Taser M26 Demonstration Procedure and Indemnification Clause
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ADVANCED TASER M26 DEMONSTRATION PROCEDURE & INDEMNIFICATION CLAUSE Demonstrating the ADVANCED TASER on a volunteer is an elective procedure (i.e. the volunteer is choosing to do it) rather than a necessity (as in a field application where the ADVANCED TASER is being used in lieu of potentially more dangerous alternatives). Therefore, extra care should be taken in elective scenarios to minimize any risk of injury. Accordingly, the following procedure is recommended: 1. The critical element for demonstration is the effect of the electricity (you can demonstrate the ballistics of the probes by firing at a target). There is no need to fire the probes into the volunteer. The preferred method for demonstrating is to manually fix the probes to the volunteer without firing the probes into him: • • • • • • • First, fire the probes into a conductive target. It is highly important that you use a conductive target as provided by TASER Int’l. If you do not have a conductive target, the energy from the TASER has no outlet and may burn through the wires. If the electricity burns through the wires, you will see an arc between the wires. Once this happens, the wires will short out and will not conduct the pulse to the target. The way to avoid this is to ensure you fire at a conductive target. (This is not a problem in field deployments because the body of the human target provides a conductive target). Place the probes on the Volunteer. This can be best accomplished using tape. It is recommended that you first remove the fishhook spears from the probes so that if the volunteer falls on the probe it doesn’t stick him. Best demonstration probe locations: • • • Right Shoulder to Right hip or thigh Hip (under belt) to Foot Elbow to Hip (under belt) Shoulder to wrist • Do not run the current directly through the heart. I.e. don’t place the probes in a position where the current will pass directly through the heart (such as on the center of the chest and in the center of the back). All the medical studies show that the M26 will not cause dangerous heart interference – but remember this is an elective demonstration of a less-lethal weapon, so be conservative. Do not connect the unit anywhere near a cardiac pacemaker. Again, it’s an obvious precaution for a demonstration. If a volunteer with a pacemaker wants to be hit, we suggest you avoid hitting the main torso. Use a hip to ankle placement. Move furniture and place the volunteer away from sharp edges. He’s going to fall down, so make it safe. Use floor mats and spotters to prevent the volunteer from falling hard and hurting himself. • Make sure the probes are close to the flesh by taping them on tight areas of clothing. The energy from the ADVANCED TASER can arc through up to 2” of clothing. Remember that when the probes are fired, they will compress clothing and hold it compressed with the barbs. If you simply tape the probes on loose clothing, it may pull away from the body of the volunteer and lose the connection. This is a poor simulation and may cause a failed demonstration. If the clothing is completely loose, use tape to compress it so that it remains close to the flesh. Again, the probes will do this naturally on impact. In many cases, we’ve fired upon people wearing skijackets and the probes compress the jacket enough to stick into the skin. Do not tape the probes directly on the flesh. For a variety of technical reasons, you should not tape the probes on the flesh. If you do, it will cause stronger burn marks on the skin (because the energy tries to pass through the entire surface between the probe and the skin). When the energy arcs, it passes through one small point instead of the whole surface area. Also, when the dart penetrates the skin it passes through the small needle. Hence, taping the probe right on the surface of the skin is not a good simulation of reality – and it will cause more discomfort to the volunteer. Avoid any unnecessary risks: • • • 2. If the volunteer insists on being shot with the probes: • Optimal safety is to shoot the subject in the back. There are fewer sensitive areas on the back (eyes, throat, groin, etc.) • If the subject insists on being shot from the front, make sure to use a laser on the center of the chest. Have the subject wear eye and groin protection. Fire from 7 – 12 