Trick
2006-08-06 22:04:20 UTC
still here, but if you are, thankyou kindly as this has cleared up all
confusion I had about these methods) and I thought anyone considering
these methods would find this useful if they hadn't read it already,
although I'm sure people that have been here alot longer than me have,
but it was posted in 1999.
Thanks again to Totmacher for the original post.
The information below is taken from the book "Suicide and Attempted
Suicide" by Geo Stone.
-Totmacher
HANGING AND STRANGULATION
Hanging and strangulation are effective methods of suicide. Both can
be carried out by people with limited physical abilities. Hanging
doesn't require complete suspension. Death occurs within about five
to ten minutes after cutoff of oxygen or blockage of blood flow to
the brain (anoxia); however, convulsions are common and the noise may
attract attention. Pain can be minimized by protecting and padding
the front of the neck. Since finding the body will probably be
traumatic, care should be given to choosing a location. These are
highly lethal methods and cannot be done safely as a suicidal gesture.
LETHAL INTENT: High
MORTALITY: High, around 80 percent
PERMANENT INJURIES IN SURVIVORS: Moderately frequent
PROS AND CONS OF HANGING AS A MEANS OF SUICIDE
Pros: -Quick unconsciousness
-Fairly quick death
-Easily accomplished with materials found around the house
-Can, if necessary, be done without leaving bed
Cons: -Possibility of brain damage if interrupted
-Sometimes a gruesome cadaver, which may be upsetting for
whoever discovers the body
Suspension hanging is often lumped (and confused) with judicial-type
("drop") hanging, suffocation, strangulation, and even choking. This
is entirely understandable, since the subject is confusing, but there
are some important, and sometime critical, differences between them.
Brief definitions of these terms may be helpful im making sense of
what follows.
1. SUSPENSION HANGING
suspension by the neck, with little or no drop. Death is due to
compression of the airway (trachea, or windpipe) and/or the major
blood vessels connecting the heart and the brain. These latter are
the carotid and vertebral arteries, and the jugular vein. We will use
"hanging" to mean "suspension hanging" unless otherwise specified.
2. JUDICIAL-TYPE (DROP) HANGING
a several foot drop, with rope attached to the neck. If everything goes
right, death is due to a broken neck. While this is quicker than
suspension hanging, it may or may not be less traumatic.
3. STRANGULATION
manual compression of the airway and/or blood vessels to/from the
brain. In suicide, this generally requires a ligature (rope, wire,
cloth, etc.). In homicide, there may be a ligature or there may be
direct pressure from hands or forearm on the neck.
4. CHOKING
blockage of the airway by mechanical obstruction, for example, a lump
of food.
5. SUFFOCATION OR ASPHYXATION
interference with the ability to take in or use oxygen; related to
choking, suspension hanging, and strangulation, in that oxygen is
prevented from reaching the brain in each case; however, there is no
direct pressure on the airway in suffocation or asphyxation. Examples
are, use of a plastic bag or carbon monoxide (see Asphyxia chapter).
PHYSIOLOGY: WHAT IS HANGING, AND HOW DOES IT KILL?
Hanging can kill by four distinct mechanisms: compression of the
carotid arteries, compression of the jugular veins, compression of
the airway (trachea), and breaking the neck. The first three can
result from suspension hanging; the last from drop hanging.
CAROTID ARTERY
On the right side of your neck, just under the side of the jaw, is
your carotid artery. Put your fingers there and gently feel your
pulse. It should be quite strong. (If you can't find one, either
you're looking in the wrong place or you don't need this book.) The
carotid artery carries much of the blood to your brain, which uses
around 15 percent of the entire blood supply of your body. Anything
which interrupts that blod-flow for more than a few seconds will cause
loss of consciousness.
JUGULAR VEIN
On the other side of the neck, under the left side of the jaw is the
jugular vein, which carries "used" blood back to the heart. If the
jugular is blocked, blood backs up, much like water in a stream that
has been dammed. The carotid and jugular can be compressed with just
a few pounds pressure; a moderately tightened rope will do nicely.
