Whether celebrating a country’s win or protesting its defeat, large unruly crowds can necessitate the need for nonlethal force by law enforcement. Just a few months ago, almost 900 fans were arrested and 178 security personnel were injured during unrest in France following the Champions League final game. Thankfully, America emerged relatively unscathed from this year’s FIFA World Cup. Still, in honor of the games, CHEST’s Disaster Management and Global Health Section will host a panel discussion at this year’s annual meeting in Phoenix: Riot Medicine: Management Strategies of Nonlethal Police Weapons and Chemicals.
Nonlethal police weapons are commonly used as standard antiriot measures. These range from chemical mucosal irritants (tear gas, pepper spray) and conducted energy devices (TASER), as well as kinetic less-than-lethal weapons (nightsticks, billy club batons) and blunt force trauma. Many of these injuries do not meet burn center or trauma center criteria and are often triaged to local hospitals.
The incidence of injuries sustained from standard antiriot measures has increased considerably as social unrest and protests have become more common. In 2024, the Associated Press reported that more than 1,000 deaths occurred because of nonlethal force used by law enforcement. Although some of these fatalities may have been related to preexisting medical conditions such as substance abuse, heart conditions, neurological disorders, or mental illness, there nevertheless remains a gap in the standardized approach to managing these injuries.
At the session, a panel of experts in the field will review the most common injury patterns, including chemical inhalational injuries, electroshock sequela, and blunt trauma, and describe the most contemporary approaches to their management. An in-depth review of the pathophysiology of these injuries will be discussed to help clinicians better address and treat them. The panel will also discuss hospital preparedness and health care system strain.
The CHEST 2026 session will be held on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 am MST.
References
1. Terrill W, Paoline EA. Examining less lethal force policy and the force continuum: results from a national use-of-force study. Police Q. 2013;16(1):38-65. doi:10.1177/1098611112451262
2. Cohen JB. Law enforcement use of less-than-lethal weapons: considerations for Congress. Congressional Research Service; January 23, 2025. CRS Report R48365.
3. National Institute of Justice. Study of deaths following electro muscular disruption: interim report. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice; 2008. Publication No. NCJ 222981.
