Personal alarm, spray or stun gun: what to choose

When a woman decides she wants something on her for reassurance, she usually weighs up three things: pepper spray, an electric stun gun or a personal alarm. Each one works differently and each one asks something of you in a critical moment. Let's go through it calmly.

Pepper spray

How it works: you pull it out, unlock it, aim and spray it at the attacker's face from a few metres away.

What it asks of you: having it in your hand in time, aiming correctly and hitting the target. Under stress, in the dark and in the wind it doesn't always go to plan, and if the wind blows towards you, it'll hit you too.

Where you can't take it: not on a plane in any bag, not to many events and not into buildings with security checks. The rules vary from country to country across Europe, so it's not ideal for travel.

Electric stun gun

How it works: you have to get within touching distance of the attacker and press it against their body.

What it asks of you: physical contact, courage and strength. If they snatch it from you, now they have it. For a child, a teenage girl or an older woman it's more of a burden than a help.

Where you can't take it: in many EU countries it's banned or restricted, never on a plane, and not to school or a government office either.

Personal alarm

How it works: a single pull sets off a 130 dB siren (roughly like a plane taking off) and a flashing light. The attacker loses what they rely on most: silence and no one paying attention.

What it asks of you: nothing. You don't aim, you don't fight, you don't need strength or training. You turn it off by sliding the top part back in.

Where you can take it: everywhere. It's not a weapon, it's a siren with a light. School, work, a plane, a concert, a trip abroad.

So what should you choose

• If you want something anyone can use without a second thought and that you're allowed to carry everywhere: a personal alarm.
• If you can carry spray in a way that keeps it in your hand in time, and you don't take it on planes or abroad: it can be an add-on, not your main thing.
• We wouldn't recommend a stun gun for women, children or seniors at all.

That's why we built KIRAO as an alarm. Small, light and with no conditions: clip it wherever your hand is closest, and you don't have to think about anything else.