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Discussion Beanbag ballistic projectiles, as well as other Kinetic Impact Projectiles (KIPs), have been scrutinized in their role for crowd control due to the risk of blunt trauma including skull fractures, intracranial bleeds and retained beanbag components.[1] Previous research into injury rates from KIPs shows that 15.5% of patients who presented for injuries from KIPs had permanent disabilities — typically from ocular trauma or abdominal organ trauma, which required subsequent operations. About 84.2% of patients had permanent blindness if they sustained ocular trauma. KIPs utilizing metal, including beanbag rounds, had the highest rate of injuries and permanent disabilities. [3] During some 2020 protests in Minneapolis, 11% of patients injured had ocular injuries and 18% had traumatic brain injuries, [4] further suggesting that these devices have substantial morbidity when used during protests. Because of the risks associated with the use of KIPs, some police departments have abandoned their use in protest settings.[1] Fortunately, KIPs are not the only methods available to law enforcement during protests. Other less-lethal weapons and tactics, including Conducted Energy Devises (CEDs) and pepper spray, have shown decreased injury rates as compared to standard use of force methods that do not use any methods other than physical restraint.[2] However, these devices due not all reduce the risk of injury to officers as CEDs showed decreased rates of officer injury, but pe...
Source: EPMonthly.com - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Source Type: news