field interferes with the frequency of the radio waves generated by the search head coil. As the frequency strays from the frequency of the coil in the control box, the audible beats change in duration and tone.

The simplicity of BFO-based systems allows them to be manufactured and sold very inexpensively. These can even be made at home following simple instructions. But these detectors do not provide the level of control and accuracy provided by VLF or PI systems.

Detective Work

Metal detectors, body scanners and freestanding metal detectors serve a wide range of practical functions. Mounted detectors usually use some variation of PI technology, while many of the basic hand held scanners are BFO-based.

Some professional applications for metal detectors are:

· Airport security – screen people before allowing access to the boarding area and the plane
· Building security – screen people entering a particular building, such as a school, office or prison
· Event security – screen people entering a sporting event, concert or other large gathering of people
· Item recovery – help someone search for a lost item, such as a piece of jewelry
· Archaeological exploration – find metallic items of historical significance
· Geological research – detects the metallic composition of soil or rock formations

Manufacturers of metal detectors are continuously fine-tuning the process to make their products more accurate, more sensitive, more versatile and less expensive. For more information on hand held scanners, be sure to visit Staff Patrol’s Security Products site.

Despite your best efforts to manage the flow of your personal information or to keep it to yourself, skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to gain access to your data.

How identity thieves get your personal information:

They get information from businesses or other institutions by:
• stealing records or information while they’re on the job
• bribing an employee who has access to these records
• hacking these records
• conning information out of employees

• They may steal your mail, including bank and credit card statements, credit card offers, new checks, and tax information.
• They may rummage through your trash, the trash of businesses, or public trash dumps in a practice known as “dumpster diving.”
• They may get your credit reports by abusing their employer’s authorized access to them, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report.
• They may steal your credit or debit card numbers by capturing the information in a data storage device in a practice known as “skimming.” They may swipe your card for an actual purchase, or attach the device to an ATM machine where you may enter or swipe your card.
• They may steal your wallet or purse.
• They may steal personal information they find in your home.
• They may steal personal information from you through email or phone by posing as legitimate companies and claiming that you have a problem with your account. This practice is known as “phishing” online, or “pretexting” by phone.

How identity thieves use your personal information:

• They may call your credit card issuer to change the billing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on your account. Because your bills are being sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there’s a problem.
• They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the credit cards and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent accounts are reported on your credit report.
• They may establish phone or wireless service in your name.
• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
• They may counterfeit checks or credit or debit cards, or authorize electronic transfers in your name, and drain your bank account.
• They may file for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they’ve incurred under your name, or to avoid eviction.
• They may buy a car by taking out an auto loan in your name.
• They may get identification such as a driver’s license issued with their picture, in your name.
• They may get a job or file fraudulent tax returns in your name.
• They may give your name to the police during an arrest. If they don’t show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.

If Your Personal Information Has Been Lost or Stolen

If you’ve lost personal information or identification, or if it has been stolen from you, taking certain steps quickly can minimize the potential for identity theft.

• Financial accounts: Close accounts, like credit cards and bank accounts, immediately. When you open new accounts, place passwords on them. Avoid using your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
• Social Security number: Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. An alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
• Driver’s license/other government-issued identification: Contact the agency that issued the license or other identification document. Follow its procedures to cancel the document and to get a replacement. Ask the agency to flag your file so that no one else can get a license or any other identification document from them in your name. Once you’ve taken these precautions, watch for signs that your information is being misused.

If your information has been misused, file a report about the theft with the police, and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, as well. If another crime was committed – for example, if your purse or wallet was stolen or your house or car was broken into – report it to the police immediately.

Brass knuckles, sometimes known as “knuckles”, “knucks” or “knuckle dusters” are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of steel or brass that are formed to fit around the knuckles with a grip for the palm. They were originally designed to maximize the force of punches to cause greater tissue bone damage upon contact. It also allows a harder punch due to reduced fear of harming ones own hands when striking.

History

Early forms of brass knuckles were used in ancient Rome, India, South America and Japan. The Roman “caestus” was a type of glove made from leather and metal and was used in boxing matches during gladiatorial events. Unlike modern day boxing gloves, the caestus was used solely to increase the damage caused by a punch.

An ancient Indian martial art called Vajra Mushti used a knuckle-duster type weapon and incorporated striking and grappling techniques along with the study of critical points. The bagh nakh or “tiger claw” is a similar Indian weapon that was worn over the knuckles. However, the bagh nakh was more of a slashing weapon than hitting device. A similar weapon called the tekko is another of the traditional weapons used in kobudo (a martial art from Okinawa, Japan).

Knuckle dusters were integrated into the Apache revolvers used by outlaws in France in the early 1900s. During World War I and II, trench knives (blades with enlarged guards to be used as brass knuckles) were used in close contact combat such as trench raiding maneuvers. Even in Britain, brass knuckles were made popular by the gangster Dave Courtney when debt collecting.

Legal Issues

In most countries, the possession of brass knuckles is illegal. Brass knuckles are available as reproductions or novelties, and some are even fashioned to be used as a belt buckle.

Authentic brass knuckles can be found at flea markets, swap meets, and some antique shops. The devious reputation and history have made them popular trinkets and can be found as collector’s items, brass knuckle paperweights, framed memorabilia, and brass knuckle belt buckles.

An adaptation of brass knuckles that is often called “clear knuckles” is made out of bulletproof glass or very dense Plexiglas. Clear knuckles, which are lighter than the metal versions, are designed impose topical pain, while brass knuckles were designed to break bone.

In the U.S., brass knuckles cannot be sold to people in several area such as the District of Columbia or the states of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, or Rhode Island. In Canada, brass knuckles or anything similar in design are listed as prohibited weapons.

Use of Brass Knuckles

Brass knuckles can be custom made to fit anyone. Due to the standard shape, brass knuckles rarely have a perfect fit. This can result in the accidental breaking of the fingers if a punch is thrown straight forward. Some people have been known the tape up the grip with padding to ensure a better fit.

Typology

There are a variety of brass knuckles and they include spiked knuckles, “fat boys“, “wedding rings”, brass knuckles with various images on the knuckles, and even knuckle-knives.

Spiked knuckles are one of the most brutal varieties of brass knuckles. The length of the spikes varies from as small as a quarter of an inch to up to six inches. Shorter spikes emphasize the impact of the brass knuckle on bone, while longer blades are used solely to inflict soft-tissue damage.

