New Medical
M
Research
R
h Disproves the Ac
cidosis Theory
T
of Liability Used
in the
e Heston Case
TA
ASER ECD Does not Cause
C
Dange
erous Levels
s of Acidos
sis
Backgrou
und. TASER
R International periodically provides upd
dates on medical research findings rega
arding the
physiologic effects of electronic
e
con
ntrol devices (ECDs)
(
on hu
uman and animal subjects.. This Trainin
ng Bulletin
contains the
t most rece
ent research findings as of the date of re
elease.

S
Synopsis
s
onnel are freq
quently called
d upon to dea
al with individu
uals in crisis who
w are physiologically
Law enforrcement perso
compromised and are
e at a heighte
ened risk of serious injuryy or death, regardless
r
off actions take
en by law
enforceme
ent. In addition, the restraint and arrest process ca
an introduce additional physiologic cha
anges that
may worssen a person’s
s baseline ph
hysiology. Th
hese changess may include
e significant acidosis, cardiiac arrest,
or other medical
m
condittions.
Acidosis:
R
human
n medical ressearch determ
mined that mu
uscle contracctions from TA
ASER ECD exposures
e
• Recent
fo
or up to 10 an
nd 15 second
ds in rested human
h
subjeccts resulted in
n minimal increases in acidosis that
diid not approach a dangero
ous level and was clinicallyy not noticed by
b the test su
ubjects.
•

d that applicattion of a TAS
SER device fo
or up to 15 seconds
s
to an
n exerted,
This research also showed
he acidosis th
hat was alread
dy present.
allready acidotiic person did not worsen th

•

esearch disprroves the “strraw that broke
e the camel’ss back theory”” of worsening
g acidosis
This medical re
hat theorizes that the phyysiologic effe
ect from a TA
ASER device
e discharge on
o an alreadyy acidotic
th
pe
erson was an
n added acido
osis “straw” that
t
contribute
ed to death from
f
acidosis. This was essentially
e
th
he theory of liiability used in
i the Betty Lou
L Heston, et
e al. v. City of
o Salinas, ett al. (CA) lawssuit. This
ne
ew research reveals the flaws
f
in this ju
ury verdict since applicatio
on of a TASE
ER device forr up to 15
se
econds to an exerted, already acidotic person
p
did no
ot worsen the acidosis thatt was already present.

•

n comparing volitional
v
actio
ons by the ind
dividual, the to
op two worst things that a criminal susp
pect could
In
do
o with regard
d to acidosis are resist an
nd flee – in th
hat order. Th
hese two voliitional actionss produce
prrofound meta
abolic acidosis that can make
m
the susspect very ill (in addition to any otherr volitional
be
ehaviors thatt they may ha
ave undertakken such as abuse
a
of illicit drugs or co
onsuming a significant
s
am
mount of alco
ohol). When compared with
w a TASER
R device application, this re
esearch data indicates
th
hat a continue
ed, prolonged resistive stru
uggle or a foo
ot chase is mo
ore dangerouss.

•

d
with a good probe
e spread mayy represent th
he best optio
on that will alllow quick
The TASER device,
estraint and EMS
E
care.
re

Cardiac:
H
researrch has shown
n that the imm
mediate inducction of ventriicular fibrillatio
on, an arrhytthmia that
• Human
ca
an be fatal wiithout interven
ntion, by the direct
d
electriccal effects of the
t TASER X26
X on the normal adult
he
eart is unlike
ely and that the
t
induction
n of delayed cardiac arresst by this me
echanism is extremely
un
nlikely.
•

Researchers have
R
h
concluded that the a close distan
nce between the ECD dart and the he
eart is the
prrimary factor in determinin
ng whether an
n ECD will affe
ect the heart. This risk is judged
j
to be extremely
lo
ow in field use
e.

Page 1 of 12

•

diac event rellated to a TA
ASER ECD disscharge is de
eemed to be extremely
The risk of an adverse card
ow. Howeverr, it is not po
ossible to predict nor test against the entire
e
spectru
um of potentiial human
lo
ph
hysiologies or conditions such
s
as unpre
edictable com
mbinations of drugs of unkknown concen
ntration or
orrigin in the prresence of un
nderlying card
diac or other disease.
d
Furtthermore, a la
aw enforceme
ent officer
w have no means to diagn
will
nose these factors in any event.
e

