‘You have to rely on your own capabilities first in an attack situation,’ says COSMO’s self-defence expert, Sanette Smit. ‘First empower yourself using your own abilities, then add to your power with a weapon such as pepper spray.’ She suggests that you attend a self-defence workshop and then arm yourself with a safety tool. With this advice in mind, we bring you some of the most popular self-defence gadgets for women.
1. Lightning Rod 800 000V Stun Pen and Led Flashlight
It’s a functioning pen and flashlight – hook it into your jeans pocket for understated security.
How To Use: Choose 300 000 volts (V), or 800 000V for a more powerful impact. Hold down the button and it’ll emit a loud noise as it gives off an electric current. That should be enough to scare your attacker away from a distance. If it’s not, hold it against his skin as he approaches and it’ll make his body go lame – and stay that way for 30 minutes.
2. Small Fry 950 000V Mini Stun Gun
It’s small enough to fit in your handbag.
How To Use: If you’re being threatened by someone, press the button. A loud electric current and piercing noise will be emitted. Chances are he won’t take a step closer. If he does, touch his skin with the stun gun. Although it’s small, it gives off a hefty 950 000V.
3. Self-Defence Spray – Home Unit
Install it at home.
How To Use: Fix the Velcro holding the can of pepper spray under the dashboard of your car or on the wall next to your bed, and rip it off if you need to use it. It spurts as far as 3m and fogs the area. Once you’ve sprayed, run in the opposite direction so you’re not affected by it yourself!
4. Self-Defence Spray – Key Ring
Hang your car or house keys on the key ring for instant, easy access to the container of mace spray attached to it.
How To Use: Hold the container upright, release the safety catch and press the button. The spray releases a metre-wide fog up to 1,5m away. Your assailant will fall to the ground, his skin and eyes will burn, and he’ll cough and may vomit. He’ll be down for 20 minutes.
5. Personal Self-Defence Spray
Use it when an attacker is coming straight towards you.
How To Use: Aim for his eyes. The spray comes out in a direct stream (like water from a water pistol) and shoots up to 7m away. And it’s really hot, creating a burning sensation on contact. The main ingredient is habanero chillies, the hottest known chilli.
6. Self-Defence Spray – Translucent Dye
The mace spray gives off a dye similar to that used in polling stations (this one’s pink).
How To Use: Spray at your attacker: if he’s caught, the dye, which shows up under police UV light, will identify him as the assailant.
7. Air Horn
If you’re prone to freezing up in a scary situation, the horn will scream for you.
How To Use: You need only lightly touch the button and the ear-splitting blare will be heard up to 100m away, attracting help and almost certainly scaring away any assailant.
All the products featured are available from Liquid Bullet (011) 444-5201 (Johannesburg); (021) 554-2505 (Cape Town). For more info, visit
www.liquidbullet.net.