Tag: jogger pepper spray

Safety Tips for Walking to Your Car at Night

Posted on by BlastAdmin

Everyone, at some point, will have to walk to his or her car in the dark of night in an empty parking lot or parking garage. It is important to know how to keep yourself safe in these moments. If there is a possible crime to take place in that dark alley, lot, or garage, it will most likely be a crime of opportunity. So, take a few precautions before walking out to your vehicle and make sure to have a plan. Here are a few tips that will hopefully keep you safer when you are walking to your car at night.

Preplan the walk to your car. If you are in an unfamiliar environment e.g. hospital parking lots, or a lot in an unfamiliar area of downtown, know the route that you are going to take back to the car. Also, it would be helpful to notice any alternate routes if by chance your intended route didn’t work out according to plan. Always remember where your car is parked. The dark of night in a quiet parking garage is not the time for you to forget where you parked the car. Take note of the spot, write it down, and put it in your phone. Don’t forget.

Black Friday Shopping Safety Tips

When you reach your car, be prepared by having the car keys ready to unlock the car door.   Don’t have the keys buried in your coat, pants pocket, or purse. If you needed access to the keys in an emergent situation, it is best to have them ready. Also, carry your keys on a key ring that you can hold through the middle when you are walking. This will help to prevent you from dropping the keys. Also, when you are walking back to your vehicle, continually scan your surroundings. Prevention is the key to your safety. Be aware of your intuition. If the situation doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Also, walk down the center isle of the parking lot; this will hopefully ensure that you are not surprised by anyone hiding behind another vehicle or a pillar in a parking garage.   And don’t forget to get your UDAP Keychain Pepper Spray to carry with you at all times.

Archery Elk Season

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The archery elk season in Montana is underway. And, for the archery elk hunter who has spent his summer exploring remote stands of timber most hunters only glance at on Google Earth, while hiking countless backcountry miles and prematurely wearing the sole from a pair of hunting boots, congratulations on your effort and good luck on this seasons hunt. For those hunters, however, that haven’t spent as much time in the backcountry this season, or for those hunters that aren’t sure how to effectively scout for the season, here are a few tips to help.

When you are out scouting, the most obvious signs of elk activity are droppings, tracks, and rubs. Elk are transient by nature, so being really excited about evidence of elk may be jumping the gun, so to speak. Pay attention to the freshness of the rubs on the trees, or the prevalence of the tracks, and know that it only means that elk may frequent that area, and there are a few other ways of figuring out more precise locations and patterns for the elk when the rut begins.

If you are scouting and you find a bull before the rut has begun, don’t be too excited. That bull most likely will be somewhere else when the rut actually begins. So, when you are doing your preseason scouting, make sure to pay attention to the cow elk. When those cows go into heat, those bulls wont let them out of sight.

Also, while scouting, look for elk wallows (areas where bull elk may tear up the ground to reach the mud and moisture). When the rut is on, elk will use a wallow every day, most likely in the heat of the afternoon, so knowing where fresh or old wallows are is a big advantage. Those bulls run really hot during the rut, and rely on the mud and moisture from those wallows to cool down. Areas to look for that could be potential wallows are in meadows – pay close attention to the edges of the meadows where moisture may run off and collect. Also, look for bright green patches of grasses on densely timbered slopes. Near creeks and lake are obvious choices, and also near beaver dams.

And don’t forget your UDAP Bear Spray and have it accessible in a UDAP holster while you are bow hunting this season! Archery Elk Season, UDAP hip holster for bear spray

What Makes Pepper Spray So Effective?

Posted on by BlastAdmin

Most of us have heard of pepper spray. It is used by military and police forces to subdue dangerous criminals in a non-lethal way. Popular shows, such as “Cops” and “CSI” have shown or portrayed pepper spray being used to stop attackers. Some of these attackers are under the influence of very dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamines, hallucinogenics, and extremely high amounts of alcohol and unknown mixtures of any number of drugs. These drugs can make users stronger, less susceptible to pain and more volatile. So, how is it that one substance, such as pepper spray, can stop them all? Why is it so effective?