•

ac Arrest (SC
CA) is a leadin
ng cause of death
d
in the United
U
States, claiming an estimated
Sudden Cardia
25,000 lives each
e
year. These
T
deathss occur on go
olf courses, in
n airports, durring physical exertions,
32
from startle orr other stimu
uli, or just ab
bout anywherre. Should Sudden
S
Card
diac Arrest occur
o
in a
sccenario involv
ving a TASER
R discharge to
o the chest arrea – it would place the law
w enforcemen
nt agency,
th
he officer, and
d TASER Inte
ernational in the difficult sittuation of tryin
ng to ascertain what role, if any, the
TA
ASER ECD could have played
p
in a unique
u
situatiion that cann
not be replica
ated in huma
an clinical
sa
afety evaluatiions. In orde
er to reduce the
t risk of su
uch an event,, and in light of the fact th
hat frontal
ap
pplications off TASER ECD
Ds have been
n found to be more effectivve when the probes are ta
argeted at
th
he lower tors
so (engaging
g the balanccing muscles of the pelvvic triangle) we
w have low
wered the
re
ecommended point of aim from the centter of mass to
o the lower ce
enter of masss for frontal discharges.
W believe this recommen
We
ndation will im
mprove the effective use of
o TASER EC
CDs while also further
in
ncreasing saffety margins and enhanccing the ability to defend
d such cases in post evvent legal
prroceedings.

Overrview and
d Training
g Implicattions
1. We
W have iss
sued a new
w TASER Targeting
T
G
Guide
that will apply for the new
X
XREP
impa
act munitio
on as well as
a ECDs su
uch as the X26, M26 and X3. Noote, we
ha
ave lowered the
t recommended point off aim from cen
nter of mass to
t lower-cente
er of mass for front
sh
hots. The blu
ue highlighted
d area in the adjacent
a
targe
et man repressents the prefferred target area.
a
There are three reasons:
a. Simpliffy targeting fo
or all TASER systems to one easy to re
emember map
p, avoiding ch
hest shots
when possible
p
and the risk of a head/eye
h
sho
ot in a
Preferred Target Areas in Blue
dynam
mic situation, as
a is standard
d for impact munitions
m
b. When possible, avo
oiding chest shots
s
with ECDs avoids
the controversy abo
out whether ECDs
E
do or do
o not affect
the human heart.
c. Close--spread ECD discharges to
o the front of the body are
more effective
e
when
n at least one
e probe is in th
he major
muscle
es of the pelvvic triangle or thigh region.
B
Back
shots re
emain the pre
eferred area when practical.

2. W
When dea
aling with
h exhaustted indiv
viduals
p
persons
exhibiting
e
symptom
ms of dis
stress
agitated/exc
cited deliriium:

orr
orr

a. Once
e officers engage
e
in capture prrocedures,,

it is important to
t minimizze the dura
ation of the
e
gle. New ressearch showss that physicaal struggle, sim
mulated by punching a
physical strugg
heavy bag at full in
ntensity, can cause acido
osis that can reach dange
erous levels in only 45
second
ds of intense
e exertion, sttarting from a resting statte. Accordin
ngly, officers engaging
subjec
cts in a physiccal struggle or in an exhau
ustive state sh
hould develop
p a plan to ca
apture and

Page 2 of 12

restrain the subjectt as expeditio
ously as possible to minimize the duratiion of struggle and the
advers
se physiologiccal effects. The
T physiologic effects of a TASER ECD
D discharge of
o up to 15
second
ds was signifficantly less than
t
that of either
e
fleeing (simulated with
w a sprint) or
o fighting
(simula
ated with the
e heavy bag).. This resea
arch shows th
hat the TASE
ER ECD, as part
p
of an
overall capture plan
n, is a viable option
o
to help
p minimize the
e duration of the
t struggle.
b. When
n

encoun
ntering su
ubjects ex
xhibiting symptoms
s
s of exha
austion,
distre
ess or agitated/excitted deliriu
um, refer to
o your age
ency’s guiidelines
for proper
p
resp
ponse. Thhese subjectss are at signnificant risk of
o arrest-relate
ed death.
Immed
diate medical attention may reduce this risk.

3. The
T primary
y risk of se
erious inju
ury or death
h during ECD deploy
yment is ris
sk

re
elated to fa
alls. Users
s should be reminded to avoid deploying
g ECDs on
p
persons
on
n elevated platforms
p
o other pllaces wherre a fall can be more
or
in
njurious.
This bulletin shou
uld be distrributed to all ECD-ce
ertified officers.

