Suicide
STRANGULATION
Description
Strangulation – tightening a loop around the neck. It is a common cause of suicide deaths (Lithuania leads in the number of suicides among EU countries). Timely intervention to save the lives of many individuals attempting suicide can prevent fatalities.
Classification and causes
1. Strangulation.
2. Criminal events (strangling with a loop around the neck).
3. Accidents (e.g., scarf getting caught in rotating machinery, etc.).
4. Suffocation.
How to recognize?
• Circular mark left by the rope on the neck.
• Finger marks due to pressure on the victim’s neck and face.
• If the victim is breathing, their breathing may be difficult, noisy, frequent (more than 20 times per minute).
• Various degrees of consciousness impairment.
• Bluish-gray face, small pinpoint hemorrhages visible on the face skin and/or in the conjunctiva of the eyes (in the white part of the eye).
First aid
Objectives:
1. Restore airway patency.
2. Ensure stability of the patient’s neck to prevent injury to the spinal cord from fractured cervical vertebrae.
3. If not breathing, start basic life support.
Actions:
1. Quickly remove the victim from the loop. If the body is hanging, raise it upwards to reduce the pressure of the loop.
2. Lay the victim on their back.
3. Call emergency medical services.
4. Start basic life support (see Basic Life Support).
5. The victim may have fractured cervical vertebrae, so try to immobilize the neck and move the patient very carefully.
6. If stabilizing the neck interferes with resuscitation, prioritize resuscitation.
Risks and notes
Do not discard the rope or any object that was used to strangle the neck, do not untie the knot, as it may be important for clarifying the circumstances of the incident.