feet. U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc Forewarning for ADVANCED TASER Testing Being TASERed is a traumatic event for the human body. The ADVANCED TASER needs to be treated as a serious item for use only in self-defense. Listed below are several of the types of injury that may occur -although the list is not inclusive as effects may very between individuals. • Puncture wounds: The two probes hit with a velocity of approximately 150 ft/sec. and are capable of puncturing up to 1/2” with the spear into the flesh. A hit to the eye obviously causes injury. Primary danger zones for serious injury: Eyes, Throat (larynx is particularly vulnerable), face (teeth could get chipped), and genitals. • Skin Irritation: The ADVANCED TASER can cause skin irritation similar to sunburn. Generally, these irritations disappear within two to three days. Primary danger zones: eyes and genitals. • Injuries Related to Falling: The ADVANCED TASER can cause what amounts to temporary loss of motor control. In the course of falling to the ground, a person could sustain any of a wide variety of injuries from head concussion to broken bones to dislocated joints, etc. • Intense Physical Stress: The ADVANCED TASER puts the human body through a very high stress experience. Involuntary muscle contractions are to be expected, as is an involuntary release of adrenaline in response to the TASER effect. If you have any health conditions that could be adversely affected by vigorous physical activity, elevated blood pressure and stress, you should not subject yourself to the output of the ADVANCED TASER. Recommendations The company strongly recommends against using an ADVANCED TASER in any situation except defense of life. Being TASERed is a serious and traumatic event that should not be undertaken lightly or for ‘fun’. However, should a person or group decide to use the ADVANCED TASER in a test type situation, the following recommendations should apply: • • • • • A Person being willingly TASERed should be standing somewhere without hard objects which may cause injury during the fall. For safety, fire from behind the target, shooting him in the back. If you want to shoot from the front, wear protective gear around the face, throat, and genitals. Medical supervision is recommended. Viewing of supplied instructional video & Reading of Printed materials as well as practice firing of the ADVANCED TASER is recommended and encouraged prior to use in a live firing. To help control the situation, we recommend using a laser sight during the demo. I have read and understood the above risks and have decided of my own free will to submit myself to the ADVANCED TASER to test its effectiveness, _____________________________ Name ____________ Date U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc ADVANCED TASER® SUMMARY Synopsis: The ADVANCED TASER® M26 is the only less-lethal weapon that can stop a truly aggressive, focused, combat trained attacker. Time to Complete Incapacitation: 0.25 seconds. Range: 21 feet police, 15 feet commercial Method of Incapacitation: Electro-physical, involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle tissue. Overrides the motor nervous system, blocking command & control of the human body. Existing stun systems stimulate sensory neurons and can be over-ridden by a focused individual. The ADVANCED TASER directly stimulates motor nerve and muscle tissue, causing incapacitation regardless of mental focus, training, size, or drug induced dementia. Long term injuries: None. Short term injuries: Minor skin irritation. Data Port System: • The M26’s on-board memory can download the time and date of its most recent 585 to protect officers from unfounded charges of misuse of force. • The M26 is available with an option to remotely fire the Air Cartridge from underneath a rifle, robot, tactical mirror on a pole, camera, etc. Sighting System: • Ergonomic design tested by over 600 law enforcement trainers. Average distance from aim point (without using physical sight) was less than 1.5 inches. • Physical sight on top of weapon for optical alignment. (Front sight post and rear sight posts.) • Built-in laser sighting Power Supply: AA Alkaline (Duracell® Ultra) batteries 1.5 Volts AA Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries 1.2 Volts AA NiCad batteries 1.2 Volts Air Cartridge: Compressed nitrogen (1800 lb./in2). Cartridge Shelf life: 5 years. Weight: 18 ounces. including batteries and Air Cartridge