Page 3 of 12

Medical Re
esearch Update Details
Recent human
R
n medical research continu
ues to affirm the general safety
s
of TAS
SER® electron
nic control
1
devices (E
ECDs or devices). In 2008
8 alone, over 30 new medical studies were
w
published in paper, ab
bstract, or
poster forrm on TASER
R technology. Some of the
ese studies presented
p
gro
ound breaking
g research in the areas
of human physiologica
al changes an
nd cardiac sa
afety. In addition, several new ECD fie
eld-use epidem
miological
studies were
w
published.2 Dr. James Jauchem published a new article on deaths in
n custody3 foccusing on
excited de
elirium and ECDs.4 Two new
n
books we
ere published
d, one solely dedicated to ECDs5 and one
o with a
6
significantt chapter on ECDs.
E
Some of these stu
udies provide
ed substantial evidence confirming gene
erally held
beliefs re
egarding the effects of law
w enforceme
ent force and
d restraint in the areas of human phyysiological
changes and
a cardiac safety.
s
Physiolog
gic Changes
s7
La
aw enforcem
ment personne
el are freque
ently called upon
u
to deal with individu
uals in crisiss who are
physiologically compro
omised8 and are
a at a heigh
htened risk of serious injuryy or death. The
T restraint and
a arrest
process can
c
introduce
e additional physiologic changes
c
thatt may worsen a person’ss baseline ph
hysiology.
These changes may include signifficant acidosis, cardiac arrrest, or othe
er medical co
onditions9. Recent
R
US
Bureau off Justice Stattistics showed
d 2,002 US arrest-related
a
deaths for th
he period 200
03-2005; 55%
% of which
were hom
micides, 13% involved drugs or alcohol, and 0.1% invvolved use of a baton or TA
ASER device..
A.
A
Acidosis
A
Acidosis
refers
s to a condiition of decre
easing pH (u
usually meassured in bloo
od plasma). Although
numerouss conditions can
c cause aciidosis, law en
nforcement pe
ersonnel com
mmonly confro
ont individualss who are
susceptible to developing acidosis because
b
of th
he individual’ss behaviors th
hat may includ
de: illicit or prrescription
drug use, intoxication, agitation, de
elirium, physiccal exertion, fighting, resissting arrest and
a restraint, or fleeing
from office
ers. Many of these behaviors occur in combination
c
a may be additive.
and
a
A
Acidosis
is a condition
c
that occurs acrosss a spectrum
m. While both
h a pH of 7.35 and 6.20 in
ndicate an
acidotic state; these 2 pH levels are
e clinically ve
ery different. The lower va
alue of 6.20 iss likely to be lethal and
the upperr value of 7.35 would likelyy not even be
e physically noticeable
n
to an individual. An individu
ual can be
acidotic (b
by definition) but NOT be in any danger physiologically. For insstance, brisklly walking up
p flights of
stairs wou
uld make mos
st people acid
dotic, but would not put one
e in any mediical danger.
R
Recent
human
n medical ressearch investtigated the physiologic he
ealth risks asssociated with
h physical
exertion similar
s
to resis
sting arrest orr fleeing from police officerrs, as well as, those risks associated
a
with certain
control tools tested for th
law enforcement contrrol tools. The three law enforcement
e
heir effects on
n causing
acidosis were
w
law enfo
orcement can
nine for captu
ure and restra
aint, oleoresin
n capsicum (O
OC) spray exxposure to
the face and
a neck, and
d TASER ECD
D exposure fo
or 10 and 15 seconds
s
to th
he torso. The researchers measured
m
acidosis changes
c
asso
ociated with th
he above physsical exertion
n and police to
ools and found the followin
ng:
Muscle contractions from TASER
T
devicce exposures for up to 10 and 15 seco
onds in reste
ed human
• M
su
ubjects resultted in minima
al increases in acidosis that did not ap
pproach a dan
ngerous level and was
cllinically not no
oticed by the test subjects.
• Physical activity similar to fighting
f
and resisting
r
or fle
eeing from la
aw enforceme
ent produced the worst
an
nd most clinic
cally significant acidosis. This
T
volitiona
al activity was clearly the most
m
potentially harmful
from a physiolo
ogic standpoint and the tesst subjects cliinically felt ill following this activity.
C
takedo
own and restrraint had the highest incre
ease of acido
osis levels of the law enfo
orcement
• Canine
to
ools tested.
• OC
O spray had the least inccrease in acid
dosis levels of
o the law en
nforcement tools tested. This was
exxpected sinc
ce TASER device
d
application stimula
ates muscless and OC spray does not.
n
The
re
esearchers op
pined that sin
nce OC sprayy does not ussually incapaccitate a focused person orr a person
in
ntoxicated on
n drugs or alcohol,
a
the fight
f
or flight is likely to continue
e and may result in

Page 4 of 12

worsening ac
w
cidosis. It is likely that OC
C spray, while not directlyy causing accidosis, could indirectly
m
make
it worse..

g is a pH gra
aph that depicts these res
sults. The le
east amount of decrease in pH is the safest.
Following
pH