Certain brass knuckles are available with knives (especially flick knives) built in. These are very dangerous as a hand-to-hand fight can lead to a more serious situation where great injury or even death may be the outcome. These knife dusters are available in many countries across the world and should be handled with care.

The likelihood of facing violence or assault in our daily lives is a lot higher than it used to be. As populations grow and the cultures merge, there is a growing chance of getting in a threatening or dangerous situation. We all want to feel as safe and secure and personal alarms can help us feel more confident and provide a level of security.

There are many different types of alarms available and picking the right personal alarm can sometimes be tricky. First, understand your situation and needs, and you should be able to pick the best one for your needs.

The Objective of a Personal Safety Alarm

The purpose of a personal safety alarm is to shock and disorientate an attacker, alert others for help, and to give you time to get away. They are not designed to immobilize or scare off the attacker. Personal alarms may not actually attract the attention of passers by, but they will cause the attacker to flee most of the time.

Key Features

The most significant part of an alarm is the sound it emits. This sound needs to be as loud and as high-pitched as possible. Ideally, it also needs to be dissimilar to those usually heard such as automobile alarms, police sirens, etc. Most law enforcement personnel agree that the most successful sound is constant shriek and over 130 decibels. This is not a sound we usually hear and makes the alarm better able to startle the attacker and alert people nearby.

A personal alarm needs to be simple to carry. But it is important to weigh the pros and cons of a very lightweight and small alarm verses one that is slightly larger and louder. Some small alarms can be very loud, although the sound may not last for very long. They can be easier to handle for some people. The best compromise is in an alarm that can fit without difficulty into the palm of your hand, but is still very loud. There are also flashing personal alarms with lights which give a visible point of reference to anyone passing by.

Ease of use also is also a consideration. How would you operate the alarm in an urgent situation? There are many different ways to activate the various types of alarms including push caps, push buttons and pull out pins. How awkward is it to locate the button and activate it? Do you have problems using your hands or fingers? If so, you might need to use both hands. As an alternative, are you able to operate it purely by pushing it against something else? Some even have straps that can clip onto your shirt or belt and are triggered by simply pulling the device.

Remember, a personal safety alarm should be just one part of your personal safety strategy. There are many other ways you can protect yourself against aggression, including self defense techniques. Once you have set off your alarm, leave the area and situation as quickly as you can. If possible, move to a busy and well lit location. There is no need to wait and make sure that your alarm has had the desired effect. Just leave and seek help.

A word about pepper spray effectiveness:

As you know, there are many self-defense sprays on the market today. Pick up a few packages, and you will see that their effectiveness is advertised and presented in a few different ways. Of course, common sense tells us that what really matters most is “how hot is the pepper spray that hits the attacker?” In marketing the effectiveness of their pepper spray products, some manufacturers stress the amount of OC (Oleoresin Capsicum shown as a percentage) in their spray. Others stress the SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) value of the OC contained within the spray, or they use a combination of the two. We believe that neither method is a completely true and accurate measurement of effectiveness.

This is why:

The OC percentage is, simply put, the percentage of OC contained within the defense sprays formulation. A spray that advertises a “10% OC” content simply contains 10% OC (active ingredient), and 90% inactive ingredients. What this percentage does not tell you, however, is the potency, or “hotness,” AFTER it is blended with its inactive ingredients. Stressing the SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) value, or “potency,” of the OC is another measure used by manufacturers. This value is simply the strength of the OC before it is diluted in the remainder of the solution. Sure, the OC in a spray may come from peppers with a 2,000,000 SHU value, but what percentage of the final formula actually contains OC?

Bottom Line?

Neither the OC percentage nor the SHU rating are accurate measurements of the strength of the formula inside a can of pepper spray! Simple math would tell you that a 10% OC formula manufactured from a 2,000,000 SHU strength OC should yield a spray with a 200,000 SHU. Unfortunately, chemistry is not that simple of a science. While advertising the simple math is not necessarily an outright lie, it is very misleading. The only true and accurate way to measure a spray’s potency is to measure it AFTER it leaves the nozzle. This is why our producer had other sprays independently tested and rated on how they perform when they leave the can, not on what the base formulation is before it is blended with other ingredients. That is why most of our pepper sprays advertises the actual “Nozzle SHU” of their defense spray – the strength of the spray after it leaves the nozzle. We also evaluated an independent lab test of the formulas of the competing sprays. Compared with what these other brands advertise, the results are surprising! We guarantee the strength of the spray when it leaves the can! We may just be your only self defense company that fully guarantees its OC spray heat rating. We realize that the safety of their friends and family were at stake with many of the other products. That is why we distribute a line of new defense spray formulations that you, your friends and your family could depend on at any time. We are so confident in the effectiveness of our spray formulas, that we actually guarantee it, 100%.

Staff Patrol offers two types of cameras, CMOS and CCD. It is important to understand the difference because cost and qualify are a big consideration in choosing a camera system. Each of our camera systems indicate the type of system used.

CMOS

This type of image sensor is relatively inexpensive and offers a good quality image. The cost of this system is usually less and the overall system can be very economical. While CMOS sensors excel in the capture of outdoor pictures on sunny days, they suffer in low light conditions. Their sensitivity to light is decreased because part of the sensor is covered with circuitry that filters out noise and performs other functions. The amount of space on a sensor devoted to collecting light is called the pixel’s fill factor. The design of CMOS cameras creates a much lower fill factor and therefore they are less sensitive. CMOS cameras do have the advantage when it come to power consumption. Because there are less components in the camera board, it draws less power and will run longer if used on a battery. For general purpose viewing in good light, they are a good choice. If there are budgetary constraints, it’s possible to get more features in the overall system using CMOS cameras.

CCD

CCD cameras have a 100% fill factor and therefore offer a brighter and sharper image. Like most most electronics, this increased quality does add to the manufacturing costs. CCD cameras produce a higher quality picture mainly because the image sensor is used strictly for collecting the image and all of the other necessary processing is handled by other components on the camera board. CCD cameras on the other hand have more components and draw more power. This may be a consideration when using battery power.

Examples

These images are representative of the differences you can expect between the two styles of cameras. Individual lighting and other conditions will effect the actual image.

