I used to carry my pepper spray loose in my pants pocket. It was one of the models with a simple flip switch and no additional safety lock — you flip it and squeeze. That combination turned out to be a problem.

At some point during the day, the movement in my pocket flipped the switch and somehow engaged the trigger. I was working on the trading floor when I started noticing a strange burning sensation along the side of my leg. I didn’t think much of it at first, just a weird feeling that kept intensifying. When I reached into my pocket to grab my keys I felt moisture, and the moment I brought my hand out I knew exactly what had happened. The pepper spray had discharged in my pocket.

The burn continued as the spray soaked into the fabric against my skin. After that you have to be careful — wash your hands thoroughly and keep them away from your face, your eyes especially. As for the pants, I washed them multiple times but the irritant had embedded itself into the fabric. Every time I wore them after that they burned me. Eventually I had to throw them out.

The lesson I took from that experience was simple. I now only carry pepper spray that has a full cap covering the nozzle — the kind where you have to lift the top before you can squeeze. The flip switch models are too easy to accidentally engage. Learn from my mistake before your pants teach you the same lesson.