Page 5 of 12

• R
Recent human
n medical research also investigated the physiolo
ogic health rissks associate
ed with a
TA
ASER discha
arge on an already
a
acido
otic person. This
T
researc
ch showed that
t
application of a
TA
ASER device
e for up to 15 seconds to an exerted
d, already ac
cidotic perso
on did not wo
orsen the
ac
cidosis that was already present. The
e following grraph depicts these
t
test results:
pH

esearch disprroves the “strraw that broke
e the camel’ss back theory”” of worsening
g acidosis
• This medical re
hat theorizes that the phyysiologic effecct from a TA
ASER device discharge was
w
an added
d acidosis
th
“sstraw” that co
ontributed to death
d
from accidosis. This was essentia
ally the theoryy of liability ussed in the
B
Betty
Lou Hes
ston, et al. v. City of Salina
as, et al. (CA
A) lawsuit whicch resulted in
n a jury finding that the
TA
ASER devic
ce contribute
ed 15% to Heston’s de
eath while his
h
own acttions, which included
m
methamphetam
mine intoxicattion, prolonge
ed physical exertion
e
and resisting
r
arre
est; contribute
ed 85% to
hiis death. Th
his new resea
arch reveals the flaws in this jury verrdict since ap
pplication of a TASER
de
evice for up to
t 15 second
ds to an exertted, already acidotic
a
perso
on did not wo
orsen the acid
dosis that
w already prresent.
was
n comparing volitional
v
actio
ons by the ind
dividual, the to
op two worst things that a criminal susp
pect could
In
do with re
egard to acido
osis are resisst and flee – in that order. These two volitional actions produce profound
metabolicc acidosis tha
at can make the
t suspect very
v
ill (in add
dition to any other volition
nal behaviors that they
may have
e undertaken such as abu
use of illicit drugs
d
or conssuming a significant amou
unt of alcoho
ol). When
compared
d with a TASE
ER device application, thiss research datta indicates th
hat a continue
ed, prolonged
d resistive
struggle or
o a foot chase is more dan
ngerous. It appears that itt is these physical actions of resisting and fleeing
that will most
m
worsen acidosis.
a
Wh
hile the scienttific studies were
w
able to demonstrate
d
t
this
profound
d effect on
acidosis with
w only 45 seconds of exe
ertion, many arrest-related
d struggles lasst much longe
er.

Page 6 of 12

Based on the research data referenced
d above, by the
t
time the officers arrivve, many susspects are
already significantly acidotic from their own vo
olitional action
ns – likely with
w
lower pH levels resultting in an
increased
d chance of in
njury, worsening condition,, or possibly death, indepe
endent of anyy other action
n taken by
the police
e officers. Potential
P
dang
ger exists in allowing the
e suspect to continue with
h agitated orr resistive
behavior. Prolonging restraint
r
by alllowing a fightt or a fleeing situation mayy only serve to
o worsen the suspect’s
condition. The TASER
R device, with
h a good probe spread ma
ay represent a tool that will
w allow quickk restraint
and EMS care.
H
Human
medica
al tests have, for the mosst part, been limited to 15--second ECD
D applicationss. Recent
animal research tested
d the physiolo
ogical effectss of ECD exposures up to 30 minutes on anesthetizzed swine
and conclluded that “Th
he dose doess not seem to
o be cumulatiive. We did not
n observe an
a accumulattion of the
TASER® [ECD] effectt to a ‘toxic’ level. There was no incre
eased mortality with longe
er durations of
o TASER
[ECD] exp
posure”.10
Please see “Atttachment A” for a summarry of related human
h
mediccal research.
B
B.

Cardia
ac

The conclusion
ns of recentlyy published human medica
al cardiac stud
dies are summ
marized as fo
ollows:
•

n summary, th
his review of the
t scientific literature sug
ggests that the
e immediate induction of ventricular
v
In
fib
brillation by th
he direct elecctrical effects of the TASE
ER X26 on the
e normal adu
ult heart is un
nlikely and
th
hat the indu
uction of de
elayed cardiac arrest by
b this mechanism is extremely unlikely.11

•

Although hearrt rate increa
A
ased in some cases, the
ere were no cardiac dyssrhythmias, or
o interval
m
morphology
ch
hanges in hum
man subjectss who receive
ed a TASER discharge
d
bassed on a 12-lead ECG
pe
erformed imm
mediately beffore and within 1 minute after
a
a TASER device acttivation.12 Th
he cardiac
13
ch
hanges were also evaluate
ed in acidotic,, exhausted humans
h
and the same conclusion was reached.
r

•

D application in a physiccally exhaustted adult hum
man did not cause a
Prolonged 15--second ECD
etectable ch
hange in the
eir 12-lead ECGs. Theo
ories of CEW
W-induced dysrhythmias
d
are not
de
su
upported.14

•

A 10-second ECD exposu
ure in an ideal cardiac axxis applicatio
on did not de
emonstrate co
oncerning
ta
achyarrhythmias using hum
man models. The swine model
m
may have limitationss when evalua
ating ECD
te
echnology.15