Energy Power: 26 Watts; Per Pulse: 1.76 Joules; and Amps: 162mA Irms Training: The ADVANCED TASER uses the same hand motions and muscle memory as standard semi-automatic pistols, drastically reducing the amount of time required to train and increasing accuracy under stress. Recommended user training is 4 hours, instructor training is 8 hours. Contact Steve Tuttle at 800-978-2737 ext. 2006 or 480-905-2006 with TASER International, Inc. for Test & Evaluation or advance orders. Email: Steve@TASER.com U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc Tips on Preparing for The Media Collect Data: • Get media contact name, number, and how story came about. • Who initiated the story? • When is story to be presented? • What state will this occur in? (Check the states that are illegal for consumers and/or law enforcement. Illegal in DC, HI, MA, MI, NJ, NY, RI, WI. Illegal for law enforcement in HI, MI and NJ) • Will paramedics be present? • Get Air Cartridge and power handle numbers to verify age of unit. Preparing the Unit: • Remove the Air Cartridge first! Slide safety switch to up “ON” position. If the unit is fully charged, the red light will blink continuously at the back of the unit. If the red light does not blink, the battery in the unit needs to be replaced. Note, if Nickel Metal Rechargeables are used, the battery indicator does not work properly. You will need to remove the cartridge and check the pulse rate.) Turn the safety down and make “safe.” Add the Air Cartridges and get ready to fire. • Use only fresh DURACELL® ULTRA alkaline AA batteries or ENERGIZER® Nickel Metal Hydride AA rechargeable AA batteries. Handling the Unit: • Remember to aim like a firearm using firearm safety. Aim with the front and rear sights. The top probe will go where the laser sight points. The bottom probe will drop 8-degrees downward. That means the top probe will fly straight and the bottom will drop a foot for every 7 feet that it travels. • Keep finger back from stun gun portion where the Air Cartridge is located. Otherwise, it can “bite” the finger. • When a “live” Air Cartridge is attached, (blast doors on cartridge are yellow, 15-foot cartridge; or yellow and black striped, 21-foot cartridge) treat it like a loaded weapon. Do not point the ADVANCED TASER at anyone. When talking with the media, make sure they aren’t holding with a live Air Cartridge unless the unit is pointing down towards the ground. If the unit is being turned on and off, the unit could possibly misfire. Prior To Firing Unit: • Practice with a target, and use laser sight if possible to get a feel for the unit and ensure accuracy. • Measure out 7 to 10 feet for optimum shot. • Prepare a safe place to fall (mat, soft carpet, etc.) and remove all furniture (desks, tables, etc.) with sharp edges from the area. • Plan to wear safety equipment to protect eyes, groin, throat, head, shoulders, neck and teeth. Clothing layers (sweatshirt or T-shirt) should not exceed two inches. Wear “TV friendly” colors, like green or blue. (Avoid white, red or pastels.) • Recommend target be shot in the back to decrease damage to vulnerable areas, such as the face and neck. (Or, tape probes that have already been fired to the body.) • Remind target the ADVANCED TASER will not affect bladder or bowels. However, as a precaution, it is advised to use the bathroom prior to shooting for confidence. U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc After Firing the Unit: • The ADVANCED TASER will cycle for 5 seconds. If the person goes down immediately, shut the unit of after 2 seconds. A full 5-second run will ensure the proper effect of a recovery of several seconds to minutes. Failure to adhere to this minimum of 2-second cycle run completely denigrates its effectiveness--especially on camera. • If probes are imbedded into skin, remember to grab firmly and pull out. • After incident occurs, request they contact Rick Smith, Tom Smith, Steve Tuttle or Stacie Sundberg. Main Features of the ADVANCED TASER to Emphasize: • The ADVANCED TASER was specifically to stop goal-oriented individuals who are not stopped by pepper spray, bean bag rounds, police canines or other batons. • The ADVANCED TASER uses the same muscle memory as that of a firearm for police under stress. • The ADVANCED TASER records the last 585 firings to protect law enforcement from false allegations of misuse. • The ADVANCED TASER is 26 Watts. Its amperage is 0.162 – not