Treatment of Taser Wounds

Review 2016By Dr. Joseph Lewis, M.D., Medical Director, Honolulu Emergency Services Department

Tasers

Purpose

To provide guidance for the medical care of Taser wounds.

Things to remember about Taser Patients

• These patients usually fall flat on their face, so they usually have facial injuries.

• Most common injuries statistically are: nasal contusions, nasal fracture, nosebleed, dental fracture, facial abrasions, lacerations to nose, lip or chin and rarely cervical spine injury.

Things to remember about Taser Patients

• EMS has two jobs: • 1. Look for medical causes of altered mental status such as

hypoglycemia, drug use, agitated delirium or head injury. • 2. Remove Barb and apply a band-aid.

• #1 is the main reason You are there.

Interview of Taser Patient

• Interview• For obvious reasons, this patient will not be happy, but, to the best

of your ability, determine the following.• Circumstances leading up to taser event.• Determine the individual's mental status before he/she was

stunned.• Look for causes of altered mental status such as hypoglycemia,

drug use, or pre-existing head injury.

Assessment of Taser Patient

• Medical History• Cardiac problems placing patient at risk of bad outcome from taser, should

be transported. • Drug or psychiatric history.• Patients using ice or cocaine should be transported. • Patients experiencing mental illness exacerbation or decompensation

should be transported.• Patients with acute medical problems like hypoglycemia, hypoxia or other

acute illnesses should be transported. The Police have agreed to provide support for safe transport either in the ambulance or following behind.

Assessment of Taser Patient

• Complete set of vital signs• Cardiac monitor strip• Blood glucose measurement• Trauma assessment should involve a careful examination of the

head and neck. If the individual has midline neck pain or has other findings which make you suspect a c-spine injury, proper C-spine precautions should be employed.

Barb Removal

• Do remove barbs from non-personal areas.• Don’t remove barbs from “personal areas”-breasts, buttocks or

genitals.• Don’t remove barbs from potentially serious areas-groin, neck,

face or eye.• Do stabilize barbs in non-removal areas and transport patient.

Barbs look like this

Why  Barbs    the  ACS  Guidelines?Barb looks like this.

Taser International Barb Description

“Barbs can be safely removed just by pulling back on them,” says Mark Johnson, government affairs manager for Taser International Inc. “The barbs are simply a number eight Eagle Claw fishhook, which is not bent.”

Barb Diagram

Removal Procedure

• Firmly grasp barb and pull back with the dominant hand.• Use the non-dominant hand to apply counter pressure to the skin.• Place barb in sharp shuttle and give to Police Officer.• Swab area with alcohol or iodine and bandage. • Document your treatment.

Document Patient Encounter

• Document and Transport in accordance with current policies and procedure.

• Administer treatment under current Transportation guidelines and standing orders.

Any Questions?