Death occurs within a few minutes. There does not need to be any
pressure on the airway (trachea, or windpipe), though there often is.
TRACHEA/AIRWAY
The airway, down the front-center of your neck, can be blocked
internally, (by inhaling a foreign object) or externally (by a
ligature). When the interference is internal, it is termed "choking"
In either case, obstruction of the airway takes a good deal longer
to produce unconsciousness than does carotid pressure, and is much
more painful. (Details are in the Asphyxia chapter.)
HANGING
Judicial (drop) hanging is quite a different kettle of worms from
supsension hanging. In a (properly done) judicial-type hanging, the
victim falls several feet before coming to an abrupt halt at the end
of a rope. Often, thisis the bitter end. Such a precipitous change in
velocity is supposed to cause a broken nekc and quick unconsciousness
and death. However, exhumation of judicial hanging victims has shown
that a broken neck was frequently not the cause of death. An
excessively
long drop can result in separation of head from body, and is considered
bad form by professional hangmen.
Suspension hanging can cause compression of the carotid, jugular, and/
or airway, depending on how it is carried out.
There are similarities between suspension-hanging and choking, as well
as previously mentioned differences. Your blood carries oxygen and
nutrients to your brain. Enough pressure on the airway compresses it
and prevents oxygen from reaching the lungs. Your body has build-in
reflexes to keep this from happening: pressure against your trachea
causes quick pain, and you have irresistible urge to back away and
cough;
one reflex (pain) gets your attention and moves you away from the
stimulus - say someone's thumbs - and the other reflex (cough) attempts
to clear the airway. If these attempts are unsuccesful, blood will
continue to be pumped to the brain (and elsewhere) by your heart, but
it won't carry enough oxygen and you will lose consciousness in a
couple of minutes.
TIME TO DEATH
As asphyxia proceeds, first temporary, then permanent brain damage from
lack of oxygen will occur. Death follows in five to ten minutes (ten to
twenty minutes, according to Polson; however, his number seems to be
based on the fact that the heart may continue beating for up to twenty
minutes after judicial hanging, and ignores that the heart may continue
to beat after brain death. While human data are lacking, unanesthetized
dogs die after around eight minutes of asphyxia). On the other hand,
it's
also true that unconsciousness and death will be delayed if blood flow
to/from the head in only partially obstructed, as is sometimes the
case.
CAROTID REFLEXES
Curiously, you don't have the same protective reflexes along the
carotid
artery, so that pressure sufficient to block the artery doesn't elicit
much in the way of defensive reaction. In fact, one of the reflexes
that
is present may be counterproductive: Near where the carotids divide are
some nerve cells, the "carotid sinus". These nerve cells have the
normally useful function of maintaining blood pressure at a steady
level.
They respond to a decrease in blood pressure (for example, when you
stand
up) by constricting arteries and telling the heart to beat harder.
Without this, you might pass out every time you stood up suddenly,
because
not enough blood was reaching your brain. (The dizziness many people
feel
when they stand up suddenly is another way of appreciating how quickly
and exquisitely sensitive your brain is to absence of enough blood.)
Similary, the carotid sinus responds to an increase in blood pressure
by relaxing the arteries and inhibiting the heart.
So far, so good. The problem arises because these pressure-recpetor
nerves
aren't smart enough to tell the difference between blood pressure and
externally applied pressure - for example a forearm or billy club
across
the right-front side of the neck.
"SLEEPER" HOLD
Those of you who are wrestling (TV variety) fans are probably familiar
with the sleeper hold; it is nothing more than a forearm pushed against
the carotid artery, compressing it, and cutting off blood flow to the
brain (see Asphyxia chapter). This causes unconsciousness in about
eight
to fifteen seconds.
The sleeper hold is forbidden in tournament wrestling and is faked in
the
TV stuff. The reason is that the amount of pressure needed to compress
the artery is enough to cause the carotid sinus to kick into overdrive
and sned the heart a priority message to slow down, which is sometimes
enough to stop the heart altogether.