CMOS	CCD
Bright Day	Bright Day
Early Evening	Early Evening

Conclusion

CMOS sensors offer average image quality in good light, have lower power requirements, and are substancially less expensive. CCD sensors offer excellent images in most lighting conditions, have higher power requirements, and are typically more expensive. Evaluate your needs in a surveillance system and we can offer you the best in either category.

Glossary of Video Terms

AGC – Automatic Gain Control is an electronic system found in many types of devices. Its purpose is to control the gain of a system in order to maintain adequate performance over a range of input signal levels. Or an electronic circuit that tries to keep the video signal at a constant level 1 (Ivolt peak-peak). Useful on cameras working at low light levels .

AI – Auto Iris is an electronic circuit that acts as an iris on CCD cameras by electronically shuttering the CCD sensor. Or an automatic method of varying the size of a lens opening in response to changes in scene illumination.

AWB – Auto White Balance is an electronic process used in video cameras to retain true colors. It is performed electronically on the basis of a white object in the picture.

CCD – Charged Coupled Device: It is analog technology. The CCD camera has a higher resolution than CMOS. The camera also functions better in low light. A CCD camera drains a little bit more power than the CMOS cameras. It typically uses 12v instead of 9v. CMOS cameras are smaller than a CCD camera and works longer with the 9v battery.

CMOS – Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor: A lower resolution camera compared to a CCD model. The advantage of a CMOS camera is that it uses lower operation current.

HAD CCD – Hole Accumulation Diode is a type of CCD sensor with a layer designed to accumulate holes (in the electronic sense), thus reducing noise level.

S to N Ratio – Signal to Noise Ratio is simply the ratio of the signal power and noise power, expressed in decibels (dB). Or a measure of noise on a video signal. It is represented in Decibels as the level of the video signal compared to the level of noise present on that signal. The higher the signal to noise ratio the better.

BLC – Balance Light Control is a method to compensate for bright spots in a picture. It is also important to consider whether there are bright spots in the picture such as car headlights which can make identification of the vehicle registration or model impossible. This can also be a major problem where it is necessary to identify a person who is moving from bright daylight into artificial light. This could result in the subject becoming an unidentifiable silhouette.

OSD – On Screen Display is a method of displaying set-up information or instructions on to a display monitor.

Resolution – Resolution measures the cameras ability to reproduce an image. The higher the resolution, the better the picture quality.

LUX – LUX is the measurement of low light needed for the camera to view and record properly.

FPS – Frames Per Second is the number of still frames (pictures) that give the illusion of motion, which appear in a single second of time. 3O fps is considered “Real Time”. So for Real Time viewing of your cameras, you need at least 3O fps for each camera.

IR – Infrared, IR LEDS are used on Day/Night cameras which allow the camera to see in the dark.

Focal Length – the distance from the surface of a lens and its focal point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do hidden cameras work? A small board camera is built into an everyday item. The camera can be wired which means it is connected to the DVR or VCR using a cable. The camera can also be wireless, in this case the camera transmits a signal to a receiver that is connected to the DVR or VCR.

Can I get audio in my hidden camera? – No you cannot. According to United States federal laws, audio should not be used in a surreptitious manner. One example of surreptitious interception is audio in a hidden camera. This includes pinhole board cameras and all covert or hidden cameras; i.e., a clock radio. Audio in a hidden camera or board camera is only available to law enforcement agencies. Title 18, Section 2512.

What is the difference between a wired and a wireless camera? – Wired cameras have a video cable that runs from the camera to your recording or viewing device such as a DVR, VCR or monitor. Wireless cameras have a built-in transmitter that sends the video signal to a receiver. The receiver connects to your recording or viewing device.

How far can a wireless hidden camera transmit? – Standard wireless hidden cameras can transmit up to 1000 feet and high-powered wireless hidden cameras can transmit up to 2000 feet.

How many wireless cameras can you have in one location? – You can have up to four wireless cameras in one location. You can view all cameras at once using four receivers or you can use one receiver and switch to each camera. You will only be able to view one camera at a time if you only use one receiver. If you want to install multiple wireless cameras in one location it’s best to order them at the same time so that we can put them on different channels.

Will a cordless phone interfere with wireless cameras? – Cordless phones that operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency will cause interference with 2.4 GHz cameras. Interference should be minimal and usually occurs if the phone is between the camera and receiver.

What is a Quad? – A Quad splits your monitor into 4 sections allowing you to view 4 cameras at once.

What is a 2.4 GHz wireless frequency? – A frequency is used to transmit a signal or data like video. 2.4GHz is the specific wireless frequency that our transmitters use to send video signal to a receiver. All of our wireless cameras operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency. Range varies from 200′ to 700′ depending on environmental conditions. These units are FCC approved.

Are the transmitters FCC approved? – The transmitters used in all of our wireless systems are FCC and Industry Canada Certified.

What is CCD? – CCD is used in professional cameras because of it’s high resolution quality and it’s ability to record in low-light situations. CCD is basically a small silicon chip that receives light and turns it into voltage variations which makes up an image, it’s usually measured in inches with 1/3″ CCD being the standard. They are higher priced but are great for cameras that may require vision in near darkness.

Will a Quad allow four cameras to record at the same time? – Yes you can record all four cameras at the same time. You also can record using a switching monitor, which will record the camera that is showing at that moment.

Do the receivers work through walls up to two feet thick? – Yes as long as there isn’t excessive amount of metal in the wall.

Do the plug and play connections require extra wire to run the signal back to the VCR or TV? – Yes, you need to buy the length of cable you need we offer various lengths up to 100′.

What is the difference between a DVR and a VCR? – A Digital Video Recorder (DVR) system records high-resolution digital images to a hard disk drive (HDD) and eliminates the requirement of maintaining VHS tapes. Since the video images are stored digitally, the image quality will not degrade overtime, as would a VHS tape when recorded over multiple times. The time-saving search capabilities of a DVR will enable the user to locate the desired video clips via user defined parameters (camera, time, date, etc.) versus the fast forward and rewind functions of a VCR. A DVR can be accessed remotely from anywhere in the world using the Internet.

How many hours will a DVR record? – The amount of time a DVR will record for is based on the size of the DVRs hard drive, the number of cameras recording and the number of frames per second ‘ it is recording at. One camera recording in Real Time uses 1 GB per day. So a 16 camera system will use 16 GB in one day.

