An analysis of officer-reported TASER X2™ probe discharge effectiveness in the United Kingdom.

Conducted energy devices (CEDs) are designed to immobilise aggressive individuals through the application of an electrical discharge administered via probes fired at the subject. Although the discharge is intended to disrupt voluntary movement, CEDs have their limitations and several factors are qualitatively understood to adversely influence CED effectiveness. The introduction of the twin-cartridge TASER X2™ into UK policing in 2017 provided a unique opportunity to undertake a quantitative assessment of the factors modulating probe discharge effectiveness based on data reported by police officers firing the device operationally.

The use of TASER devices in UK policing: an update for clinicians following the recent introduction of the TASER 7.

Taser was introduced into UK policing in 2003 to bridge the operational gap between use of incapacitant sprays and firearms. Use of force reporting in the UK indicates that Taser is relatively safe provided that it is used lawfully. Taser use can result in injuries and has been implicated in a small number of deaths.

Injury scoring systems for blast injuries: a narrative review.

Injury scoring systems can be used for triaging, predicting morbidity and mortality, and prognosis in mass casualty incidents. Recent conflicts and civilian incidents have highlighted the unique nature of blast injuries, exposing deficiencies in current scoring systems. Here, we classify and describe deficiencies with current systems used for blast injury.

From Northern Ireland to Afghanistan: half a century of blast injuries.

Introduction: Throughout the last half century, blast injuries have been a common occurrence to UK military personnel during combat operations. This study investigates casualty data from three different military operations to determine whether survivability from blast injuries has improved over time and whether the tactics used could have influenced the injuries sustained.

Methods: Casualty data from operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan were reviewed and found to contain a total of 2629 casualties injured by improvised explosive devices.

Protection of the lung from blast overpressure by stress wave decouplers, buffer plates or sandwich panels.

Introduction: This paper outlines aspects of UK Ministry of Defence's research and development of blast overpressure protection technologies appropriate for use in body armour, with the aim of both propagating new knowledge and updating existing information.

Methods: Two simple models are introduced not only to focus the description of the mechanism by which the lungs can be protected, but also to provide a bridge between fields of research that may hold the key to further advances in protection technology and related body armour.

Results: Protection can be provided to the lungs by decoupling the stress wave transmission into the thorax by managing the blast energy imparted through the protection system.