The Science Behind the Spray

Pepper spray is a derivative of cayenne pepper, more specifically, various parts of the cayenne pepper plant. When this derivative is sprayed on an assailant, it invades the lungs, eyes and sinuses. Once there, it causes burning and swelling, incapacitating the would-be assailant. A person that has been sprayed with pepper spray cannot fight back because he or she cannot breathe. The inability to breath stops the attacker, regardless of the drug or drugs he or she may be on.

The active ingredient in pepper spray is capsaicin. It is the same ingredient that gives cayenne and other peppers their sting. However, with pepper spray, the capsaicin is extremely concentrated, resulting in what is known as a substance called oleoresin capsicum. Once introduced to the respiratory system, oleoresin capsicum has the ability to render any individual helpless.

What Makes Pepper Spray So Effective

College Campus Safety

Posted on by BlastAdmin

For those going to college for the first time this fall, safety is something on everyone’s minds. Many news outlets shout out how sexual offenses and assault are “practically an epidemic” on college campuses. Furthermore, frightening statistics show that college-aged students are at the highest risk of being the victim of several types of crime. Some of these are committed by someone the victim knows well. But as chilling as these can be, the news tends to hype up bad news for more views. More importantly, there are things you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.

Nobody should have to face becoming a victim of crime first-hand, and although it is never the fault of the victim, there are still plenty of things that college-age students can do to keep themselves safe.

Walking to Class or Walking Home

Contrary to what some people believe, most crimes aren’t committed by strangers who attack women or other vulnerable groups late at night. Many crimes can be committed by fellow students you know. But night attacks can still happen as there tend to be fewer witnesses at night, making criminals – both familiar and unfamiliar – bold enough to attack.

To protect yourself, try not to go out by yourself after dark if you can help it. Walk with friends, try to stick to well-lit or crowded places, avoid shortcuts, and don’t wear headphones or earbuds. If someone asks you for directions or a question from a vehicle, answer from a distance. Don’t get within arm’s length of the vehicle. Finally, if you are attacked during your walk, it helps to have a can of pepper spray with you. Pepper spray is very painful when sprayed into the eyes, and it has been known to incapacitate even the largest and most dangerous assailants.

College Campus Safety

Drink and Party Responsibly

Whether people want to admit it or not, drinking alcohol and partying is a big part of the college experience. Schools are full of young men and women who are away from home for the first time and may be getting their first true taste of alcohol. Needless to say, many freshmen don’t handle alcohol responsibly; if you’re wondering whether you are one of the many, you could check this out to see if any of the points made here ring true with you. Becoming drunk means you aren’t thinking straight, meaning it is easier for you to make decisions you regret when you are sober. It’s easier to get into a fight or take violent actions. It makes you an easier target to pickpocket or steal from. And, sadly, many people also take advantage of this kind of irresponsible drinking and use it as a chance (or excuse?) to have sexual encounters.

Know your limits with each type of alcoholic drink and stop when you have had enough when to prevent you from becoming drunk. If going to a nightclub keep your valuables secure or consider using a “get your ID here” website to get a copy ID so your real ID stays safe. Don’t drink on an empty stomach since that will cause the alcohol to be absorbed by your body more quickly. Always make sure that you have a sober friend with you and keep a close eye on your drink so that nobody has the chance to slip something into it.

Tell friends where you are

Whether you are frequenting a bar you know like the back of your hand or you are visiting a new friend at their home off-campus, tell a friend where you are. If you plan to go other places in the night tell them that too, and tell them when you get home safely. Should anything happen, your friends and law enforcement will have a record of your last steps to find and help you. To help aid communication, make sure you have the best wifi for college students in your accommodation. This will allow you to message friends and family instantly should there ever be any trouble, and will also allow you to receive messages straight away from friends in need.

Stay calm and respect boundaries

College is a place where stress flies high and where it’s easy to get worked up over the littlest things. You’ll also be in contact with people from all different kinds of backgrounds, and what they may find comfortable, you may not. Many incidents on college campuses happen because stress was not handled well or because personal and physical boundaries were not respected.

If someone says no it means no. If you feel a fellow college student is being problematic on campus there are many things you can do. You can seek help from the faculty staff or report incidents to them. You can intervene and tell that person to respect boundaries but ensure your safety and the safety of other people will not be compromised by doing this.

Trust your gut

Above all else, learn to trust your gut whenever you’re in an unfamiliar situation. If something doesn’t feel right to you or you feel uncomfortable about a certain situation, don’t be afraid to leave. Your intuition can tell you more than you know, so you should listen to it at all times. It could save your life. And be sure to carry UDAP Pepper Spray the world’s hottest pepper spray!