PRESSURE NEEDED TO COMPRESS THE CAROTID, JUGULAR, AIRWAY
carotid = 7 lb (3.2 kg) - 11 lb (5 kg)
jugular = 4.5 lb (2 kg)
airway = 33 lb (15 kg)
vertebral = 66 lb (30 kg)
What this means, practically speaking, is that someone who wants - or
wants to avoid - a lethal result should be aware that full suspension
is quite unneccessary. Death will occur after only a few pounds of
pressure on a neck ligature; a sitting or semireclining position is
sufficient.
SUSPENSION HANGING
Hanging does not have a very good image. For example: "The discovery of
a grotesquely hanging corpse whose swollen, sometimes bitten tongue
protrudes from a bloated blue-gray face with hideously bulging eyes is
a nightmarish sight upon which only the most hardened can gaze without
revulsion." However, while some look livid, about 60 percent of hangers
have a "pale an placid" face. Some have small hemorrhages, caused by
capillaries leaking (due to high blood pressure in the abscence of
oxygen), on the face, eyelids, and/or scalp; others don't.
What accounts for these differences? Basically, it's a question of how
quickly and totally the ligature cuts off blood circulation to and from
the head. If suspension is fast and complete, the blood supply both to
and from the head will be cut off simultaneously, so there is no excess
blood or blood pressure in the head, and thus a more or less normal-
colored corpse. Similary, activation of the carotid sinus pressure
receptor would cause a decrease in blood flow to the head, leading to
paleness in the cadaver.
If, on the other hand, the pressure on the neck gradually increased as
consciousness was lost, it's probable that the jugular vein was shut
off before the carotid artery (and almost certainly before the hard-to-
clamp vertebral arteries), since it requires less pressure to do so.
Thus, in this case blood would continue flowing into the head while
having no way to leave it; hence engorgement and blue/purple color.
This is most likely when the suicide is in a sitting or lying position,
because there is less (and less sudden) pressure on the neck than when
completely suspended.
PLACEMENT OF THE LIGATURE
An additional variable is the placement of the ligature. The least
pressure corresponds to the location of the knot in the rope, since
that point is pulled up and away from the neck. Depending on the knot's
site, it is thus possible to miss the jugular (if the knot's on the
left), carotid (knot on right), or trachea (knot along the centerline
of the face).
Further complications arise because the noose can be placed high or low
on the neck, with potentially different intermediate results. When
high,
it is less likely to compress the airway because some of the pressure
from the ligature may be transferred to the jaw or skull.
DO PEOPLE DIE FROM AIRWAY BLOCKAGE OR FROM CUT-OFF BLOOD CIRCULATION
TO THE BRAIN?
Bodies with little weight on the ligature, that is, which are prone or
seated, have a greater chance of death from asphyxia, according to a
standard forensic text. Since the jugular vein (blood out) is easier
to compress than the carotid artery (blood in), enough blood accu-
mulates in the head and neck to compress the airway, leading to
asphyxia.
Medical experts disagree about the frequency and importance of airway
blockage in hangings. For example, one says, "Occlusion of the air
passage by constriction on the neck is probably extremely rare if
existing at all. Others hedge their bets: "Suicidal hanging is ear-
marked characteristically as causing death by compression of the
anatomic airway and the blood vessels in the neck." Or cover all the
bases: "Reports in the forensic literature have stated that death may
be due to either asphyxiation, coma, carotid artery or jugular vein
injury, or any combination of the above." Certainly, airway blockage
is not essential to successful hanging. In one case a woman with a
tracheotomy killed herself despite attaching the ligature above the
site of the breathing hole. She would have continued breathing until
dying from lack of blood to her brain.
Airway blockage is more likely when:
1.
the ligature knot is toward the back of the neck. In this situation
the maximum pressure from the rope is then on the front of the neck,
where the airway is.