Do I need a VCR from you or can I use my own VCR? – You can use your own VCR for recording. However, the VCR will have to be recording all the time. Most VCRs can only record for about 10 hours but we have special VCRs that can record up to 1280 hours.

What is a DVR card? – DVR Cards enable the user to convert their computer into a Digital Video Recorder. The DVR Card(s) is typically installed in an available PCI slot of a computer. DVR cards are bundled with video surveillance software, which allows the user to record and display multiple cameras simultaneously from the camera site or a remote location.

What is a Plug and Play connection camera? – It is an RCA Video plug and a power plug on the camera for easy connection to VCR or TV. This is done by running the RCA (Aux) line into the VIDEO IN of the VCR or TV. The TV or VCR must be set on the correct channel to view the VIDEO IN picture.

How many cameras can I hook up to one TV? – You can hook up as many cameras as your TV has inputs. Most TVs have 2 inputs but when using a quad you can hook up four cameras.

Do you need a VCR to record or will the cameras record? – You must have a VCR or DVR if you want to record.

Between what temperatures is it safe for cameras to operate in? – It is safe for B/W cameras to operate between -10F to +122F. It is safe for color cameras to operate between -10F to +104F. It is safe to store cameras between -22F to +158F.

What is the operating voltage of a camera? – Our cameras range from 9 volts (CMOS) to 12volts, and also 24 volt professional models.

What is a varifocal lens? – A varifocal lens is one where the focal length of the lens can be varied. This is a fancy way of saying it is a zoom lens. Most varifocal lenses have, and in almost all circumstances should have, an auto iris feature.

What is a fixed lens? – A fixed focal length lens cannot zoom. The focus is fixed. A fixed focal length lens usually allows more light to pass through the lens at a given focal length than a varifocal, or zoom lens. This can be important in low light situations.

You’ve just read that one of the keys to protecting yourself is recognizing a potential threat and knowing when it becomes an assault. That moment is when apprehension becomes fear; when your own instincts scream at you, “Act! Now!” At this moment, you must be ready to act quickly and precisely. In this section we’ll discuss exactly how to use defense sprays to prepare you as best we can, how to escape a hostile confrontation.

Timing

One of the keys to effective use of defense sprays is timing. Exactly when you bring a spray to bear on an assailant can be critical to the outcome of a situation. First, make sure the spray is readily available and, second, through practice, learn how to use it quickly and accurately. Now, when faced with a potentially threatening situation, it’s only a matter of when you decide to react. The timing of defense spray use is controlled by three things: prior awareness, the distance involved when the assault actually takes place, and whether or not your movement or physical capabilities are restricted by the assailant. There are several other special factors, but those will be covered later. The first timing factor is prior awareness, which was covered in the last section. An un- anticipated assault will be covered shortly. Just remember, that if you have any forewarning at all, it will probably be very short, and you may have only seconds to react. Under these circumstances, timing is critical! Timing refers to exactly when you unclip the spray and raise it up to spray the assailant. In situations where you see the assault coming, DON’T pull the spray out immediately to threaten the assailant. To repeat, DO NOT pull the spray out until you’re ready to use it! Do not threaten with it! Showing the spray before you shoot, tells the assailant what you’re going to do and gives him the opportunity to prepare for and react to it. And what’s worse, he may have his own weapon. Showing him your spray may cause him to brandish his weapon and escalate the situation to a far more dangerous level. Many of today’s criminals carry weapons “just in case.” When you pull out your spray, be ready
to use it! The more swift and unexpected your countermeasure, the more successful your defense will be.

Shooting the Spray

There’s much more to using a defense spray than just pointing and shooting. Remember, don’t raise, point, and shoot the spray until you’re ready to fire, until the assailant is in range and you know the spray will hit him full in the face and incapacitate him. The objective is to surprise and stop him before he has a chance to react or think. When you’re ready to shoot the spray, go into a slight crouch with your weight evenly balanced on both feet, if you have the chance. Thrust your non-shooting hand straight out in front of you. At the same time shout “STOP” as loud as you can. As you’re doing this, raise your hand holding the spray to eye level, approximately six inches in front of your chin, aim over your outstretched arm and hand, and shoot at the assailant’s face. Shouting “STOP” creates a slight diversion, but more importantly, it focuses your energy. Raising your arm outstretched toward the assailant may cause his immediate attention to be focused on that hand, not the one with the spray. This gives you time to bring the spray to bear and shoot before the assailant can react. Never thrust your shooting hand out in front of you toward the assailant. He may react quickly and hit your hand aside or grab it. As you shoot, back up, continuing to do so until the spray has affected the assailant.

Most sprays emit a wide enough pattern so that they don’t require precise aiming. However, if you need to make an adjustment, do it calmly but quickly. Don’t wave the spray around like a fire hose. That does nothing but waste the spray, causing much of it to hit empty air. Aim, shoot, see where you’re hitting and, if need be, correct your aim quickly while spraying. You should shoot the spray for 2 to 3 seconds. A good, solid medium duration spray around the head and shoulders should do it. After shooting, the assailant will normally stop within a second or two, blinded and virtually helpless due to uncontrollable coughing spasms. Once he’s disabled, stop spraying. Continue backing up and concentrate on getting away. Obviously you may not have time to shoot the spray in such a “textbook” way. You may not have time to do anything but bring the spray up and start shooting. If that’s the case, don’t worry about aiming correctly, or even correcting aim. JUST SHOOT!

Retreat and Escape

The whole purpose of using a defense spray is to stop your assailant immediately, disable him so he can no longer hurt you, and give you the opportunity to escape to a safe place. DO NOT attempt to hold the assailant for the police. In fact, get as far away from him as you can. DO NOT move toward the assailant in any way since you could be affected by the spray, which then could incapacitate you. The best way to escape is by backing away from the assailant as you’re shooting, or immediately after. Do not turn your back on him! Obviously, you need to see where you’re going, but don’t turn your back and run away until you’re at a good distance and the assailant no longer presents an immediate threat. If the assailant attempts to follow you or the first spray wasn’t enough, you must be ready to spray him again. Once you’re a safe distance from the assailant, turn and run quickly
to the nearest safe place, preferably one with people who can help you. Once you reach a safe place, be forceful in your request for help. A command of, “Call the Police now!” will usually do it since people can sometimes be hesitant to help or get involved. DO NOT WAIT! And do not go back to where you left the assailant. He may still be in the area.

