Taser Injuries
TASER
- Commonest brand of Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs)
- Delivers electrical pulses by either:
- Contact of the front end of the weapon vs subject (drive -stun) or
- Tethered projectiles (opposite polarity) fired at the subject
- When fired (nitrogen driven), top probe flies true from barrel, bottom probe descends (probe spread allows effect)
- May have 1 or 2 cartridges ("shots")
- Very few reported deaths directly attributable to Taser
- Latest (incl. Taser 7) probe embeds in skin
- Gardaí use the X26p and the X2 CEDs. Each give a 5 second burst of shock
T7 system (from EMJ_2023;40:147-150)
T7 barb (from EMJ_2023;40:147-150)
Clinical
- Small electrical burn at probe site
- Secondary injury from "fall"
Assessment
- ECG
- Thorough exam. for injuries
- Obs review if pregnant
- Assess for acute behavioural causes for restraint use
Barb removal:
- Old Taser = tense skin the pull body of probe
- TASER 7 = gardaí to remove with special plastic tool
Content by Dr Íomhar O' Sullivan. Last review Prof Adrian Murphy 20/03/23.