Strangulation

Sober and conscious victims of strangulation will first feel terror and severe pain. lf strangulation persists, unconsciousness will follow. Before lapsing into unconsciousness, a strangulation victim will usually resist violently, often producing injuries of their own neck in an effort to claw off the assailant, and frequently also producing injury on the face or hands to their assailant. These defensive injuries may not be present if the victim is physically or chemically restrained before the assault.

Observing Changes

Documentation by photographs sequentially for a period of days after the assault is very helpful in establishing a journal of physical evidence.

Victims should also seek medical attention if they experience difficulty breathing, speaking, swallowing or experience nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, headache, involuntary urination and/or defecation, especially pregnant victims. A medical evaluation may be crucial in detecting internal injuries and saving a life.

Losing Consciousness

Victims may lose consciousness by any one or all of the following methods: blocking of the carotid arteries in the neck (depriving the brain of oxygen), blocking of the jugular veins (preventing deoxygenated blood from exiting the brain), and closing off the airway, making breathing impossible.

• Head- pinpoint red spots (petechiae ) on scalp, hair pulled, bump(s), skull fracture, concussion

• Face- red or flushed, petechiae, scratch marks

• Eyes and Eyelids- petechiae to the left or right eyeball

• Ear- petechiae (external and/or ear canal), bleeding from ear canal.

• Nose- bloody nose, broken nose, petechiae.

• Mouth- bruising, swollen tongue, swollen lips

• Under the chin- redness, scratch marks, bruise(s), abrasions

• Neck- redness, scratch marks, fingernail impressions, bruise(s), abrasions, swelling, ligature marks.

• Chest and Shoulders- redness, scratch marks, bruise(s), abrasions

Symptoms of Strangulation