Special Circumstances – Multiple Assailants

When faced with multiple assailants, you should use a circular or semicircular spray pattern technique that provides a protective barrier. If the assailants are in front of you, spray the one nearest you directly. His sudden reaction may stop the others when they see the agony he’s going through. As with a single assailant, immediately begin retreating or backing up, never taking your eyes off the assailants, remaining ready to spray anyone else foolish enough to pursue. Retreat and escape to safety as previously described. However, if multiple assailants travel and strike in packs, for protection and dominance. Usually when one or two of them are stopped, the rest will stop as well. If multiple assailants keep coming toward you, even after stopping one of them, put out a 180 degree arc of spray to your front while continuing to back up. You must fight the natural urge to turn your back on the assailants and run. You cannot disable them as well, or as effectively, if you’re running away. The idea is to force the assailants through the spray to get to you. Keep in mind this defense works best at a range of six to eight feet. Any shorter distance and they’re too close. The successful use of the 180 degree spray tactic also depends on the type and range of your spray. Test spray your unit to determine its range and spray pattern. Again, don’t wave the spray around like a fire hose. Lay down a solid, continuous barrier of protection quickly but thoroughly. There’s an exception to the single and multiple assailant tactics just described. If your assailant(s) attack you at a run, your first, and best instinct, is to run as well. But while you’re running, pull the spray, aim it behind you,and shoot. This tactic again forces the assailant(s) through the spray to get to you. Use this only as an emergency measure, however, and only spray when you know the assailant(s) are in the effective range of your spray, usually 8 to 10 feet. Otherwise you’re simply wasting the spray.

Immobilized Victim Situations

The other special circumstance you may be faced with is being grabbed by an assailant before you have a chance to react as previously described. This would typically be the case if you were suddenly attacked from behind or from another direction. The key factor is whether or not you have the freedom to retreat or use the spray on the assailant. In this situation, your best chance is to draw the spray, assume the ready position with your hand on the spray. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and create a fog with the spray to surround you and your assailant. This is the only advantage you have.

No Retreat Situation

There are certain situations where immediate retreat is impossible. The two most common are when there are multiple assailants that have surrounded you, and when you are trapped or cornered with no avenue of retreat. If you find yourself surrounded by multiple assailants you must do two things immediately. First, assuming the assailants are within range, disperse a full 360-degree circle of spray at head level, again creating a barrier the assailants must pass through to get to you. This may break up the pack quickly, or it may not. In either case, your second step is to quickly find the best escape route, and immediately take it since your life may depend on it! In order to do this you may have to target one of the assailants with the spray, spray him, and push past him quickly. This calls for a forward attack with the spray, which means you’ll be entering a spray zone where you’ll be affected. To lessen the effects, take a deep breath, close your eyes briefly, and plunge through quickly. Once you’ve broken out of the circle, face the assailants, ready to spray again if necessary, and continue to back up until you can escape and get help. If you are cornered, the procedure is very much the same as when you’re surrounded. Spray the assailant(s), Hold your breath and close your eyes, and run the moment you see the assailant disabled. When using any tacticwhere you have to enter the spray zone, you will be affected by it. Ignore the effects as much as possible so you can escape and get help. As long as you don’t take a full breath of the spray, and it has only incidental contact with your eyes, you’ll be able to function well enough to escape and get help. In this scenario is that you know what’s going to happen and the assailant doesn’t. In essence you force him to breathe in the spray while you’re not. If done successfully, the assailant will either release or relax his hold on you. The moment he does, break free from him, turn and spray in a controlled manner as you retreat and escape. If the assailant grabs and immobilizes your arms and you can’t get the spray out, fight to free your shooting hand. There is one exception! Don’t fight immediately if the assailant has a weapon. This will be covered in greater detail shortly. A special note: in an enclosed area, such as a car, the spray will fill the space instantly. You must get out of the car to be affected as little as possible. If the assailant has forced you into his car, do not use it to escape. If you have sprayed the inside of your own car, don’t attempt to drive away in it unless absolutely necessary. You’ll be affected by the residual spray and driving could be very hazardous. If this is your only means of escape, roll the driver’s window down to ventilate your car. Drive to the nearest place of safety such as a restaurant, bar, convenience store, or even a residence with a light on; anywhere where there’s going to be people.

Date Rape

Use of a defense spray to prevent date rape is done much the same way as any other assault. The only difference is that you must first recognize what is happening, then verbally attempt to stop the man’s behavior. Once you say “Stop!” in a forceful way, and he doesn’t comply, you have every right to stop the continued aggressive behavior with a defense spray. Even in situations which seem non-threatening, you must have the spray available to you. If you need to retrieve it from a purse or jacket pocket, it is a good idea to rehearse a reason in advance to avoid finding yourself unable to get to the spray when you need it. When you shoot, do so quickly with surprise. Then, as with any other defense measure, leave quickly.

Use of Defense Sprays Against Knives

One situation that requires considerable judgment involves assaults with a knife. The rule of thumb is this: if you are at least two of your arm’s lengths away from the assailant, use the spray as you normally would. Whatever you do, don’t move toward the assailant for any reason. You must keep a gap between the two of you of at least 4 to 6 feet. If the assailant is within arms length of you, he can slash out with the knife and strike much faster than you can react! The moment you see a knife, back up, quickly, and continue backing while you use the spray. Don’t stop to take aim unless the assailant stops. A person with a knife has but one thing in mind when he attacks – to close the gap! He must do this in order to hurt you with the knife. If you don’t give him a chance to close that gap by stepping backward, then laying down a spray barrier, you’ll probably be able to keep him from continuing the assault. DON’T EVER TURN YOUR BACK ON AN ASSAILANT WITH A KNIFE! You must know where that knife is and how far away it is! As with a gun, if you are surprised by an assailant with a knife, particularly from behind, don’t use the spray immediately. If an assailant has a knife next to your body don’t make any sudden moves or attempt to spray the assailant; not as long as the knife is within striking distance.