•

n a resting ad
dult population
n, the ECD did
d not affect the recordable cardiac ele
ectrical activitty within a
In
24
4-hour period
d following a standard 5-ssecond application. The authors
a
were
e unable to detect
d
any
in
nduced electrrical dysrhythmias or signiificant direct cardiac cellular damage that
t
may be related to
su
udden and unexpected de
eath proxima
al to ECD exp
posure. Addittionally, no evidence
e
of dangerous
d
hyyperkalemia or
o induced accidosis was fo
ound. The au
uthors recomm
mended furth
her study in th
he area of
th
he in-custody death phenomenon to bettter understan
nd its causes..16

•

Human voluntteers exposed to a single
H
e shock from
m a ECD did
d not develop
p an abnorm
mal serum
troponin I lev
vel 6 hours after exposu
ure, suggestin
ng that there
e was no myocardial
m
ne
ecrosis or
in
nfarction.17

•

CEW [Conduc
C
cted Energy Weapon
W
or ECD]
E
exposure produced no detectablle dysrhythmias and a
sttatistically significant increa
ase in heart rate.
r
Overall, TASER CEW
W exposure appears
a
to be
e safe and
w tolerated from
well
f
a cardiovascular stan
ndpoint in thiss population. This
T
study inccreases the cumulative
c

Page 7 of 12

hu
uman subjectt experience of
o CEW expo
osure with con
ntinuous ECG
G monitoring and
a includes 28
2 full 5-s
exxposures18.
•

Relatively larg
R
ge variations about the X2
26 operating level were found
f
not to result in fibrrillation or
assystole19.

•

CEW exposure
C
e produced no
n detectable dysrhthmiass and a statistically significcant incresase in heart
ra
ate. Overall, TASER CEW
W exposure appears
a
to be
e safe and well tolerated from
f
a cardiovascular
sttandpoint in th
his population
n. This studyy increases th
he cumulative human subje
ect experiencce of CEW
exxposure with continuous ECG
E
monitorin
ng and includes 28 full 5-s exposures20.

Conclusion regarding
g the potenttial for cardiac effects: Researche
ers have been
n able to dem
monstrate
changes in heart rate and rhythm consistent wiith cardiac pa
acing and, in some casess, ventricular fibrillation
(VF) in sm
mall swine, an
n arrhythmia that can be fatal
f
without in
ntervention, and
a have concluded that th
he a close
distance between
b
the ECD dart and
d the heart iss the primary factor in dete
ermining whetther an ECD will affect
the heart.. The thresho
old for VF ha
as been estim
mated to be 12.6
1
times that for cardiacc pacing21. This risk is
judged to be extremelly low in field
d use. In order to increasse the safety margin and since field experience
shows tha
at ECD discha
arges are effe
ective when deployed
d
to th
he large musccles of the back, abdomen, legs and
pelvic tria
angle, users should
s
aim fo
or the back or (when pracctical) toward the mid lowe
er abdomen and
a avoid
intentiona
ally targeting the
t chest are
ea with probe
e applications to increase effectiveness
e
s and avoid th
he remote
potential risk
r of cardiac
c effect.

Revised Warnings
W
A
Attached
are th
he new Produ
uct Warnings which have been
b
updated
d based on th
his new huma
an medical
research. Go to www
w.TASER.com
m for the complete Producct Warnings document
d
and
d glossary of terms for
Law Enforcement.
A questions regarding thiis Training Bu
Any
ulletin should be directed to
t the TASER
R Internationa
al Training
Departme
ent at (800) 97
78-2737 or byy email to Tra
aining@TASE
ER.com.

Page 8 of 12

AT
TTACHMENT
TA
Acidosis
A
is worrse from conttinued exertio
on when comp
pared to a TA
ASER device application.
a
T
This
does
• Acidosis
no
ot support an association between
b
TAS
SER device ap
pplications an
nd sudden death due to wo
orsening
accidosis. It doe
es support a worsening
w
acidosis from co
ontinued exerrtion independent of TASE
ER device
ap
pplication.22
•

echnology that will be used to control da
angerous, agittated or
The TASER XREP™ projecctile is new te
otentially viole
ent persons in
n the community. It will allo
ow greater law
w enforcement and suspecct safety
po
be
ecause of its ability to help
p control indivviduals from a greater dista
ance. The initial investigation into
th
he physiologic
c effect that th
his device will have on hum
mans with reg
gard to serum
m biomarkers was
w done
w the unfinis
with
shed product while under development.
d
Prolonged ECD
E
applicatio
on with this in
nitial
de
esign caused
d small but sta
atistically insig
gnificant chan
nges in measured serum biomarkers.
b
These
sm
mall changes would likely result in limite
ed clinical significance. It appears
a
that the
t tested
de
evelopmentall XREP ECD represents an adequate risk/benefit rattio if used for its intended
pu
urpose.23 Furrther testing of
o the final XR
REP product iss now underw
way.