2.
the person is seated, semireclining, or prone. Due to little weight
on it, the rope tends not to slide up the neck. Were it to move up,
it would end up being partially supported by the chin, relieving
pressure on the airway.
3.
the ligature is thin or attached with a running noose. Such a ligature
tends to clamp in place.
4.
the ligature is placed low on the neck, where it tends not to slide
up high enough to be supported by the chin.
TYPE OF KNOT
Most common are the running noose (loop at one end, through which the
other end is pulled) and the fixed noose with a granny or reef knot.
POINT OF SUSPENSION
As with their indiscriminate choice of ligatures, suicidal people
suspend themselves from whatever site is handy. Stair rails are
popular, as is tying one end of the ligature to a doorknob and
tossing the other end over the top of the door. Hooks and nails are
useable, but may bend or pull out if not sturdy and firmly attached.
Often a chair that the victim stood on is nearby, but total suspension
is quite unnecessary; a majority of such suicides have their feet
touching the ground.
POSITION OF THE BODY
In one study, 37 percent (30 in 80) of hanging victims were completely
suspended; 63 percent (50 in 80) were in contact with the ground. This
is credible, since all it takes to carry out a standing hang is to bend
the knees enough to tighten the ligature. In 261 cases of incomplete
suspension, 64 percent (168) had both feed touching the ground, 16
percent (42) were on their knees, 11 percent (29) were lying down, 7
percent (19) were sitting, and 1 percent (3) were huddled or squatting.
STRANGULATION
is defined as pressure applied to the neck without suspension of the
victim. It is uncommon in suicide, but not unknown. The physiology of
strangulation is essentially the same as that of suspension hanging
and needs not to be treated separately. In self-strangulation, the
ligature is applied more slowly and less tightly than in suspension
hanging. As a result, the jugular veins are more constricted than are
the carotid arteries, leading to a blue, swollen head. Neck injuries,
however, are rare. Because the ligature cannot slide up the neck or
be supported by the chin, compression of the airway is more likely than
in suspension hanging.
CONSEQUENCES: WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF HANGING?
There is not much information from survivors for two reasons: (1) There
are not many survivors, and (2) often, survivors have more or less
complete amnesia. In one case, a woman tried to hang herself from the
foot of her bed, while in jail. She was saved by a fellow prisoner. She
later mentioned having had severe pain, followed by unconsciousness.
In another instance a public entertainer, who hung himself briefly as
part of his act, made a mistake of timing. He said (afterwards) that he
could not breathe - quite understandable, under the circumstances - and
felt as if a heavy weight was on his feet. He lost consciousness before
he could move his hands to release himself.
There is additional information from experimental hanging. In one
description
the subject mentioned flashes of heat and light, and deafening sound.
Legs were numb and weak. Pain was not severe and unconsciousness was
sudden.
More detailed information came from another self-experimenter named
Minovici. With 5 kg (11 lb) pull on the ligature, loss of consciousness
was rapid. When he leaned on the rope (incomplete suspension), within
five
or six seconds his eyes blurred, he heard whistling, and his face
turned
red-violet. With the knot on the side instead of the back of the neck,
these effects took eight or nine seconds to appear.
When he tried complete suspension, as soon as he left the ground, he
couldn't
breathe or hear his assistant. He experienced such severe pain that he
immediately stopped the test. Within ten minutes, many small
hemorrhages
could be seen near the site of the rope; these remained visible for
eight
to eleven days. For ten to twelve days later he had watering eyes,
trouble swallowing, and a sore throat.
After unconsciousness, convulsions follow. In trashing around, the
victim
may make enough noise to attract attention, wanted or unwanted.
HOW TO DO IT, SUSPENSION HANGING
(1) Can be done with a wide range of ligature materials - most anything
will work; (2) can be carried out by invalids, without leaving their
room;
(3) is fairly quick, probably not painless (but unconsciousness is
rapid),
but may have severe consequences - brain damage - if interrupted;
(4) doesn't require much knowledge to accomplish.
