WIT.0291.0001.0005 ANNEXURE GT-1 - NT Royal Comm · Post Taser Management NT Watch House Nursing...
Transcript of 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
TH!iVI : t)D201 S/10~'.15 J Version 2.0 I i-\pproved !)ate :20/ 10/20 ! 5 I Last Update: 22/ 10/2015 I Review Date : 20/10/2019
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• 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
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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.
Department of Health is a Smoke Free Workplace
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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fJcr!N0d .:13/()ll/~04 :S 2:39 :!J() P'MJ , Prin'!eo' ,:oi:iies o1rn 1or rnfemnce only. 'ar ttie latest vP.rsion, mfer to the Policv Guideline Gen/re on ,he Department's lntranel.
Department of Health is a Smoke Free Workplace
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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.
Department of Health is a Smoke Free Workplace
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