Comparison of Different self-defense Sprays in the Hands of paramedics – simulation Study

Abstract

Pepper spray is a self-defense tool used to prevent or stop aggressive behavior by quick and temporary incapacitation of the aggressor. The main aim of this study is to compare the effect of 2 different tools – Flashlight spray (Tool 1) and a gun shaped pepper spray (Tool 2) for paramedics in Prague. We performed a simulated test of the use of the tools with 10 paramedics (5 men, 5 women; the average age was 28 years) – nobody had been educated in using the mentioned self-defense tools. Using pepper spray (Tool 1) is faster and safer than using a pepper gun (Tool 2). There were discovered a lot of negative factors for recommendation for both of these tools: long time period for using against possible perpetrators; impossibility of the using in the space of ambulance. We found that neither tool is appropriate for paramedics.