Summary Conclusion – Do TASER ECDs Affect Breathing?
Available human data from studies does not reveal any evidence of breathing impairment or respiratory acidosis from exposure to TASER ECDs.
Learn More - How this Conclusion was Reached:
What is breathing?
Inhalation and exhalation of air or gaseous mixtures. Inhalation involves the contraction of the diaphragm, scalene, intercostal, and accessory respiratory muscles. Exhalation is achieved through passive recoil of the thorax by relaxation of these muscles. The primary function of breathing is the extraction of oxygen from the environment and the removal of carbon dioxide from the body.
What is respiratory acidosis?
A decrease in blood pH (measure of acidity or alkalinity) caused by retention of carbon dioxide due to inadequate pulmonary ventilation (breathing).
How does respiratory acidosis relate to a TASER Electronic Control Device (ECD) exposure?
Because a TASER ECD exposure causes muscle contraction, there has been speculation that use on humans could impair breathing.
What is an evidence-based conclusion as to whether a TASER ECD impairs breathing?
The available human data directly contradicts animal studies and does not reveal any evidence of breathing impairment or respiratory acidosis.
Further Evidence - Raw Breathing Studies with Links:
The respiratory, metabolic, and neuroendocrine effects of a new generation electronic control device.
Fifty-three subjects completed the study. There were no important changes in vital signs or electrolytes. Venous pH, lactate, and catecholamine changes were similar to previous studies on earlier generation devices. There was no evidence of impairment of breathing. CK changes were greater for multiple "circuits".
The cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic effects of a long duration electronic control device exposure in human volunteers.
Electronic control devices (ECD) have become popular in law enforcement because they have filled a gap left by other law enforcement devices, tactics, or tools and have been shown to reduce officer and suspect injuries. Civilians are using the same technology for defensive purposes. TASER C2™ is the latest generation civilian-marketed device from the manufacturer.
Respiratory effect of prolonged electrical weapon application on human volunteers.
Fifty-two subjects were analyzed. Thirty-four underwent a 15-second continuous exposure, and 18 underwent three 5-second burst exposures. In the continuous application group, the baseline mean tidal volume of 1.1 L increased to 1.8 L during application, the baseline end-tidal CO2 level went from 40.5 mm Hg to 37.3 mm Hg after exposure, the baseline end-tidal oxygen level went from 118.7 mm Hg to 121.3 mm Hg after exposure, and the baseline respiratory rate went from 15.9 breaths/min to 16.4 breaths/min after exposure.
Confirmation of respiration during trapezial conducted electrical weapon application.
While reproducing a CEW drive stun application to the trapezius muscle, the diaphragm was directly observed using ultrasonography. The right hemidiaphragm was visualized in an intracostal oblique view, using the liver as a sonographic window. We have demonstrated the presence of respiration through visualizing diaphragmatic excursion during a 10-second exposure to a TASER X26™ CEW (TASER International, Scottsdale, AZ).
Physiological effects of a conducted electrical weapon on human subjects.
At 1 minute postexposure, minute ventilation increased from a mean of 16 to 29 L/minute, tidal volume increased from 0.9 to 1.4 L, and RR increased from 19 to 23 breaths/min, all returning to baseline at 10 min. Pulse rate of 102 beats/min and systolic blood pressure of 139 mm Hg were higher before Taser exposure than at anytime afterward.