Use of Defense Sprays Against Guns

There are circumstances when you absolutely should not use the spray immediately, even though it’s instantly available to you. If you are confronted by an assailant with a gun don’t suddenly pull the spray out, as he may think it’s a weapon and shoot you! Don’t make any sudden moves when facing a firearm. Do what you’re told! If that means giving up a purse or wallet, do so! (Exception: If an assailant tries to force you into an isolated area or into a car at gunpoint, run away! You have a 98% chance of survival if you run, compared to 50% if you go with the attacker.) Don’t expose your hand by showing the spray or threatening the assailant with it! That doesn’t mean, however, that you must not look for an opportunity to use the spray. If the assailant puts the gun down to assault you or attempt rape, then use the spray; but only if you feel you have a good chance of escaping the situation without being hurt. Although it’s risky, you just might be saving your life. If the assailant lets his guard down, puts the knife or gun down, or steps away from you, use the spray swiftly for maximum surprise. This can involve significant risk and you must determine if your life is in danger.

Special Notes

In all cases of an attack from the rear you must know if there is a weapon involved! Don’t spray the area in a panic. The assailant may be affected by the spray, but if he’s close enough he may strike with the knife or shoot the gun. A special note to women about rape attempts. If you are assaulted with a weapon, a gun or knife, at close range, keep in mind that, at some point, the rapist may be preoccupied with the rape itself. He may assume your fear will keep you in line. Let him continue thinking that and at the first opportunity get the spray and disable him, so you can escape. JUST BECAUSE THE RAPIST DOESN’T USE A WEAPON AGAINST YOU INITIALLY, DOESN’T MEAN HE WON’T LATER. HE MAY ATTEMPT TO SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILL YOU AFTER THE ACT ITSELF. DON’T GIVE HIM THAT CHANCE! Finally, keep in mind that an assailant in the act of striking you may not have enough control to keep you from breaking free. If you can, break free at the first opportunity and use the spray. Also, if you feel at any time that the assailant isn’t going to let you go or let you live, you must attempt to get away using the spray, even if the assailant has a gun or a knife.

Post Assault Considerations – Police Involvement

Once you’ve escaped from an assailant, get to safety as quickly as possible. CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY! There are several reasons for this. First, there’s a good chance the assailant will be apprehended, particularly if you’ve sprayed him with an OC spray with dye. This is important because it takes the assailant off the street, at least temporarily, and it just may prevent a second assault; either on you or someone else. A second assault, on you? Yes! While many assaults are crimes of opportunity, some are the result of premeditated planning on the part of the assailant. He may have been watching you, your routines, your residence, etc. He may have been stalking you specifically. While this isn’t something we like to think about, it is nonetheless true in some cases. By getting the police, involved you may just deter the assailant from coming after you again. If, in the assault, the assailant gets away with your purse or wallet or anything else which can identify who you are and where you live, you must get the police involved. If they don’t apprehend the assailant and he gets your wallet, checkbook, keys, etc., YOU MUST ASSUME HE WILL BE COMING TO YOUR RESIDENCE, OR WILL ATTEMPT TO STEAL YOUR CAR! As you can see it is very important that the police become involved immediately. Avoid the temptation to go back after the assailant yourself! That’s not a job for you or your friends. It’s a job for the police. Let them handle the situation and give them your complete cooperation.

Spray Replacement

You should test spray your defenses spray unit once a month. Spray it outside, downwind for a brief “spurt” then release. Note how far the spray goes and see if it’s as full as it was when new. If the range is less than 3 to 4 feet or the spray seems to be thin or weak, replace it immediately. Do not rely on it! Most sprays, even ones that have an indefinite chemical shelf life, can lose their pressure over time, much the same as a fire extinguisher. If you use the defense spray against an assailant, replace the unit immediately. In the excitement of the assault, you may not realize just how much was sprayed. If you have to use it again, there may not be a sufficient amount of chemical or pressure to do the job. Most units cost between $10.00 and $20.00 dollars, which is a small price to pay for the peace of mind knowing the unit is new and ready to protect you once again.

Residential Defense

Use of a defense spray for residential protection is considerably different from its use for personal defense. The biggest difference is the inability to retreat and escape. While this is possible and necessary in some cases, most residential defense relies on providing a barrier to prevent intrusion.

Storage of Defense Sprays in the Residence

Where you keep defense sprays within your residence should be determined by the type and layout of the residence, the number of residents, location and number of access points, the likely points of entry, and any other security measures in place. The type of residence you live in is a key factor. An apartment, for instance, with only one door and two windows on a second floor is much easier to defend than a ranch-style suburban home with three or four doors and several windows at ground level. Consider the landscaping, which often times provides concealment of an intruder. Another factor is the number of residents and their age. If children are in the home their safety must be considered in the tactics applied to deal with an intruder. If all members are adults, they need only to have the knowledge to properly protect the residence. The two primary locations that should be considered for storage of the defense spray are by the bedside, where it’s readily accessible, and by the main entrance or entrances most likely to be targets for intrusion. You will need to determine the best locations to store the defense sprays based on your own evaluation. Wherever you decide to store the spray, it should be kept out of sight and, if at all possible, out of the curious hands of children. Often a door unit can be kept high on a closet shelf and a bedside unit can be kept either in a nightstand drawer or on a closet shelf. If neither of these storage places is suitable, consider attaching the unit to a wall or door frame with Velcro* or other attachment device.

Residential Tactical Use

The primary purpose for having defense spray for protection in a residential setting is to create a barrier to prevent the intruder from getting inside. There are two types of barriers with two different and distinct functions. The interior barrier is created by spraying into an area of entry just prior to retreating to a “safe room” inside the residence. The door and window defense is similar to personal defense on the street. It is used on an intruder when he is entering, or is already in the residence.

Interior Barrier Defense

This defense is used if you become aware of an intruder still outside, in the act of breaking in, or if he is already in the residence. In order for this spray defense to work it is necessary to have a “safe room,” an interior room such as a bedroom, bathroom, or a closet that can be securely locked and will resist break in by the intruder. It should also have a phone to call the police. If a break in is in progress or is imminent, spray the entry area the intruder must come through, then retreat to your safe room. If there are children or others in the residence, gather them together in the safe room with you. Once there, be ready to spray anyone who breaks through the door. Don’t go from your safe room for any reason as you don’t know whether the intruder is armed, his mental state, or his intentions. Inside the safe room, don’t wait directly in front of the door, but rather to the side of it, ready to spray anyone who enters.

