5. MULTIPLE OR PROLONGED DEPLOYMENTS                                  
  Municipal Police Forces Other Agencies
  Abbotsford Central Saanich Delta Kitasoo Nelson New West Oak Bay Port Moody Saanich Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Transit Authority Police Vancouver Victoria West Van Corrections RCMP Sheriffs
General concerns                                  
The application of the CEW is a physically stressful event. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Continuous exposure risks. When practical, avoid prolonged or continuous exposure(s) to the CEW device's electrical discharge. In some circumstances, √ √     √ √                 √    
in susceptible people, it is conceivable that the stress and exertion of extensive repeated, prolonged, or continuous application(s) of the CEW device may
contribute to cumulative exhaustion, stress, and associated medical risk(s). (TI v.14)
Tests show that there are no adverse effects on heart function or respiration deriving from multiple or prolonged deployments. (TI v.14) √ √     √ √ √               √    
CEW applications directly across the chest may cause sufficient muscle contractions to impair normal breathing patterns. While this is not a significant concern for     √ √           √ √     √   √ √
short (5-sec.) exposure, it may be a more relevant concern for extended duration applications. (TI v.12, v.13)
Prolonged application of CEW may affect breathing as subjects generally do not breathe during cycles.                 √       √        
Current human studies have concluded that CEW applications directly across the chest do not impair normal breathing patterns. (TI v.14) √ √     √ √                 √    
Although existing studies on conscious human volunteers indicate subjects continue to breathe during extended CEW device applications, it is conceivable  that the √ √     √ √                 √    
muscle contractions may impair a subject's ability to breathe. (TI v.14)
The TASER M26 was applied directly to the chest of experimental animals without causing heart failure during tests at the University of Missouri.       √           √           √  
Using “worst case” scenarios, cardiac safety experts found no induction by the TASER M26 of abnormal heart rhythms.       √           √           √  
No arrhythmia provocation occurred even when animals were given stimulant drugs epinephrine and isoproternol, which make the heart more susceptible to electrical stimulation.       √           √           √  
Protocol for multiple deployment                                  
Avoid extended or repeated CEW device applications where practicable.
 (TI v.12, v.13, v.14)		 √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Do not hold the trigger continuously beyond the 5-second cycle.                         √        
Three distinct cycles is the maximum before transitioning to a new force option.                         √        
The CEW operator should use an additional 5-second cycle if the subject resists, and can anticipate a second or third application. (TI v.12)     √                            
The decision to cycle the CEW must be based on situational factors.             √                    
Although there is no predetermined limit to the number of cycles that can be administered to the subject, officers should only apply the number of cycles √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
reasonably necessary to allow them to safely approach and restrain the subject.
(TI v.12, v.13, v.14)
Officers should only apply the number of cycles reasonably necessary to allow them to safely restrain the subject.       √           √           √  
If circumstances require extended duration or repeated discharges, the operator should take care to observe the breathing patterns of the subject and provide √ √ √ √ √ √   √   √ √     √ √ √ √
breaks in the CEW stimulation when practicable. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14)
Dual CEW exposures (occurring for example when two officers were unaware that the other’s CEW was being deployed): if both applications occur on the upper                         √        
body, officers are to limit exposures to a maximum of three, because breathing issues can be compounded by chest contractions.
Allow gaps between the cycles and avoid long continuous cycles.                 √       √        
If a third cycle is required, consider another force option.                 √       √        
Do not fire the CEW for more than 10 full 5-second cycles in a 10-minute period.                                 √
Due to the risk of overheating and to preserve the life of training weapons, the TASER M26 should be limited to a maximum of 10 back-to-back 5-second √ √     √ √         √     √ √   √
cycles during training.  This limitation does not apply to field use. The TASER X26 does not overheat and no training restrictions apply. (TI v.13, v.14)
If a drive-stun is not effective at first instance, officers may consider an additional cycle. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
If drive-stun is not effective, evaluate location, consider an additional cycle to a different pressure point, or consider alternative force options. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √     √   √ √ √ √ √   √