A recent attempted robbery was unsuccessful - because of the robber’s choice of weapon. The man attempted to steal food from a Safeway, armed with a canister of Raid Wasp & Hornet Spray. The only problem? Wasp spray isn’t capable of incapacitating human beings. Store employees attempting to thwart the robbery were minimally affected by the spray.
The robber is nevertheless in significant legal trouble due to fine print on the canister, stating that the spray is “extremely flammable” and “hazardous to humans and domestic animals.” He is being charged with first-degree robbery as opposed to a misdemeanor.
So, why doesn’t wasp spray work against humans? We talked to our Nicole Robbins, SABRE Quality Assurance & Safety Manager for an explanation. Here’s what she said:
“The amount of active ingredients in the spray (according to the label) are 0.04% to 0.06%; the compound is typically ‘pyrethrin or pyrethroids, which come from a species of chrysanthemum plant,’ explains Extension.org. This active ingredient is meant to disrupt a wasp’s nervous system.
On the other hand, human pepper sprays target a human’s eyes and respiratory system. Think of the biology and size differences between wasps and humans!
Independent testing concludes that wasp spray is ‘minimally’ irritating to human eyes, so how could it be expected to incapacitate a goal-oriented attacker?”
Designed specifically for use on humans, pepper spray causes: involuntary eye closure; swelling of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and throat; nasal and sinus discharge; coughing; shortness of breath; drying of the eyes; involuntary eye closure; painful burning of the skin; hyperventilation; and psychological effects such as fear, anxiety and panic.
Watch the video for a demonstration, and see how wasp spray is not capable of stopping a goal-oriented human:
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