Posted May 01, 2012 @ 10:03 AM
Taser guns used by law enforcement can cause heart rhythm problems, sudden cardiac arrest and death, according to a new study.
Tasers, which are widely used by police forces in the United States and other countries, are designed to stun suspects by delivering a 50,000-volt shock.
Indiana University Health cardiologist Dr. Douglas Zipes analyzed the cases of eight healthy men, ages 16 to 48, who were tasered between 2006 and 2009 and lost consciousness. All but one of the men died.
To localize:
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Find out if police in your area use Tasers. If so, what kind of training do they get? What are their guidelines for use? Have any officers had to fire the Taser in the line of duty? Have there been any problems?
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Do police still do Taser demonstrations on locals in your area? If so, find someone who has been hit by one and ask about the experience. If not, officers can probably talk about the experience.
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A good sidebar could be on different types of non-lethal weapons used by police. This is a growing technology led by military development.
