1) Store your taser as your would any other weapon, in a location locked away from children. Insure that your taser is never stored "loaded". If you decide to carry your taser in your purse or briefcase, ensure it is hidden so children will never find it. Always check local laws before bringing your taser outside of your home.
2) Never point your taser at a target you don't intend to fire on. A taser can be potentially lethal. An accidental discharge could lead to several nasty legal repercussions.
3) Fifteen feet is as far as the publicly available taser units will fire. In order to judge what fifteen feet looks like, measure it, walk it out and if you're going to be using your taser for home defense choose firing positions in your home. In a perfect world your target will be 7 -10 feet away from you. If you fire at a closer range, the probes of the unit may not have adequate distance to separate and lodge in a proper position.
4) A taser distributes an electrical charge capable of igniting flammable substances. Never fire your taser near combustible or explosive materials.
5) Your taser is designed to make your target lose control of their motor functions and so if you fire a taser at someone in the water, or someone who could be seriously harmed by a fall, you are no longer using a non-lethal weapon. Keep this in mind before you discharge a taser at someone.
6) Always keep your fingers and other body parts away from the front of the weapon. Remember, it is a weapon and not a toy.
7) Replace the batteries if your taser is showing a low signal. If it's not working properly it won't be much good to you.
8) Never fire your taser at someone closer than 3 feet. Get back to a distance of 7-10 feet before using it.
9) Hold the taser properly and that's upright and level to the ground. Don't hold it at an angle or sideways. If you do the probes won't deploy as they're designed to do.
10) Familiarize yourself with handling aiming your taser in a safe location. You might want to buy an extra cartridge to practice discharging your taser. Never point your taser at an object you don't intend to fire on.
11) The largest area on the body is the chest. Aim there and you'll give yourself the best chance to hit your target. Actually one of the advantages of a taser is that as long as both probes make contact, any contact with the target is good.
12) Once you have fired your taser and your target is on the ground, put the taser down and leave for safety. Tasers are traceable by police and there is a high probability that your taser will be recovered. A taser is replaceable, you are not.