Door and Window Defense

The big difference between door and window defense and an interior barrier defense is the amount of preparation or warning time. The only time you should use a spray defense to stop an intruder from coming through a door or window is when the intruder is already in and you’re in imminent danger. A good example would be waking up to find an intruder climbing in through your bedroom window or actually in the residence. The tactic you should use for window defense is similar to that of spray defense during a personal attack on the street. However, you will not have a place to retreat. If you catch an intruder coming through a window, or if he’s already in the residence, spray him directly in the face, then get out of the room, either to a another room or to a hallway. Shut doors behind you if possible. If the intruder comes through the door, spray him again and leave the house. The exception to this is if you have children or other residents in the residence that must be protected. In that case retreat to a position where you can defend them from the intruder should he press the attack. Use any means available to you to warn the others and facilitate their escape. Spray defense at a door is much the same as at a window, as you directly spray the intruder as he enters the residence. Don’t try to open the door suddenly, spray the intruder, then shut it again. Like the street assault, you want the spray defense to take the assailant/intruder by complete surprise. If you spray an intruder and surprise him as he comes in, the chances are good he’ll immediately run away. If the intrusion takes place at night do not turn on the lights if the intruder is inside. If he’s still trying to break in turn the lights on. This will probably scare him off which is exactly what you want. The best form of preparation for defending against an intruder is to rehearse what you should do in various situations. This rehearsal can be very effective, particularly if you find you have to use a spray defense in the dark. It’s very important to include all residents in the procedure and practice drills. As mentioned previously, the best type of spray to use for residential defense is a large fogger type. Their range is usually about 15 to 20 feet, and they emit a fine mist, remaining in the air for several minutes. Living in the residence for the next few hours maybe uncomfortable, even after you’ve washed the area down and aired it out. But that is far better than becoming a victim of a violent assault, which has effects that can last a lifetime.

Travel Considerations

Use of a defense spray while traveling is basically the same as any other residential situation. The only real difference is lack of a prepared safe room. This problem is easily remedied by using the bathroom of your hotel or motel room. In most rooms calling the police is easily done on the room phone. Dial 911, not the hotel or motel switchboard! If you’re traveling in an RV or motor home, the door defense applies. Let the intruder know you’re aware of him and spray him if he manages to break in. This is if you’re in an RV park and hooked up to the facilities. If you’re not hooked up, just drive off!

Conclusion

Neither the best spray available, nor extensive knowledge of tactics can substitute for two invaluable necessities: carrying the spray wherever you go and practicing it’s use. Go over in your mind all the scenarios you can think of, and plan how to handle these various scenarios. When you read of a personal assault in the newspaper, figure out what you would have done using the defense spray to protect yourself in the same situation. The main thing to remember is that there’s a difference between simply having the spray with you, and being ready to use it at a moment’s notice. The difference is one of attitude, and of preparedness. Being prepared includes knowing that you would be the next victim. It is the conviction that your health and well-being, your very life in fact, could depend on being able to successfully protect yourself in a hostile confrontation. Defense sprays are only tools. The best defense you have is your knowledge and your attitude, and having the determination to survive an encounter. It’s an attitude that says, “I refuse to be a victim!”

By Doug Lamb

Everyone should carry a defense spray wherever they go! If that sounds a bit drastic, just look at today’s newspaper or watch your nightly news. Unless you can predict the future, you should have some form of defense protection with you at all times. And an OC defense spray is one of the best protection devices available. Some people feel they only need a defense spray when going out at night. That could be a terrible mistake! Today’s criminals don’t care whether it’s day or night. No matter who you are, where you are, what you’re doing, or when you’re doing it you’re a target! You might ask if that sort of thinking is paranoia. The answer is no! A violent assault occurs every 17 seconds in this country. Carrying a personal-defense spray at all times is simply good common sense! Make sure you carry it with you whenever you leave your home.

How to Carry Defense Sprays

The American Security Institute recommends carrying the largest size defense spray that is practical and legal for you. Most 2-ounce sprays are about 4″ long and 1″ in diameter- small enough to clip onto a purse or a belt. If you find this size inconvenient or impractical, carry a key chain spray. The biggest advantage of the key chain spray is that you’re not likely to forget it. Unless you have no other choice, do not carry a defense spray in your pocket! Too often the spray cannot be retrieved quickly enough to do any good. Remember, most physical assaults occur very quickly, often giving the victim a second or two, at most, to react. As you’ll read later, there’s a way to handle this, but only if your defense spray is readily available. The other reason you shouldn’t carry the spray in your pocket is the possibility of forgetting it the next time you go out.

Purse Carry

For women, the obvious place to carry pepper spray is a purse. What is not so obvious is HOW to carry it in the purse. Don’t let the spray sit at the bottom of your purse. The time it takes to find and retrieve it can be all the time an assailant needs to overpower you or even steal your purse! Defense sprays carried in a purse should be clipped to the front end of an inside pocket, flap, or divider. Clip it so that the unit itself is inside the purse, easy to access, pull out, and use in a few seconds. You may consider holding it in your purse as you’re walking. A purse with a long strap slung over the shoulder is ideal for this purpose. An assailant just might hesitate if he sees you’re prepared to deal with someone just like him. A recommended alternative to carrying a purse is a small waist or “fanny” pack. The belt of the pack is ideal for carrying a defense spray and there’s little danger of a “purse snatch” attempt on the pack. A note of caution: If you do use a waist or “fanny” pack, don’t carry any defense spray in the open where it can be seen. You will lose the important element of surprise, (covered later), and it might even be stolen! Cover it up with a coat, jacket, sweatshirt, etc.

Belt Carry

If you’re going to carry the defense spray on a belt beneath a jacket or coat, attach the spray upside down. If you experiment with this, you’ll probably find it much easier to “draw” the spray downward off the belt, rather than upward. Also, if possible, position the spray in its holster so that when it’s grabbed and drawn, it’s already in position to use without having to turn it or rearrange it in your hand. Experiment until you can quickly draw the spray, raise it up, and shoot it in one fluid motion.

Practice Drills

Practice the same drill noted above, if you carry the spray in your purse. Keep in mind that you want to retain possession of the spray even if your purse is grabbed and yanked away. The spray should be positioned and clipped onto the purse in such a way that, when you have hold of it, any downward yank of the purse will allow the spray to come off in your hand. Anytime you’re on foot, such as walking to your car, leaving a restaurant, shopping, jogging, etc., alone or isolated; you should have the spray ready to use in an instant. Whether it’s attached to your purse or belt, or on a key chain makes no difference; have it ready! The time you may need to react to an assault may be less than a few seconds. It’s also very important to mentally rehearse exactly what to do in case you need to use the spray. Practice against an imaginary assailant until you’re comfortable with your ability to use the spray fast and effectively. This practice could make the difference between becoming a victim and surviving a hostile confrontation.