enough to cause damage to the human body. It is 50,000 Volts. • Despite the drama of an ADVANCED TASER shot, do not neglect to “sell” the AFID concept. • The stun gun backup does not make this a one-shot only device. • Lifetime Warranty. • Give out the (800) 97-TASER or (800) 978-2737 for any problems or advice before, during or after a shooting. • The ADVANCED TASER will not cause a heart attack or damage a pacemaker. • The ADVANCED TASER will not cause electrocution, even if target is standing in water. • The ADVANCED TASER will not cause urination or defecation. • The AFID system - This system is fully traceable and contains a built-in deterrent system. U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc ADVANCED TASER® SUMMARY WITH Q&As Synopsis: The ADVANCED TASER® M26 is the only less-lethal weapon that can stop a truly aggressive, focused, combat trained attacker. Time to Complete Incapacitation: 0.25 seconds. Range: 21 feet police, 15 feet commercial Method of Incapacitation: Electro-physical, involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle tissue. Overrides the motor nervous system, blocking command & control of the human body. Existing stun systems stimulate sensory neurons and can be over-ridden by a focused individual. The ADVANCED TASER directly stimulates motor nerve and muscle tissue, causing incapacitation regardless of mental focus, training, size, or drug induced dementia. Long term injuries: None. Short term injuries: Minor skin irritation. Data Port System: • The M26’s on-board memory can download the time and date of its most recent 585 to protect officers from unfounded charges of misuse of force. • The M26 is available with an option to remotely fire the Air Cartridge from underneath a rifle, robot, tactical mirror on a pole, camera, etc. Sighting System: • Ergonomic design tested by over 1,000 law enforcement trainers. Average distance from aim point (without using physical sight) was less than 1.5 inches. • Physical sight on top of weapon for optical alignment. (Front sight post and rear sight posts.) • Built-in laser sighting Power Supply: AA Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries 1.2 Volts AA Alkaline (Duracell® Ultra) batteries 1.5 Volts Air Cartridge: Compressed nitrogen (1800 lb./in2). Cartridge Shelf life: 5 years. Weight: 18 ounces. including batteries and Air Cartridge Energy: Power: 26 Watts; Per Pulse: 1.76 Joules; and Amps: 162mA Irms Training: The ADVANCED TASER uses the same hand motions and muscle memory as standard semi-automatic pistols, drastically reducing the amount of time required to train and increasing accuracy under stress. Recommended user training is 4 hours, instructor training is 8 hours. U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc HOW DOES AN ADVANCED TASER WORK? Upon firing, compressed nitrogen projects two ADVANCED TASER® probes 15 or 21 feet (depending on cartridge) at a speed of 180 feet per second. The probes are connected by thin insulated wire back to the M26. An electrical signal transmits throughout the region where the probes make contact with the body or clothing. The result is an instant loss of the attacker’s neuromuscular control and any ability to perform coordinated action. ADVANCED TASER uses an automatic timing mechanism to apply the electric charge for 5 seconds. ---0--How the Advanced Taser works fire: The laser fires 1W<) darts oplo 21 feel. Strlb: The darts are coonecled to the weapon by wires and attach tr.emsel~es to an assailant's skin 0' elothirlg. Shock: When the darts rMt the assailant. the laser sends a powerful shock lhroosh w;res aod into the assailant's body. JlCapacitatil'\\ him. The sr.ock can penetrate 2 inches 01 clothing. HOW CAN THE ADVANCED TASER BE SO EFFECTIVE YET NON-INJURIOUS? The ADVANCED TASER does not depend upon impact or body penetration to achieve its effect. Its pulsating electrical output interferes with communication between the brain and the muscular system, resulting in loss of control. However, the ADVANCED TASER is nondestructive to nerves, muscles and other body elements. It simply affects them in their natural mode. More importantly, no deaths have ever been directly attributed to the TASER®. DOES THE TASER AFFECT THE HEART OR A CARDIAC PACEMAKER? The ADVANCED TASER’s output is well below the level established as “safe” by the federal government in approving such devices as the electrified cattle fence. In a medical study, Dr. Robert