Guidelines for Police Officer Removal of Taser Probes From Subject
Supplies:
Gloves, Antiseptic wipes, Band-Aids, Spent Cartridge, Biohazard Sticker
Subject Safety:
DO NOT attempt removal if subject is combative
DO NOT attempt removal if location of the probe is
Face
Neck
Ear
Breast
Groin
Deeply imbedded
Probes that are superficially in the skin, may be removed by an officer who is trained to
do so and under the supervision of another officer.
Procedure:
1. Officer dons gloves
2. Places spent taser cartridge on the ground or other flat surface with holes up
3. Firmly grasp the probe and with one pull remove probe from subject and place
probe point down in the spent cartridge DO NOT HOLD CARTRIDGE WHILE
PLACING USED PROBE INTO CARTIDGE, INSTEAD KEEP IT ON THE
GROUND OR OTHER FLAT SURFACE
4. With antiseptic wipe, clean the skin in circular motion moving from puncture
wound out - dirty skin will need more than one cleaning – use new antiseptic wipe
for each cleaning DO NOT GO BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE
PUNCTURE WOUND, START IN CENTER AND MOVE OUTWARD IN A
CIRCULAR MOTION (this is to prevent infection of the puncture site)
5. After air drying apply clean dry Band-Aid
6. If needed, follow same procedure for removal of second taser probe
7. Each fired probe shall be treated as a biohazard whether it is in the skin or not at
the time of post-deployment evaluation
8. Secure holes of spent taser cartridge with tape and apply biohazard label
9. Handle, store and dispose of cartridge in the same manner as biohazardous waste
10. Assess subject for any injury or condition that may need medical attention and
seek appropriate level of service for the subject
11. Provide Taser AfterCare Instruction Sheet to the subject or subject’s responsible
party if released from custody and to admitting jail if subject is incarcerated
12. Remove gloves and clean hands with waterless hand sanitizer

Prepared for Chandler Police Department Training Use 04/01/2003
by Kerry Cassens RN, BSN, COHN-S, Occupational Health Services,
City of Chandler Risk Management & Safety Division
In Consultation with Patricia Treharne, M.D. Medical Director,
Banner Occupational Health Services