Developing Security Awareness

Developing security awareness, for the purposes of this handbook, is learning when to heighten your sensitivity to your surroundings. It’s knowing when to be ready to use your defense spray, and when to actually use it. The key to security is awareness. As we live our daily lives, we all have the tendency to focus on what’s happening at the moment and lose our awareness of our environment. Developing security awareness is nothing more than learning when to focus on our own safety. For example, when you’ve just left a restaurant with a date, your focus may be on the good time you’ve had, or anticipating the rest of the evening and not on your immediate safety. The problem is that in our increasingly violent surroundings, it makes us much more vulnerable to surprise attacks. Developing security awareness is nothing more than learning to focus on our safety at those times when we are even slightly vulnerable. Usually it’s when we’re walking alone, jogging alone, or doing anything that isolates us. Learn to think consciously about your personal safety when you’re isolated-even briefly-and get used to concentrating on what and who is around you and any potential threats.

A typical scenario is the walk from the shopping mall to the car. Concentrate on your packages and locating your car; now concentrate on who’s around you as you leave the mall. Did anybody follow you out? Turn around and look. Is there anyone hanging around the entrance as you leave? If so, are they following you? Are they attempting to stop you and ask the time, or otherwise delay you? Is there anyone in the area of your car, or sitting in a car near yours. These situations present potential threats you must be aware of. The most natural thing for us to do is “mind our own business.” We all tend to avoid eye contact. None of us wants to be accused of staring at someone. And yet that’s exactly what you must learn to do. Force yourself if you have to. Look at the people around you. How many are there? How close are they? In what direction are they moving? Are you vulnerable? Are you isolated? Are you a likely target? All too often, personal attacks take place as a complete surprise to the victim. In some circumstances, that’s unavoidable, such as an assailant jumping out from a hiding place. But in too many instances, victims are surprised because they don’t perceive the risks around them or their own vulnerability. The victim usually says something like, “They came from nowhere.” No they didn’t! The assailants came from somewhere, the victim just didn’t see where. Force yourself to look, and to see!

From Awareness to Defense

How do you know when you’re being assaulted? When do you switch from being aware and careful to being defensive? There are three criteria: distance, verbal assault, and physical assault. (The term assault is not being used in a legal sense here.) If any one of the three criteria are realized, don’t hesitate, use your defense spray! If you’re wrong you can apologize later. If you’re right, you just might save your life! If this sounds a bit like “shoot first and ask questions later,” it is. It may be a sad commentary on our modern society, but it’s also the harsh reality of the world we must live and survive in.

Distance

We all have a distance or buffer zone we put up around ourselves. This zone, and our comfort level when it’s intruded, varies with each situation. We usually have no problem with reasonable proximity of another person if we’re standing on a crowded bus or elevator. But that can change drastically if a complete stranger is suddenly the same distance away in a parking lot without a legitimate reason. In other words, the zone grows or shrinks according to the situation. The size of the buffer zone we create for ourselves results from our inherent survival instincts. When the zone is suddenly or blatantly intruded upon against our wishes or instincts, we experience the automatic “fight or flight” reaction. And in that reaction, lies the answer to when you should react with defensive countermeasures. A typical scenario illustrates how this works. A woman leaves a shopping mall carrying a large shopping bag and a purse. As she exits the door a young man loitering near the entrance asks her what time it is. She half turns, says, “About 4:15 I think,” and continues on towards her car in the parking lot. The distance, 15 feet, is enough in that situation to make the woman feel fairly safe under the circumstances. However, as the woman approaches her car she hears someone behind her. She turns to discover the same young man. Only this time he’s only about 10 feet away and walking quickly and silently toward her. Should she be prepared to use a defense spray? Absolutely! In the absence of any other information, she has every reason to believe the young man is coming after her; and every right to defend herself in the face of a probable personal assault. The key is whether or not the distance involved gives you any choice. If the distance is short, or being shortened quickly, react defensively; particularly if you’re isolated or even semi-isolated. Trust your internal instinct.

Verbal Assault

Verbal assault is another factor that determines if defensive countermeasures should he used. It can take the form of a threat, a demand, or indecent proposals or suggestions. Verbal assault in the form of demands and threats are a clear-cut case for using defense measures. If a mugger approaches you and says, “Give me your wallet or I’ll hurt you” that’s an assault. If a demand is made and the assailant shows a weapon, that is assault.. If a panhandler approaches and asks for a dollar for food, that’s not an assault. However, beware of panhandlers, particularly if you’re fairly isolated. Occasionally if you refuse their request, they may continue to bother you. As long as their pleas are requests, assault has not occurred. The moment they make a demand, try to block your path, grab you, or couple a verbal threat with any of these actions, assault is occurring and you should use defensive measures. Be very careful in the situation just described. Often a “request” is a test to see how you react and handle yourself. An assailant may be “sizing you up” prior to assaulting you. Or, he may be softening your natural defense instincts by making a nonthreatening approach. The same situation occurs with sexual assault. The assailant may start out by asking an innocent question (directions, time, etc.), making suggestive remarks, or harassing you to see how you react. Are you hesitant and fearful, afraid to look them in the eye? Or are you confident, decisive, and able to deal with them? This is what they look for. If the assailant feels you are weak, they may decide to escalate this ploy into a physical assault. Don’t let this happen! Stop the assailant in his tracks. A verbal
reaction of, “Leave me alone!” is sufficient. If the harassment or verbal abuse continues beyond that, take defensive steps, particularly if the assailant is following you! When you make your demand to be left alone, don’t do so while walking away. Stop, face the assailant and make your demand: “Leave me alone. Get away from me!” Then, still facing the assailant, back away from him. At that point the assailant will either leave you alone, or continue his assault on you, at which time, you don’t hesitate to use your spray!

Physical Assault

Physical assault is any unwanted hitting, grabbing, touching, shoving, tripping, or sexual advance. It’s also the obvious or implied threat of such physical action. Physical assault calls for immediate and decisive defensive action, using your defense spray, to stop the assailant in his tracks. This will be covered in another article.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Copyright By Doug Lamb