Taser X26 - Manual (Page 20)

20 Chapter 5 Maintenance/Troubleshooting
What to Do Following TASER ECD Use
Considerations for Handling Used Probes
Each agency will establish its own procedure for probe removal and collection. Treat probes that have penetrated
the body as contaminated needles (biohazard).
If the probes must be removed from the subject, follow all department policies and procedures for handling
biohazards. Below are suggested methods for probe removal:
• Grab the probe firmly and quickly pull it straight out. Do not twist the probe as the barbed tip may cause
additional injury.
• Carefully place used probes sharp-tip first into either a sharps container or into the cartridge side wire
pocket container, secure in place, and place in a secure location where no one will accidentally touch the
probes.
• Once the subject is restrained, evaluate the need for medical attention as you would with any other use-
of-force incident.*
• Take photos of any injuries, place the photos into evidence.*
• Collect the expended cartridge, probes, and AFIDs and place them into evidence.*
* As directed by department policy. The TASER training materials provide additional information on forensic
evidence collection procedures.
Effects on Animals
The X26 ECDs are an effective option for dealing with aggressive animals and have generally been successful in
most deployments. If deployed on a domestic animal, consider having animal control available to restrain the
animal.
NOTE: The aggressive animals are usually incapacitated/stunned momentarily, but recover quickly. The vast
majority of the animals quickly left the scene and broke the wires.
Police/Military K- 9 Caution
ECD operators and K-9 officers must work closely together to develop policies and procedures for deploying the
ECD when a K-9 is present. If a K-9 bites a probe or bites the suspect between the probes, the K-9 could receive
a shock. This could have a negative impact on the future duty use of the K-9.