Effects of stun guns and tasers

The effects of lasers vary greatly, depending on electrical characteristics of the particular device, placement of darts, distance between the darts (a function of the distance from which the gun is fired), and the condition of the person being fired at. In stun guns the electrodes are usually about...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 2001-09, Vol.358 (9283), p.687-688
Main Authors: Fish, Raymond M, Geddes, Leslie A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion, Spontaneous - etiology
Animals
Cardiac arrhythmia
Cocaine
Drug abuse
Effects
Electric currents
Electrodes
Electroshock - adverse effects
Emergency medical services
Female
Firearms
Humans
Lasers
Law enforcement
Male
Metabolism
Muscle contraction
Nonlethal weapons
Patients
Police
Pregnancy
Respiration
Shootings
Side effects
Skin
Swine
Trauma
Violence
Weapons
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Description
Summary:The effects of lasers vary greatly, depending on electrical characteristics of the particular device, placement of darts, distance between the darts (a function of the distance from which the gun is fired), and the condition of the person being fired at. In stun guns the electrodes are usually about 5 cm apart, but darts from lasers diverge when fired, and the wider the distance between them when they land on the target, the greater the effect.' For example, electrodes 5 cm apart applied directly over the vastus lateralis muscle does not inhibit voluntary function of the muscle during stimulation or afterwards. After about 5 s of application of the stun gun, individuals who have been trying to resist will stop doing so, presumably because of pain or fatigue. By contrast, laser darts placed 10 inches apart (the distance reached if fired from about 6 feet) over the vastus lateralis in the same person will lock the leg in the flexed position, typically leading him or her to surrender quickly.1
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05950-5