Spraytect Protective Mobile Phone Case With Built-In Pepper Spray
I am going to start this post the way Sophie started her phone call to me a few weeks ago. With a phrase that as a parent makes your heart pound the moment you hear the tone in your child’s voice even before the words come. “I’m OK, everyone is ok but . . . . ” This is how Sophie told me that she and two girl friends had been mugged the night before while walking home from her work study job at music theater at UC Berkeley. It was just after midnight. Sophie and two friends were walking on the sidewalk, three across when another group of three across walked up on them. The whole thing lasted about 30 seconds according to Sophie, her group of friends started yelling for help making a lot of noise right away as they had been taught to do. No one was hurt badly, although they were hurt, there was a struggle and physical contact. Sophie’s friend’s backpack was stolen before the perpetrators jumped into a car and sped away. Sophie and her friends were frightened, freaked out, but it could have been much worse. Much much worse.
I encouraged Sophie to tell everyone she knew what happened. To post it on Facebook. To let people know it can and does happen. Even when walking in a group. Even when you follow the rules and try to do everything right. I told her to tell people, not to scare them unnecessarily, but to make sure that no one takes their own safety for granted. To start a dialog, to get her friends thinking about what to do, how they can be prepared, so they have a better chance of reacting smartly if it does happen to them.
As parents Paul and I tried to ensure our girls had some preparation for the dangers they could encounter out in the world without making them paranoid. At my insistence they each participated in a self defense class as teenagers. And Sophie said that night they all made a lot of noise when this incident happened and that when she was being chased she ran to a well lit area and that she never went too far from her friend, she kept her friend in her sight at all times. And Paul bought us all whistles for our key chains, which Sophie had in her purse, not out at the ready.
My friend Sherrie got a mobile alert about this incredible new product just days 
after hearing about Sophie’s experience. I contacted the company immediately and am now sharing the information with you, just as I instructed Sophie to share her story with her friends.
Scott McPherson, CEO of Spraytect, shared with me in an email the story he shares on his website, that he invented this product to protect his own daughter when she went off to college. Spraytect is a protective case for a smartphone with a removable pepper spray cartridge attached to the back of the case. After all, for better or for worse, we all know the phone is the one thing our kids almost always have in their hands!
I think you will agree after seeing the Spraytect website and watching the demonstration video, that this product is genius!
The product is brand new and has been available for less than 90 days. Currently Spraytect is offering free shipping and an introductory price of only $39.95. Based on Sophie’s experience, I feel this is a must have for any young person going off to college or traveling, or just living on their own. The Safety Blog on their site is a must read as well.
Sherrie ordered one for Sophie and one for Dana the minute she read about Spraytect. I urge you to do your research and if this product makes sense to you, share it with others, and help people protect themselves.
My heart sank reading this! How many times have I told Avalon “always walk with a group”. Knowing all the times has she walked alone (at night) from her theatre production. Thank you for sharing Sophie’s story as well as the product information.
Avalon already has mace, but, I love the idea of it being attached to the one device she ALWAYS has with her, her iPhone!
So sorry to hear that you as parents had to hear those words, so sorry that Sophie and her friends had to experience that. Having been in that situation twice—it changes the way you see life and the way you interact with strangers…sad.
Glad that they are ok.
Hugs to you and yours.
I am so sorry to hear about Sophie and her friends being mugged. Thanks for sharing your story, I will be buying some spraytect for Samantha and for me.
Wow- every mama’s nightmare to say the least. I am so glad the girls were not badly hurt and no weapons were involved. Very smart thing to insist upon your daughters taking self-defense classes.
The Spraytect device is genius! Thanks for sharing. A word of caution about pepper spray: NEVER USE IN ENCLOSED SPACES or in conditions where you would be spraying AGAINST THE wind as the fumes can blow back into your face and disable you as well. (Spoken from the experience of aan ER nurse in a situation where an overzealous security guard tried to subdue a violent combative patient with pepper spray. The fumes were sucked up into the ventilation sysyem and distibuted throughout the ER., disabling several nurses and techs, and causing respiratory didtress to a couple of patients.) Most of the newer sprays are foam-based to reduce this hazard but it can still occur.
Praying for your daughter’s and her friends’ saftey. take care.
good to know sherrie is still looking out for you and yours. with shana walking the streets of nyc in after-theater hours, i’m going to check this out.
Amy so sorry to hear about the bad experience of Sophie & her friends. Thank G-d nobody was hurt.
This is really a great idea. I will get one each for Sydnie & Zoe. Will the case work with a regular Senior Phone? We Seniors would benefit as well.
Thanks for all of your support and advise. One personal email response I received suggested a small bright flashlight to shine in a would be attacker’s eyes. This came from a New York Police Officer. Also an excellent idea – the we all know the phone is the one thing always at the ready!
So sorry to hear about Sophie and her friends being mugged. The very same thing happened to me and some friends at Cal. It is traumatic and does stay with you. Sounds like they did all the right things. The Spraytect sounds like a good plan!