•

o clinically sign
nificant or lassting statistica
ally significantt changes in cardiovascula
c
ar,
There were no
ctate or pH levvels in human
n subjects afte
er a 5 second
d TASER activvation.24
ellectrolyte, lac

•

Markers of acid
M
dosis and carrdiac injury we
ere similar am
mong acidoticc subjects who
o underwent
bo
oth sham and
d real prolong
ged CEW exposure. Prolon
nged CEW exxposure in hum
mans does no
ot appear
to
o have an effe
ect with regarrd to worsenin
ng acidosis that is already present.25

•

o worrisome changes
c
in me
easured serum
m biomarkerss. There was a significant decrease
d
There were no
n serum lactatte after expossure. This datta does not su
upport a caussal relationship between EC
CD drivein
sttun applicatio
ons and worse
ening physiolo
ogy.26

•

n this resting adult
a
populatiion, the TASE
ER X26 device did not affe
ect the recorda
able cardiac electrical
e
In
acctivity within a 24-hour perriod following a standard fivve-second (s) application. The authorss were
un
nable to detect any induce
ed electrical dysrhythmias or
o significant direct cardiacc cellular dam
mage that
m be related
may
d to sudden and
a unexpecte
ed death proxximal to CEW
W exposure. Additionally,
A
no
evvidence of da
angerous hype
erkalemia or induced acido
osis was foun
nd. Further sttudy in the area of the
in
n-custody dea
ath phenomen
non to better understand
u
itss causes is re
ecommended
d.27

•

Cardio-respiratory and bloo
C
od parameterss were followe
ed before and
d for 60 min after
a
a 5 s TAS
SER
exxposure on 21 men and women law enfforcement offficer volunteers.28

•

…the repeated
…
d use of electrro-muscular incapacitating
g devices in a short period of time is, at least,
fe
easible, with the caveat tha
at some medical monitoring
g of subjects may be required (to obserrve
fa
actors such as
s lactate and acidosis).29

•

d TASER devvice exposure
es had only tra
ansient effectts on blood fa
actors, which all
Three repeated
eturned to pre
e-exposure levels, with the
e exception off hematocrit (w
which remained elevated after
a
3 h).
re
Since the incre
ease in this fa
actor was lesss than that wh
hich may occu
ur after short periods of exxercise, it
iss unlikely that this would be
e an indicatorr of any seriou
us harm.30

•

ntoxicated adu
ults with prolo
onged CEW exposure
e
dem
monstrate sma
all transient in
ncreases in measures
m
In
off acidosis and
d no change in markers of cardiac injuryy. The increassed acidosis was
w not cliniccally
siignificant and self correcte
ed.31

Page 9 of 12

Stress
•

Alpha-amylase
A
e had the grea
atest increase
e from baselin
ne at 10–15 min
m with the defensive
d
tacttics drill.
C
Cortisol
had th
he greatest inccrease at 15–
–20 min with O.C.
O
spray. Cortisol
C
remained most ele
evated at
40
0–60 min in th
he defensive tactics drill group. Our pre
eliminary data
a suggests tha
at physical exxertion
du
uring custodia
al arrest may be most activvating of the human
h
stresss response, particularly the
e
syympathetic-ad
drenal-medulla axis. This may
m suggest that techniqu
ues to limit the
e duration of this
t
exxertion may be
b the safest means
m
to app
prehend subje
ects, particula
arly those at high-risk
h
for in
n-custody
de
eath. Conduc
cted electrical weapons we
ere not more activating
a
of the
t human strress response
e than
32
otther uses of force.
f
Pleasse see the following graph:

•

A 5-second ex
xposure of a TASER
T
X26 [d
device] to hea
althy law enfo
orcement perssonnel does not
n result
in
n clinically significant chang
ges of physio
ologic stress.33

M26, X3, X26, and © are
a trademarkss of TASER Intternational, Inc., and TASER®
® is a registere
ed trademark off TASER
International, Inc., registe
ered in the U.S. All rights rese
erved. © 2009 TASER
T
Interna
ational, Inc.
1

For a com
mplete listing see
s the most current
c
Electron
nic Control Device Research
h Index posted on TASER Intternational,
Inc’s (TASE
ER) website att www.TASER.com.
2

Bozeman
n WP, Hauda WE, 2nd, He
eck JJ, Graha
am DD, Jr., Martin
M
BP, Win
nslow JE. Safe
ety and Injuryy Profile of
Conducted
d Electrical We
eapons Used by
b Law Enforce
ement Officers Against Crimin
nal Suspects. Ann Emerg Med. Jan 21
2009.
3

For more
e information on
o excited delirrium and custo
ody related dea
ath issues see
e the Custody Related Death
h Research
Index poste
ed on TASER's
s website at ww
ww.TASER.com
m, and www.incustodydeath.ccom.
4

Jauchem, PhD, James R., Deaths in custody:
c
Are so
ome due to ele
ectronic control devices (including TASER® devices)
d
or
nd Legal Mediccine, doi:10.101
16/j.jflm.2008.0
05.011.
excited dellirium? Journal of Forensic an

Page 10
1 of 12

5

Mark W. Kroll (Editor),, Jeffrey D. Ho
o (Editor).TAS
SER® Electronicc Control Devices: Physiolog
gy, Pathology,, and Law.
Springer.