Smartphone Theft On The Rise

Posted on by BlastAdmin

Smartphone thefts rose again in 2013 despite efforts to stop them.  According to the Huffington Post, it has become an epidemic of violent street crimes. Police Departments nation wide have stepped up efforts to educate the public on Smartphone theft safety to prevent being a victim of robbery.

Smartphone Theft On The Rise

There is currently a nationwide effort to encourage Smartphone makers to create a “kill switch” that will render the phone useless if stolen. Some companies are implementing kill switches and while others are looking at it, Smartphone users need to become more aware of their surroundings. Watch the people around them, whether sitting in a restaurant or walking down the street.

UDAP Pepper Power has two products that can assist you in staying safe. UDAP self defense pepper spray!

Bear Spray Can Prevent Dog Attacks Too!

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Now that the weather has gotten nicer, many folks are walking around their neighborhoods and walking paths, taking in the beautiful the spring colors and warmth. Enjoying the warm sun until a dog jumps out of the bushes and charges! UDAP Bear Spray can stop a grizzly bear but it can also stop a ferocious dog as well.

Here is a link to a story where a man was attacked by a dog in Lethbridge, Canada. The dog had never attacked anyone before, the owner stated.  You never know where or when an angry dog will come at you when you are out walking, so be sure to always carry your UDAP Bear Spray!

Bear Spray Can Prevent Dog AttacksRead more of the Lethbridge, Canada attack here…

Smartphone Theft Epidemic

Posted on by BlastAdmin

The theft of handheld devices is the fastest-growing street crime in the Country, where more and more incidents are turning violent.  Walking down the street and talking on your iPhone, where a thief will attempt to rip it right out of your hand. If you try to stop the thief, the thief will beat you up until he gets the phone. Victims have ended up with broken bones, in the hospital and left with no recourse to get their stolen smartphones back.

Smartphone Theft Epidemic

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, about 1.6 million Americans had their smartphones stolen last year. And according to the Federal Communications Commission, around 40 percent of robberies in major cities now involve mobile devices.

Mobile phones have reshaped that way that we live. Smartphones can be sold on the black market for anywhere from $300 to $600. Law enforcement and Government Officials are asking manufacturers for a kill switch to be put in mobile devices that will render the phone unusable by the thief or anyone if it is reported stolen. There is much debate from the manufactures in doing this. Will it become mandated? We don’t know, but we would like to recommend that you carry your UDAP Pepper Spray with you when you are out walking. Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Put your mobile devices away and out of sight when you are walking in major cities. Be safe!

Smartphone Theft Epidemic

 

Tips to Protect Yourself When Jogging/Walking in Your Neighborhood

Posted on by BlastAdmin

It’s beautiful early fall outdoors and most people enjoy a walk or around the neighbor enjoying all of the fall colors. But with street crimes increasing in most large U.S. cities, it’s more important than ever that you protect yourself when jogging/walking in your neighborhood.

 

A few tips:

•    Be alert for loiterers and do not interact with them.

•    Don’t carry large sums of money in your wallet, if you’re a man, or a purse, if you’re a woman.

•    If possible, stay out of bad parts of town and if you have to, travel with another person. This is especially true after dark.

•    Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers. Believe it or not, the majority of women who are raped by strangers were hitchhiking at the time.

•    Walk on the side of the street nearest to oncoming traffic. If accosted by someone in a car, run in the direction opposite the way the car is headed.

•    Beware of people who approach asking directions; keep a safe distance. Just say “Sorry” and keep moving if you are in an unsafe area or simply don’t like the guys looks. You have no obligation to be friendly or helpful to strangers on the street.

•    If you think someone might be following you, speed up. If they speed up also, cross the street in mid-block. If they do also, start running and yelling loud. Create a scene. Make a spectacle of yourself. Get out in the middle of the street and try to wave down a car. Much better to make a fool of yourself in front of a bunch of strangers than to end up in a hospital or morgue.

 

But more importantly carry UDAP Bear Spray or a UDAP Stun Gun! You can purchase both online at UDAP.COM today! So go on your walk and jog, enjoy the great fall colors and be SAFE!