Spit Restraint Device™ Instructor Qualification Program – Coming 2022
Findings from the seminal 2021 IPICD spit mask survey (n=523) done in collaboration with the Americans for Effective Law Enforcement (AELE) found approximately 42% of respondents never received spit mask training, even though approximately 85% of them reported their law enforcement agency authorized their use. Approximately 51% reported they were never tested about spit masks.
Putting spit masks on individuals by law enforcement officers (LEO) is a use of force requiring compliance with Constitutional standards of care, and with any applicable more restrictive state statutory or regulatory standards. Surprisingly, approximately 68% (n=357) of survey respondents did not know or believe that applying a spit mask is a use of force.
Following a March 2020 high profile, temporal, arrest-related death of an agitated and combative person where a spit mask was applied by an LEO, “spit hoods” arose again as a hotly debated controversial device. The agitated person’s causes of death included Excited Delirium and “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.” A natural sequel to the IPICD “Recognizing and Managing Abnormal Breathing” tuition-free User-Level program, this approximately four-hour long Spit Restraint Instructor qualification program consists of 14 lessons that discuss the following topics:
- Spit mask definitions, nomenclature, and purposes
- Hooding: A brief history
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
- Scientific studies of disease transmission via aerosol, saliva, biting
- Spit Mask scientific study findings
- Spit mask legal update, including manufacturer warnings
- Spit Masks: Designs and use considerations
- Spit Masks: application guidelines, deviations, and medical issues
- Spit Masks: Policy, procedure, and/or rule recommendations
- Spit Masks: Training recommendations (documentation, medical, etc.)
- Spit Masks: Assessing Learner competency (Resourced-based learning)
- Spit Masks: Case Studies
Approximately 40% of IPICD spit mask survey respondents are interested in taking spit mask instructor training. Based upon this response, the IPICD staff believe it has a social responsibility to provide a peer-reviewed, timely, objective, legally-, scientifically-, and evidence-based program to help save lives, to help save careers, and to help save money by minimizing or avoiding costly litigation.
Delivery formats: Virtually Instructor-Led (live) or ON-DEMAND.
Length: Approximately 4 hours.
Cost: TBA. Includes lesson guide, Learner Companion™, reprinted articles, sample User-Level assessment, microlearning videos, and qualification certificate after successfully completion of an online assessment and spit mask demonstration video.
Required materials: Agency-authorized spit mask, computer with sound, computer monitor, internet access, keyboard, mouse (touch screen), comfortable chair or seat, printer, video recording device, and writing instrument for taking notes.