6

Edited byy Raymond M. Fish and Leslie A. Geddess, Lawyers & Judges Publisshing Companyy, Inc. Electriccal Injuries:
Medical an
nd Bioengineering Aspects, Second Edition, Chapter 42: TASER Electron
nic Control Devvices.
7

“Physiolo
ogic changes” include, but arre not limited to,
t changes in
n: heart rate; heart
h
rhythm; stress
s
hormone
es or other
biochemica
al neuromodullators (e.g., catecholamines
c
s); respiration; adrenergic states;
s
tissue temperature; myoglobin;
potassium;; creatine kinas
se; lactic acid, or
o pH.
8

“Physiolo
ogically compro
omised” include
e those person
ns whose lives in rare circumsstances may be
b at risk of arrrest-related
death due to excited or agitated
a
delirium, acidosis, ca
ardiac arrest, serotonin
s
syndrome, neurolep
ptic malignant syndrome,
sudden unexpected deatth in epilepsy, catecholamine
e release or bu
uildup, comprom
mised cardiac or pulmonary conditions,
sickle cell compromise,
c
and
a drug or alco
ohol use or with
hdrawal.
9

Such as hyperkalemia,
h
rhabdomyolysiis, apnea, incre
eased adrenerg
gic states, or hyypercarbia.

Hughes E, Kennett M,, Murray W, Werner
W
J, Jenkins D. Electro‐Muscular
M
Disru
uption (EMD) bioeffects:
b
A study of the
Effects of Continuous
C
Ap
pplication of the
e TASER X26 Waveform on Swine: Penn State
S
Universitty Institute for Non‐Lethal
Defense Te
echnologies; Nov
N 30 2007.
10

11

Raymond Ideker, MD, PhD and Dere
ek J. Dosdall, PhD;
P
Can the Direct
D
Cardiac Effects
E
of the Electric
E
Pulses Generated
SER X26 Cause Immediate or Delayed Sudden Cardiacc Arrest in Normal Adults? The
T
American Journal of
by the TAS
Forensic Medicine
M
and Pa
athology, Vol 28,
2 No. 3, September 2007.
12

Vilke GM
M, Sloane C, Levine
L
S, Neum
man T, Castillo E, Chan TC. Twelve-lead
T
ellectrocardiogra
am monitoring of subjects
before and
d after voluntary
y exposure to the
t TASER X26
6. Am J Emerg
g Med. Jan 200
08;26(1):1-4.
13

Ho JD, Dawes
D
DM, He
eegaard WG, Calkins
C
HG, Moscati
M
RM and
d JR Miner. Ab
bsence of Elecctrocardiograph
hic Change
Following Prolonged Application of a Conducted Ellectrical Weap
pon on Physica
ally Exhausted
d Adults. J Em
merg Med,
2009;In Pre
ess.
14

Ho J, Da
awes D, Calkin
ns H, Johnson M. Absence off Electrocardio
ographic Chang
ge Following Prolonged Appliication of a
Conducted
d Electrical Wea
apon in Physiccally Exhausted
d Adults. Acad Emerg Med 20
007;14(5):128-1
129.
15

Ho JD, Dawes
D
DM, Re
eardon RF, et al.
a Echocardiographic Evalua
ation of a TASE
ER-X26 Appliccation in the Ide
eal Human
Cardiac Axxis. Acad Emerrg Med. Aug 10
0 2008.
16

Ho JD, Miner JR, Lak
kireddy DR, Bultman LL, He
eegaard WG. Cardiovascular
C
r and physiolo
ogic effects of conducted
electrical weapon
w
discharrge in resting adults.
a
Acad Em
merg Med. Jun 2006;13(6):58
89-595.
17

Sloane CM, Chan TC
C, Levine SD, Dunford JV, Neuman T, Viilke GM. Serum troponin measurement
m
o subjects
of
exposed to
o the TASER X-26.
X
J Emerg Med.
M
Jul 2008;3
35(1):29-32.
18

