Does Anyone Carry Pepper Spray?

[rosarugosa]

I'm wondering if this would be a good safety measure if I wanted to go walking in the woods or other somewhat isolated areas alone. Sometimes DH doesn't feel up to extensive walking, and I feel like I shouldn't let this stop me from walking, which I'm always eager to do when I have the time. I've actually never seen anyone or anything in the woods to really make me feel threatened, but realistically, I'm a small woman with the fighting skills of a chickadee, so it seems like it would be prudent to err on the side of caution.

[Tradd]

My self-defense books say that if you want to carry pepper spray, you have to have it out in your hand, ready to use it, not buried in the bottom of a bag.

There was a case of a woman jogging somewhere in the Chicago area (maybe in Chicago itself, I don't remember exactly) who was able to defend herself from a would-be rapist with pepper spray. But the key thing in this situation was that the woman had the canister in her hand, ready to use it.

You might also want to look into a women's self-defense class.

ETA: I don't carry pepper spray. I carry (legally) a 9mm pistol.

[bekkilyn]

Outside of concealed carry, bear spray would probably be the next best thing.

[Kestra]

I'd second the recommendation of self-defense training. Any device can potentially be used against you. Sometimes I carry a rock when I'm walking, but that's more for snakes.

Generally I'm in pretty safe areas, or at safe times of day, but awareness is always important. I never use earbuds in public spaces, have a good awareness of where I am, who is around me, and what I could do in case of trouble. Also walk with an aggressive attitude. I have a self-defense background, which reminds you to think about all these things.

I'd only carry bear spray if I was walking in bear country. My automatic fighting response would be much quicker than fiddling with a device I wasn't used to. And this is Canada so we don't carry guns around. I have no idea what weapons are legal here.

[Simplemind]

I used to have a little one on my key chain. Carried it for a long time and one day got to wondering how the spray would spray. I get into most of my troubles when I start to wonder. I was in a multi level parking lot. I was standing there and decided to just spray a bit. There was no wind mind you but this was my first experience with house sensitive I am to chemicals. I immediately could tell it was deployed. I ran about 20 feet away and got into an elevator. The elevator had a few people on it who started coughing and wondering what was making them cough. There must have been a bit on the nozzle but in an enclosed elevator it was potent.
None of the officers that I worked with liked using it because in a tussle it gets on everybody. If I was in a slight breeze and it came back on me I would be in big trouble. My husband got me a taser which I carried in my hand out walking with my dog... mostly because for awhile we were running into other loose dogs. You need to be up close and personal with that and in a dog fight I would probably shoot my own thigh.

[bae]

There is no point in carrying pepper spray/mace unless you know how to use it, and have the tool available at hand when you need it. Like a gun or a knife or a taser, it isn't a magic talisman that will ward off evil without your active participation in the process.

A self-defense class won't do you any good either, unless it teaches situational awareness as well. It is very hard for even a trained martial artist to handle a single dedicated attacker who launches an unexpected attack, or an attack with a weapon.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be prepared, I'm suggesting you need to do the job right :-)

[freshstart]

For many years, I did traditional home care in the "ghetto", in the mid afternoon, stoops and corners would be crowded with many large men, I was worried because other nurses said they will target you because you are a female nurse carrying a bag of supplies that might have needles or drugs. I learned not to go that late in the day. The men outside had often been raised by their elderly grandmother I was there to take care of. After they knew who I was, they would come up to me outside to say thanks for taking care of their grandma. The first time this happened, I didn't know what to do, I could not have opened my car door before he got to me and all he wanted was to say, "thanks". And from then on, my purple (don't ask) subaru was a common sight and I'd get a lot of commentary from the guys hanging out, mostly sexist BS. And then I wasn't scared as much, street by street, people got to know me by sight, that I was a nurse. These tough guys, and I'm not naive, these were tough guys, would walk me to my car, carry my bags. When I was pregnant and it was hot, they made me sit on the stoop and get me glasses of what I dearly hoped was really water, lol. There were several blocks not like this at all, hardcore crime, crack houses, shootings, gangs, etc. Those were scary. I always went at 8am on the dot, figuring the lions were still sleeping. If guys on these blocks decided to come after me, I cannot imagine I'd be able to defend myself even if I took classes. My plan was to hand them the bag, say it was full of morphine, throw cash and try my hardest to drive away

when we'd get newbie nurses, I'd have the option of switching to a better neighborhood, nah, this was fine and the good thing is there is always parking in the slums

I had quite the collection of pepper spray from well-meaning relatives. I had one in my bag, could never have gotten to it in time and with my luck, it would be a windy and I'd blind myself. Working there was less scary than imagining a home invasion or being grabbed into a van or even just being mugged. I knew what to expect where I was, these other situations scare me far more. It made me less judgmental, too. Just because a group of young burly men are stoop sitting, getting drunk, doing drugs, they all aren't out to get you. But some are, be careful, lol

[ctg492]

YES always.

