wit.0291.0001.0005 annexure gt-1 - nt royal comm · post taser management nt watch house nursing...

ANNEXURE GT-1 PFE.0007 .0001 .0218

Post Taser Management NT Watch House Nursing Procedure

Target Audience Nursing and Midwifery Staff

Jurisdiction Police Watch Houses

Jurisdiction Exclusions N/A

Document Owner Gemma Turner

Nurse Manager Police Watch House TEHS

Approval Authority Chair

Correctional Care Best Practice Group

Author Fionna McColl

The attributes in the above table will be auto-filled from the PGC System. Do not update in this document.

Purpose

To ensure the safe and appropriate medical management of a detainee in NT Police Watch Houses to whom a TASER has been applied.

Procedure

1. Standard of Practice I Authority for Document

Authority for Document under NT Government, Department of Health

AHPRA Registration standards

2. Background/Introduction/Principles

A TASER is a hand-held, electro-muscular disruption device that is capable of temporarily incapacitating a person (only during a cycle) and causing pain through the application of an electrical current. Tasers can be operated in two modes; the first being 'Probe' mode which involves probes being fired from an attached cartridge into a person or their clothing. If successful deployment, an electrical circuit is completed which then allows a high voltage, low amperage electrical current to pass from the Taser to the person. The second mode is 'Dry Stun' where the probes are not deployed but instead the Taser is applied directly to a person's skin or clothing and requires the officer to be within close proximity to the person. The use of this device might lead to cardiovascular, respiratory, biochemical , obstetric, ocular and traumatic sequelae.

3. Procedure

People in Police Custody to whom a Taser has been applied MUST be assessed by the Registered Nurse including background information of the Taser episode, note that;

Police Officers must inform the Watch House Staff of the following:

• That the detainee has been exposed to a Taser • What type of application was used (Probe or Dry Stun) • Time of application

Ti ti e: Post 1·aser Managem ent NT Watch House Nursing l"rocedure

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PFE.0007.0001 .0219

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Controlled Document

Doc-ID: HEALTHINTRA-1880-7187

• Length and number of applications • What medical aftercare was provided • Any medical attention already sought or provided

In addition a Registered Nurse should also obtain information on,

• The site of the Taser administration • Any injuries sustained as a result of the Taser

• Past medical history obtained from the detainee, PCIS, CWS and SEHR (rule out organic health issue) to identify cardiac disease, cardiovascular high risk, glucose intolerance/diabetes - NB; finger prick glucose may be elevated after Taser application; and

MUST assess baseline observations

• Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Oxygen saturation, Blood Glucose Level • Assessment of pregnancy. ALL pregnant women must be transferred to ED for assessment

and monitoring; and

MUST identify where the Taser made contact with the detainee to assess:

• Taser dart is still present in skin or clothing. Removal of dart with forceps and discard in sharps container if not already removed by Police.

• Wound care may be required, assess for burns from Taser, apply dressing to dart sites. • Transfer to hospital ED if injuries sustained or pre-existing medical condition warrants further

assessment and treatment

4. Documentation Requirements • All information to be documented in notes on PCIS

• Specific service items to be documented as required

5. Points to Note • Detainees can remain in NT Police Watch Houses post TASER shock unless underlying

medical condition indicate further assessment/monitoring • Most complications will be as a result of injury following falling. Consider injury patterns as

seen with electrocution/seizure i.e. shoulder dislocation, head/facial injuries. Consider surface of fall i.e. from height, uneven surface

• Arrhythmia secondary to shock will occur immediately or within minutes of deployment. • Taser barbs may cause penetrating injury to eyes I genitalia or break off, Further treatment

required in ED. • A common cause of adverse events has been failure to recognise an organic cause

underlying the initial disturbed behaviour e.g. hypoglycaemia. 6. Related Documents

ACT Government Health, Division/Medical Services/Clinical Forensic Medical Services, Standard Operating Procedure - Medical Management of people in the police custody environment who have been tasered.

http://fflm .ac.uk/upload/documents/1379584094.pdf

Title: Post Taser Management NT Watch House Nursing Procedure

TRIM: 002015/ 10435 i Version : 2 O I Approved Date :20/10/20151 Last Update: 22/10/2015 I Review Date · 20/10/2019

ot 4-

Printed : 23/06/2015 2:39:00 PM - Printed copies aie f9r reference only. For the latest version, refer to the Policv Guidellne Centre on the Department's Intranet.


WIT.0291.0001.0006

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

PFE.0007 .0001 .0220

Controlled Document Doc-ID: HEALTHINTRA-1880-7187

Implementation, Review & Evaluation Responsibilities

Method Responsibility

Implementation Document will be placed on the PGC for ease of staff Health Policy Guidelines Program access and staff will receive communication via email

Nurse Manager Police Watch House of updates or reviews. New employees will be made aware of the PGC upon commencement. TEHS

Review Document will be reviewed within four years Nurse Manager Police Watch House TEHS

Evaluation Adverse events will be recorded in the patient's notes and Riskman

Nurse Manager Police Watch House Document will be informally evaluated at time of TEHS review, based on whether staff are following the procedure as described.

Key Associated Documents

Key Legislation, By-Laws, Standards, Delegations, Aligned & Supporting Documents

References

Definitions and Search Terms

Preferred Term Description

NT Northern Territory

AHPRA Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency

PCIS Primary Care Information System

cws Clinical Work Station

SEHR Shared Electronic Health Record

ED Emergency Department

Alternative Search Terms

Title: f'osl Taser Management NT Watch /-iouse Nursing Procedure

l R!M: DD20\5/10435 i Version: 2 O I Approved IJate:20/10/20151 l.ast Update: 22/10/2015 I Review Date· 20/10/2019

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WIT.0291.0001.0007

Reference

PFE.0007.0001 .0221

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Controlled Document

Doc-ID: HEAL THINTRA-1880-7187

Evidence Table

Method Evidence level Summary of recommendation from this reference (1-V)

Title: Post Taser Management NT Watch House Nursing Procedure

TRIM: 002015/10435 j Version: 2.0 I Approved Date:20/10/20151 Last Update: 22/10/20151 Review Date: 20/10/2019

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Printed: 23/08/2016 2:39:00 PM - Printed copies are for reference only. For the latest version, refer to the Policy Guideline Centre on the Department's Intranet.


WIT.0291.0001.0008