Stratbucker tested the M26 at the University of Missouri and confirmed that the TWave does not interrupt the heartbeat or damage a pacemaker. Any modern pacemaker is designed to withstand electrical defibrillator pulses that are hundreds of times stronger than the ADVANCED TASER’s output. The ADVANCED TASER current of 1.76 Joules is well below the 10-50 joule threshold above which cardiac ventricular fibrillation can occur. ISN’T HIGH VOLTAGE LETHAL? High voltage, in itself, is not dangerous. One can receive a 25,000-volt shock of static So<o"'TaHoI.... _ electricity from a doorknob on a dry day without harm. The physiological effect of electrical shock is determined by: the current, its duration, and the power source that produces the shock. The typical household current of 110 volts is dangerous because it can pump many amperes of current throughout the body indefinitely. By contrast, the ADVANCED TASER power supply consists of 8 AA alkaline 1.5-Volt batteries capable of supplying 26 Watts of electrical power for a few seconds. WILL THE TASER CAUSE ELECTROCUTION? No. The output is metered by the electronics and the electrical energy in each pulse is always the same, regardless of the target condition. The electrical output will not be transferred from one person to another even if they touch. Over 1,000 individuals have personally tested the ADVANCED TASER. WHAT ARE THE AFTEREFFECTS? A person hit with an ADVANCED TASER will feel dazed for several seconds. Recovery is fast and the effects stop the very instant that the M26 shuts off. Some will experience critical response amnesia and others will experience tingling sensations afterwards. The pulsating electrical output causes involuntary muscle contractions and a resulting U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc sense of vertigo. It can momentarily stun or render immobilized. Yet, the ADVANCED TASER’s low electrical amperage and short duration of pulsating current, ensures a non-lethal charge. Moreover, it does not cause permanent damage or long-term aftereffects to muscles, nerves or other body functions. A January 1987 Annals of Emergency Medicine study reported that similar TASER technology leaves no long term injuries compared with 50% long term injuries for gun shot injuries. MUST THE PROBES PENETRATE THE BODY TO BE EFFECTIVE? No. The electrical current will “jump” up to two inches as long as both probes are attached to clothing or skin. At most, only the 3/8-inch needlepoint will penetrate the skin. They have less energy than a spring propelled BB. Both probes need to contact the body or else contact clothing and be within two inches of the body to stop an attacker. WHAT IF THE PROBES MISS? The ADVANCED TASER can work if one probe hits a human and the second falls on grass or dirt as the power grounds. However, the results depreciate substantially if the second probe lands on concrete, asphalt or not all on wood floors. Otherwise, the M26 can be used in a touch-stun mode. The user is thus provided with two backups. A secondary Air Cartridge is available that holds a backup cartridge below the ADVANCED TASER’s handgrip. A final backup if the probes miss the target is the touch stun feature. Should the user miss or engage a second attacker, the ADVANCED TASER can applied directly to the target and it will work like a powerful touch-stun device. CAN THE ADVANCED TASER CAUSE FIRE? The ADVANCED TASER will not ignite standard solids or even black gunpowder. However, the spark from an ADVANCED TASER can ignite some flammable liquids, vapors, meth labs or sensitive explosives. The ADVANCED TASER should not be used anywhere that cigarettes are forbidden for fire safety reasons. The ADVANCED TASER should never be used on anyone who has been sprayed with an alcohol based chemical spray – including some alcohol based pepper sprays -- which could ignite. WHAT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF EYE INJURY FROM THE ADVANCED TASER? The ADVANCED TASER should always be aimed at the attacker’s chest or back, since both probes need to hit some part of the body to be effective. The torso provides the largest surface area to hit. The ADVANCED TASER should never be aimed toward an attacker’s face. This is a serious selfdefense device and should be treated as such. Moreover, putting any sharp object into an eye is potentially dangerous to the cornea. HOW WILL THE ADVANCED TASER PREVENT CRIMINAL USE? Our mission