I actually have Grizzly Bear spray in my car for when I was traveling. And yes it is right in the console in sight/reach. I had it in the door compartment and a fellow walked up to rolled down window to ask about my dogs as I was in my car getting ready to buckle my belt at a gas station. No harm meant? But I realized I could not have grabbed it if needed fast enough there.

On all my bikes handle bars with a rip away strap. I more or less carry this for dogs. On my hand a small one, if I am running out of the neighborhood.

I took a self defense course at the Y a few years ago. The very large instructor grabbed each of us and we were to use the practices we were taught. I left feeling like I would be toast if someone tried.

I met a lady on the trail I ride on and she walks, this is out in the middle of a wooded area. I said to her that she had no mace? as I showed her mine. She said" I carry a gun. I said " you win"!

[Williamsmith]

If you have the fighting skills of a chickadee then you need to consider yourself prey and not walk in areas where predators hang out. Find a safer place to walk than the woods. A public trail with lots of traffic and be very aware of your surroundings. If you carry concealed, you need to have retention skills. It doesn't do you any good to try to defend with a handgun and get disarmed. Now you just brought more problem to the situation. Same with pepper spray or tasers. Maybe you should go to a fitness center instead.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Is there a woman in the entire world who hasn't been taught not to walk alone (anywhere abandoned) anyway? Especially in the woods/mountains. However I will continue to walk a few blocks in my suburban neighborhood at 1am if I have the notion. Otherwise I go stir crazy.

[freshstart]

I walk the dogs, or used to, all around my development, Bernice is fierce and can act very scary, plus it's a development. I know bad things can happen anywhere but I guess I have to believe I can walk the dogs here and it would be unlikely that anything happen. I know it can, but I don't want to be a prisoner of my own home, either. I do go to the dog park, it's often empty, if a man shows up with a dog, and it's just the two of us, I leave. I used to take the kids and dogs to the bike path when they were younger and not strong riders, didn't want to be worried about cars. I should've been worried about being on the bike path in a remote area alone with little kids with just the dogs. We stopped going after only a few times. I hate living in a world like this, that in our own neighborhoods we cannot feel safe walking freely.

The other day, in a nearby town, a 32 yr old woman was alone in her beauty shop on a busy street where all the malls and plazas are, middle of the day, nice part of town. A man came in and stabbed her to death, I don't even think he took the money, I forget. I believe this is day 3, still no leads.

I used to live near a beautiful park with well tended trails, gorgeous views. I never once went there alone yet I'd traipse all over the bad part of town for work. I know that doesn't make sense, but the woods scared me more.

[bae]

Is there a woman in the entire world who hasn't been taught not to walk alone (anywhere abandoned) anyway? Especially in the woods/mountains.

My daughter goes on solo adventures all the time, in the woods/mountains/ocean/coast. Then again, she's sensible, skilled, armed, and dangerous.

[freshstart]

I admire that, I do. But I don't want to arm my 16 yr old, I don't want to arm me. I guess my head is in the sand and I'm not seeing the changing tide

[Williamsmith]

big difference between being prepared and being paranoid. It's okay to be prepared.

[ctg492]

I am alone everywhere I go, just the way I live. I used to be scared of my own shadow. Now I am just aware and prepared as best as I am able to be. My guard falls very easy and I know this, a friendly smile and hello and I stop my bike and babble. I wonder if I make the other person nervous with my mace on my wrist? Other day a nice looking (if that means anything) fellow pulled up next to me at the crossing on the trail, small talk about bikes, asked how far I was going, how far a ride etc as he rode next to me for a short time. All of a sudden it seemed to intrusive to me and I turned at the next turn to a road.

Everytime I start feeling over confident there is something in the news about something happening. Then I question myself. But I do want to leave my back yard so out I go.

[nswef]

I am much more wary than I used to be, of course I am older and I think that makes a difference. We have a lovely cemetery behind our house, only one lane leading to it and when I go walk out there I take my phone and a whistle. Even when I go out to work in the yard, now, I lock the house. I lock the house when I'm in it. The cars are always locked sitting in the driveway. I hate it. When we moved here 42 years ago I never thought to lock anything. But, media, events, proximity of more strangers, drugs have changed things or our perception of safety. I wonder if it is more dangerous than it used to be or if we just think it is? The fact that Philippi, WV can have a hostage school is not unbelievable, but perhaps 20 years ago we would never have read about it in the news.

