Like the title says, Today I fucked up by carrying pepper spray in my hip purse!
I (22F) work at a job that ends around 9pm, closing takes about 30 minutes and then I have to take a 20 minute walk home in what is a mostly rural area and has low visibility.
Last year in December I got attacked going home after one of my shifts ( I’m all ok now! But it was scary and police were involved) so I got myself a small bottle of pepper spray.
To skip all of the in-between from December to now… I ended up carrying this pepper spray in my hip purse at all times. Work, going for a walk, mall, anything and everywhere.
Well, recently while working I began to have these small coughing fits. Like my throat was spicy, I’d just cough out of nowhere. I thought it was from vaping (something that I quit about a few months prior but I thought it was catching up to me).
Then there was me washing my hands at home, then eating something with my hands like an apple and having this sudden burning on my tongue.
Or the one time that I just touched my tongue and ended up sitting down with my mouth and, somehow, eyes burning on the couch.
I thought all of these were unrelated incidents. I clean a lot at home so I thought the burning was from not washing my hands well enough or something.
But today.
I was looking for my bus card to fill it up, I keep it in the same pocket as my pepper spray. I noticed that it was slightly damp, and so was the fabric of my bag. I pulled all of the pockets contents out and it was clear the spray had been leaking everywhere.
I used a baby wipe to wipe off the bottle and, as I suspected It was all orange and wet. As I was cleaning it off I inhaled and began coughing. Then I put two and two together.
Everything still has a light smell of pepper spray… I can’t wait to get home and wash it all off oh my god.
TL;DR: Carried pepper spray in my hip purse which, unbeknownst to me was causing me: coughing fits and my mouth and eyes stinging, because it was leaking everywhere.
Comments
muy caliente!
Well, now you know it works. 🙂
Sounds like a defective unit or a poor safety that allowed it to be triggered in your bag. I’ve carried pepper spray for nearly a decade (as part of a continuum of response between verbal and deadly) and never had one accidentally leak or get triggered. My favorite brand is POM because they offer units with pocket clips that keep it handy and their safety is pretty solid. They’re also very small, which makes them easier to carry and less noticeable to others. Something to look at when you replace your current one.
Hip purse? You mean Fanny pack. Say it with me now!
Btw use mylanta and water solution to deactivate the capsaicin.
Get yourself a POM, it’s nearly impossible to accidentally discharge them.
I also vote that you get a POM spray. Have carried it for years with zero problem and worked the one time I needed it to work.
Have had other brands that didn’t lock well and leaked in pockets.
https://preview.redd.it/rjpiz976n55f1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=533e1eadd9d9ca78a9d0da21f5dce5a2c67476ed
Also, just for anyone curious, this is the spray I had leak everywhere!! In case anyone was curious about the brand and what not!
My brother’s shitty ex girlfriend left her pepper spray in her car in a Florida summer. It exploded and fucked up her car for months.
That sucks, but don’t let it stop you from carrying! Do some research, get a better piece of equipment and continue to stay safe.
If it’s legal in your area, maybe carry a stun gun as well.
Experienced attackers may be able to thwart pepper spray. Having pepper spray and a small stun gun may be helpful.
When you charge/turn on a stun gun, they make a nice, loud popping sound with arcs and sparks. Makes for an effective deterence.
Pepper spray is useless in your purse. Always carry it in your hand with thumb on the trigger when you’re walking home by yourself.
Ouch, that sounds like a rough day! Maybe stick to a keychain spray next time? Hope you’re okay!
I hope you’re feeling better. You learned your lesson and are now seasoned.