Cases where Tasers ignite OC or other flammable liquids

[joetnymedic 43]

Hey guys, my son was just showing me this. As you all know in EMS, you get sent to calls where a person has been pepper sprayed or tasered. Do you know what happens if the papper spray doesn't work on a suspect and then they get tasered? They catch fire. David had Mythbusters on and sure enough this was one of the things on the show. They pepper sprayed the dummy then tasered it. sure enough, the excess spray that hit the "skin" and clothing caught fire. Hit to be on that job.... but then again i always hated doing a burn victim. the smell sucks.

joe

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

I did a quick google search and all I got was one story of a guy who got minor burns after the application of pepper spray and a taser.

http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=35392

http://www.theppsc.org/forums/archive/index.php?t-122.html

There are several more stories of people covered in flammable liquids (gasoline in the few I saw) who burst into flames when the taser was applied. Just like any electrical powered device, it can produce a shock (In this case that is the point) and if it is of high enough energy and the conditions are right it can ignite vapor.

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9701967776/m/9961969509

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/21/australia.taser.fire/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/21/australia.taser.fire/index.html

I am sure our LEOs here can elaborate further.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

It can and has happened..even the "non flammable" OC spray I've seen ignite at Tac Team training where we tested it. Also in a less lethal weapons course I teach I cover I have a case where a taser barb just happen to hit a man's cig lighter in his shirt pocket and it ignited. Just like everything else there are risks.