is to ensure technology can play a positive role in our society. To that end, an Anti-Felon Identification (AFID) system is used so criminal use of the ADVANCED TASER can be traced from evidence dispersed by the device itself to provide the exact identification of the Air Cartridge purchaser. No other selfprotection device in the world -- guns, chemical and pepper sprays, touch-stun devices or batons -can be traced from evidence at the scene of the crime directly to the registration of the user. WILL THE PROBES STICK TO BULLETPROOF VESTS? Some bulletproof vests are made specifically to stop only bullets and gun shot projectiles -- not knives or sharp devices such as syringe needles. Should the probes attach to clothing in front of the soft body armor, the T-Wave can penetrate some of these vests with near full-effect. Although most bulletproof vests are made to stop bullets, the vests are porous and will not stop the flow of electrons. A bulletproof jacket with metal shock plates can cause the probes to bounce off the target. However, some companies have reported that there is soft body armor that has filled the porous material with rubber and/or plastics, which may prevent the T-Wave from penetrating the body armor. Twaron® is difficult for the TASER-Wave to pass through in bulk. U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc WHAT IS THE BEST-SHOT AT MAXIMUM RANGE? As long as the spread of the probes is at least four inches, the ADVANCED TASER will be extremely effective. To ensure that the spread is greater than four inches, the ADVANCED TASER should be fired at a target several feet away. The optimum shot is from seven to ten feet away form the target to achieve maximum effect using a 15-foot cartridge and 12-18 for a 21-foot cartridge. DOES TEMPERATURE HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE ADVANCED TASER? Yes. The weakness to the system is not the ADVANCED TASER. The batteries limit the effectiveness in cold and extremely hot temperatures. Alkaline batteries perform poorly at freezing temperatures. However, Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries can be substituted in a freezing climate, as their performances are better suited in colder climates. The heat issue is only an issue if the ADVANCED TASER were left sitting in the sun, once again adversely affecting the batteries. As for the Air Cartridge, it utilizes compressed nitrogen (an inert gas). The ADVANCED TASER compressed air capsules have successfully held their charges at temperatures of minus 20º F and up to 160º F. Moreover, altitude will not adversely effect the firing of an ADVANCED TASER. In addition, the temperature will not effect the T-Wave. However, as with any product containing polycarbonates and other thermoplastics, the ADVANCED TASER and Air Cartridges should never be left in direct sunlight. SUMMARY POINTS: • Truly incapacitating: This less-lethal system is solely designed to stop the most hardened of targets: extremely violent, aggressive, goal-oriented and drug induced suspects. • It can’t kill or maim innocent bystanders, damage buildings or aircraft fuselages with stray bullets. • Won’t damage buildings or aircraft: It is a defensive device and can’t penetrate walls, doors or glass. • It is far more effective than other less-lethal self-defense devices, such as pepper sprays or beanbag weapons -- no cross-contamination or blunt instrument damage inflicted. • It uses the same muscle memory as that of a firearm for police under stress. The ADVANCED TASER records the last 585 firings to protect law enforcement from false allegations of misuse. • Training is simple and the learning curve is relatively flat – critical in training multiple users • The ADVANCED TASER is 26 Watts. Its amperage is 0.162 – not enough to cause damage to the human body. It is 50,000 Volts. • Effective against most conventional body armor and other counter-measures. • The stun gun backup does not make this a one-shot only device. • It will not cause a heart attack or damage a pacemaker; will not cause electrocution, even if target is standing in water. • It will not cause urination or defecation. • AIR TASERs and ADVANCED TASERs have proven to have little use with the criminal element as approximately two crimes per year are committed with this equipment. The AFID tracking system has been successful in approximately 75% of these cases. U:\taser\M26\Training_aids\M26 Media Prep issues.doc