Less-Lethal Law Enforcement Weapons: Clinical Management of Associated Injuries in the Emergency Department (Trauma CME)

CME Objectives

1. Discuss the less-lethal weapons commonly used by law enforcement as well as their mechanisms of action for incapacitation
2. Identify potential injury patterns associated with the use of less-lethal weapons
3. Determine the appropriate diagnostic testing and workup for patients presenting with injuries from less-lethal weapons
4. Manage the injuries and complications associated with less-lethal weapons.

CME Information

Date of Original Release: August 1, 2021. Date of most recent review: July 15, 2021. Termination date: August 1, 2024.

Accreditation: EB Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the ACCME.

Credit Designation: EB Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Specialty CME: Included as part of the 4 credits, this CME activity is eligible for 1.5 Trauma CME credits, subject to your state and institutional approval. For more information, please call Customer Service at 1-678-366-7933. 

ACEP Accreditation: Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice is also approved by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 48 hours of ACEP Category I credit per annual subscription.

AAP Accreditation: This continuing medical education activity has been reviewed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is acceptable for a maximum of 48 AAP credits per year. These credits can be applied toward the AAP CME/CPD Award available to Fellows and Candidate Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

AOA Accreditation: Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice  is eligible for up to 48 American Osteopathic Association Category 2-A or 2-B credit hours per year.

Needs Assessment: The need for this educational activity was determined by a survey of medical staff, including the editorial board of this publication; review of morbidity and mortality data from the CDC, AHA, NCHS, and ACEP; and evaluation of prior activities for emergency physicians.

Target Audience: This enduring material is designed for emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and residents.

Goals: Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to: (1) demonstrate medical decision-making based on the strongest clinical evidence; (2) cost-effectively diagnose and treat the most critical ED presentations; and (3) describe the most common medicolegal pitfalls for each topic covered.

Discussion of Investigational Information: As part of the journal, faculty may be presenting investigational information about pharmaceutical products that is outside Food and Drug Administration approved labeling. Information presented as part of this activity is intended solely as continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of any pharmaceutical product.

Faculty Disclosures: It is the policy of EB Medicine to ensure objectivity, balance, independence, transparency, and scientific rigor in all CME activities. All faculty participating in the planning or implementation of a CME activity are expected to disclose to the participants any relevant financial relationships and to assist in resolving any conflict of interest that may arise from the relationship. In compliance with all ACCME accreditation requirements and policies, all faculty for this CME activity were asked to complete a full financial disclosure statement. The information received is as follows: Dr. Osterman, Dr. Buchanan, Dr. Coupet, Dr. Dodington, Dr. Harris, Dr. Mishler, Dr. Skrainka, Dr. Claudius, Dr. Horeczko, and their related parties report no significant financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in this educational presentation.

Commercial Support: This issue of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice did not receive any commercial support.

Earning Credit: Go online to www.ebmedicine.net/CME and click on the title of this article. When completed, a CME certificate will be emailed to you.

Hardware/Software Requirements: You will need a Macintosh or PC with internet capabilities to access the website.

Additional Policies: For additional policies, including our statement of conflict of interest, source of funding, statement of informed consent, and statement of human and animal rights, visit https://www.ebmedicine.net/policies.