To carry out a suspension hanging, you can simply tie one end of the
ligature
to a fixed point (doorknob, hook, rafter, etc.) and the other end to
your
neck. You can and should protect the airway from unnecessary
compression and
pain by firmly padding the front quarter of the neck and (more
important) by
placing the knot high and at the front of your face.
Complete suspension is unnecessary and is generally more painful than
partial
suspension; however, standing on and kicking away a chair is sometimes
done
in the same spirit as diving, rather than wading, into icy water.
Unconsciousness occurs quickly and without enough warning to count on
time
to change your mind: This is a lethal method and is not suitable for a
"suicidal gesture."
You need an uninterrupted twenty minutes (half an hour to take into
account
last-minute vicissitudes) to be sure that you won't be cut down and
"saved"
with permanent brain damage. Since you may trash around while
unconscious,
take into account the possibility of attracting unwanted intervention
because
of the noise. Because the cadaver is sometimes gruesome and always
shocking,
consider not hanging yourself where loved ones will find the body. If
you use
a hotel or motel, leave a good tip for the cleaning person.
HOW TO DO IT, DROP HANGING
(1) Requires a strong, low-stretch rope. Manila (sisal) or hemp works;
(2) Requires a 5 to 15 foot drop (see drop table or calculations);
(3) is quick, possibly painless - nobody knows, and none of the
questionaires have been returned - and generally cannot be interrupted
once set into motion; (4) requires detailed knowledge of how and where
to
attach rope, how and how far to jump (down, but not out), and a place
to
jump from. To execute a drop hanging, the drop distance can be
estimated
as follows,
drop in feet = 1260 / your weight in pounds
The type of knot is not important as long as it doesn't loosen.
However,
its position is, unlike in suspension hanging, critcal, The knot should
be
as near the chin as convenient, and in any case no further back than
the
cheekbone. Note which way the knot rotates when pulled up, and adjust
it to
the side of your head so that it will rotate toward the chin and snap
the
head backwards. If it ends up behind the ear, it will be much less
likely
to produce a cleanly broken neck, and may leave you to strangle
unpleasantly.
The drop should ne as close to straight down as possible; don't take a
running jump.
The rope should be at least an inch thick and must not be one intended
to
stretch in order to ease a fall, for example moutain-climbing rope.
Attach
the other end to something that won't break or come loose.
This method is harder to get the hang of than is suspension, and is not
recommended unless you're confident that you fully understand it.
Mistakes
usually transpose into some unpleasant form of suspension hanging,
unless
the rope breaks.
HOW TO DO IT, STRANGULATION
If, for some reason, there is no attachment point available for a
ligature,
strangulation is a possibility. This method consists of wrapping a cord
around your neck and tightening it. The disadvantages are: (a)
Depending on
the amount of tension applied, it may compress your airway as well as
the
major blood vessels (carotid and/or jugular) unless you protect the
front
of the neck; (b) since there is no weight on the ligature, it may
loosen
when you become unconscious. Some methods to solve this latter problem
are:
-use a high-friction ligature that will stay in place;
-use a double knot;
-wrap thin cord, as many times as possible in five to ten seconds,
around
your neck, relying on friction to maintain the tension. A slip knot is
helpful, but may loosen unless wrapped;
-make a loose loop around your neck. Insert a thin, rigid item, for
example,
a wooden spoon or pen, between the neck and the loop, and twist the rod
until it tightens the ligature; then tuck the end of the rod between
the
neck and the cord to keep it in place. If you use a bar that is around
8 inches (20 cm) long, there is a good chance that it will stay in
place
under your chin even if not tucked in.
The most reliable of these methods is to buy a racheting "tie down."
These
are available at auto, motorcycle, and some hardware stores for between
$5 and $10 and are generally used for attaching cargo. Once tight, a
spring-loaded cam release (or equivalent) must be pressed to remove
tension.
Bending forward increases the diameter of the neck , and thus the
constrictive effect of the ligature.