[Tradd]

I admire that, I do. But I don't want to arm my 16 yr old, I don't want to arm me. I guess my head is in the sand and I'm not seeing the changing tide

Are you and your 16 year old aware of your surroundings when out and about? Or are your heads buried in smartphones? I know someone, a woman in her mid-30s , who lives in an increasingly dangerous neighborhood in Chicago. Even after being repeatedly warned not to, she still drives around with her doors unlocked, windows down all the way, and purse on passenger seat. She wanders the neighborhood on foot at all hours, gets gas late at night at a station where multiple people have been robbed at gunpoint late at night. She is always buried in her smartphone with earbuds in. She's got her head in the sand and thinks nothing bad will happen to her, even though neighbors, friends, and family have been victims of crime. Shootings are becoming more and more common in her neighborhood, but she's not taking any common sense, basic actions to be safe. That is head in the sand.

[rosarugosa]

I'm actually quite aware of my surroundings (no smartphone or earbuds), and I'm not walking in a dangerous area as far as any reported muggings, attacks, etc. in these woods, at least in the three years I've been walking there. It's a 2200 acre wooded reservation in a smallish city. It's not exactly crawling with people though, which is a huge part of its appeal. So common sense tells me there is some potential for danger. I would never go to a gym.

[freshstart]

hmm, I posted a response, must've messed it up. No, DD is very aware not to have ear buds on when she is alone (she is rarely alone, she's with friends or one of us). My dad taught me basic safety stuff I'm passing down to my kids. He grew up in a horrible part of the city, was a bar bouncer as a young man, Army guy, fireman, tough as nails, still is even old and with health problems. Scanning the area you are in, how to hold your keys, never stop to help a car on the side, call 911 for them instead. Know how to change a tire, do not accept help. If pulled over by an unmarked cop car, check the badge and call it in. At night, look in the back seat and under the car. House doors were locked even when we were in it, same with car. He wanted to teach me to fight when I was like 8 and into rainbows and puppies. We left it at "kick him in his nuts, scream FIRE!! and RUN", lol. I've progressed beyond rainbows but this is still my plan if nabbed!

[Tradd]

Freshstart, the alternate advice if an unmarked car attempts to pull you over is to continue at normal speed to a well lit parking lot, calling 911 from your cell to tell the police what is going on and to see if the unmarked car is legit.

[freshstart]

Freshstart, the alternate advice if an unmarked car attempts to pull you over is to continue at normal speed to a well lit parking lot, calling 911 from your cell to tell the police what is going on and to see if the unmarked car is legit.

yeah, I've read that, forgot, it's a much safer idea. An older lady I worked with was pulled over by an unmarked at night and did drive quite a distance to the actual police station. And they said, that was fine, they didn't give her a ticket.

[mschrisgo2]

I am absolutely amazed at how careless many women are with their purses/bags. i.e. flopped open in the grocery shopping cart, on top of the gas pump, on top of, or on the hood of the car... It only takes a second to steal a bag, or just the wallet out of it.

And so many people do not lock their cars when they get out to pump gas, often even leaving their keys in the ignition! In fact a car was stolen at the [big box store] gas station here just a few days ago. Guy left keys in it, had finished pumping gas but went in search of a squeegee to wash his windows. He was 10 feet away, 2 guys jumped in his car and drove off. In broad daylight, with at least 30 people in the near vicinity, in a decent part of town.

Many long years ago when I got my first car, my boss told me "Never leave your car unlocked. If you do, DO NOT get back in it by yourself." That made good sense to me and I've never forgotten.

My (grown) daughter mentioned to me the other day that her friends get "messed with" but she doesn't. She attributed it to learning a "don't mess with me" attitude from me. I reminded her it's more than just attitude, there are lots of safety factors involved:

Don't walk in the shadows on the city streets. Be aware that there are places that are safe in daylight, and absolutely not safe after dark. Lock your car. Don't carry anything in your purse that you don't want to loose. Know exactly what is in your wallet. Carry your keys separately. (Mine are always in my pocket, not my bag.) Pay attention, and don't park at home if someone is following you, or standing by the house when you get there. Have a plan of where you can drive to, instead. Let someone know where you're gong and when you intend to be back, especially if you're leaving the area for a weekend or vacation. Try not to come home late and exhausted at the end of a trip- you need to be alert to any situation that has developed at home while you were away. And my daughter's favorite- listen to the birds. If you are in a wooded area and pay attention, the birds will alert you to danger. Their noises change, or they go dead silent.

Of course there are lots more safe practices, those are just the ones DD and I talked about recently. She and I feel pretty comfortable in most places, but there are places we won't go, especially alone.

[Gregg]

Its true that you can't avoid any and every threat the big bad world can throw at you, but situational awareness is more than just a buzz phrase. Taking every sensible measure to avoid trouble by avoiding the people and places most likely to cause trouble is simple. Keeping your phone off and your radar on when you're out is also simple. My money will be on the aware chickadee over the "prepared" person who isn't paying attention every time. After that we all just have to decide if its worth it to ever go outside.

[rosarugosa]

I have read that chickadees are often the first to recognize a threat, and other small arboreal birds rely on them as an early warning system :)