Bozeman study Immed
diate cardiovasscular effects of
o the TASER X26
X conducted electrical wea
apon, W P Boze
eman, D G
Barnes, Jrr, J E Winslow
w, III, J C Johnson, III, C H Phillips, and R Alson, Eme
erg. Med. J. 2009;
2
26(8): p.
p 567-570;
http://emj.b
bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/26/8/567?ct=ctt.
19
Beason CW, Jauchem JR, Clark CD, 3rd, Parker JE
E, Fines DA. Pulse variations of a conducted
d energy weap
pon (similar
SER X26 devic
ce): effects on muscle contra
action and thre
eshold for ven
ntricular fibrillattion. J Forensiic Sci. Sep
to the TAS
2009;54(5)):1113-1118.
20
Bozeman WP, Barnes DG Jr, Winslow JE III, Johnsson JC III, Philllips CH, Alson R. “Immediate
e cardiovascula
ar effects of
the TASER
R X26 conducte
ed electrical we
eapon,” Emerg. Med. J. 2009, 26; 567-570.

Page 11
1 of 12

21

Raymond Ideker, MD, PhD and Dere
ek J. Dosdall, PhD;
P
Can the Direct
D
Cardiac Effects
E
of the Electric
E
Pulses Generated
SER X26 Cause Immediate or Delayed Sudden Cardiacc Arrest in Normal Adults? The
T
American Journal of
by the TAS
Forensic Medicine
M
and Pa
athology, Vol 28,
2 No. 3, September 2007.
22

Ho, J.D., et al., Can Prolonged TAS
SER X26 Exposure or Conttinued Exertion
n Contribute to
o Sudden Card
diac Death
Through Worsening
W
Acidosis? 2009, Ca
ardioRythm, Ho
ong Kong: Dep
pt. of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin
H
Coun
nty Medical
Center, Minneapolis,
M
MN
M
Dept. of
o Emergencyy Medicine, Lompoc Vallley Medical Center, Lom
mpoc, CA.
23

Serum Biomarker
B
Effects of Prolonge
ed TASER XREP Device Exp
posure, Jeffreyy D. Ho, MD, Donald
D
M. Daw
wes, James
R. Miner, MD,, NAME (National
(
Asso
ociation of Medical Examine
ers) 2008 Annual Conferencce (Louisville, Kentucky);
S
of Eme
ergency Mediciine Scientific Assembly,
A
Muniich Germany Sept
S
2008.
European Society
24

Vilke G,, Sloane C, Bo
outon K, et al. Cardiovascula
ar and Metabo
olic Effects of the TASER on
n Human Subjects. Acad
Emerg Med
d 2007;14(5):104-105.
25

Ho J, Da
awes D, Bultma
an L, et al. Phyysiologic Effectts of Prolonged
d Conducted Electrical
E
Weapon Discharge on
o Acidotic
Adults. Aca
ad Emerg Med
d 2007;14(5):63
3.
26

Ho JD, Dawes DM, La
apine AL, et al. PROLONGE
ED TASER® “D
DRIVE-STUN” EXPOSURE IN HUMANS DOES
D
NOT
CAUSE WORRISOME
BIOMARKER CHANGES Hennepin
W
H
County Medical Center:
C
Nation
nal Association
n of EMS
Physicianss; 2008.
27

Ho JD, Miner JR, Lak
kireddy DR, Bu
ultman LL, Heegaard WG. Cardiovascular and physiolo
ogic effects of conducted
electrical weapon
w
discharrge in resting adults.
a
Acad Em
merg Med. Jun 2006;13(6):58
89-595.
28

Bouton K,
K Vilke G, Cha
an T, et al. Phyysiological Effe
ects of a Five Second
S
TASER
R Exposure. Sa
an Diego State
e University
San Diego Heart Institute
e: Society for Academic Emerrgency Medicine; 2007.
29

Jauchem
m JR, Sherry CJ,
C Fines DA, Cook
C
MC. Acid
dosis, lactate, electrolytes,
e
muscle enzymess, and other facctors in the
blood of Su
us scrofa follow
wing repeated TASER
T
exposu
ures. Forensicc Sci Int. Aug 10 2006;161(1):20-30.
30

Jauchem
m JR, Cook MC
C, Beason CW.. Blood factorss of Sus scrofa following a series of three TA
ASER® electro
onic control
device exp
posures. Foren
nsic Sci Int. Jul 12 2007.
31

Moscati R, Ho J, Da
awes D, et al. Physiologic Effects
E
of Prolonged Condu
ucted Electrical Weapon Disscharge on
Intoxicated
d Adults. Acad Emerg
E
Med 20
007;14(5):63-64
4.
32

Dawes D, Ho J, Mine
er J. The neurroendocrine efffects of the TASER
T
X26: a brief report. Forensic
F
Sci Int.
I
Jan 10
2009;183(1
1-3):14-19.
33

Vilke GM
M, Sloane CM, Bouton KD, et
e al. Physiolog
gical Effects of a Conducted Electrical
E
Weapon on Human
n Subjects.
Ann Emerg
g Med. Aug 23 2007.

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