Method How high is considered a "long drop"?

[Topaz111]

I am considering an anchor point, but I worry it might be too high and I will have a high chance of breaking my neck instead of dying through oxygen deprivation. I am aware this is a risk with any hanging, but it's more likely as higher hights.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

but I worry it might be too high and I will have a high chance of breaking my neck instead of dying through oxygen deprivation.

I don't get this here. The goal of long-drop hanging is breaking the neck to be almost instantly dead rather than asphyxiation.

Official Table of Drops - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Topaz111]

I don't get this here. The goal of long-drop hanging is breaking the neck to be almost instantly dead rather than asphyxiation.

Official Table of Drops - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The point is, I don't want this to be a long drop. The idea of trying to break my neck to die is far scarier and probably riskier than trying to asphyxiate myself, probably because I have already tried the latter twice and I know how it feels.

 

[Forveleth]

Could you use a longer rope so you are hanging lower from your anchor point and therefore have a smaller fall? I do not have anything to back this up, but I fear anything longer than a few inch drop will leave you with the chance of becoming paralyzed which would be a massive problem if you survive.

 

[Topaz111]

Could you use a longer rope so you are hanging lower from your anchor point and therefore have a smaller fall? I do not have anything to back this up, but I fear anything longer than a few inch drop will leave you with the chance of becoming paralyzed which would be a massive problem if you survive.

Wouldn't it be the other way around? Shorter rope=shorter distance before the fall is stopped
Longer rope=longer way down
I could be wrong though
I guess I will just have to look for other options.

 

[DignifiedGrave]

The point is, I don't want this to be a long drop. The idea of trying to break my neck to die is far scarier and probably riskier than trying to asphyxiate myself, probably because I have already tried the latter twice and I know how it feels.

So if you drop at all without breaking your neck its a botched execution and will probably hurt a lot in the moments before LOC. If you want a hanging without breaking your neck you need to read on partial suspension hanging. You can do full suspension with feet very close to the ground but your full body weight may cause a lot more initial discomfort/pain then with psh though it's faster and technically more reliable

 

[Forveleth]

Wouldn't it be the other way around? Shorter rope=shorter distance before the fall is stopped
Longer rope=longer way down
I could be wrong though
I guess I will just have to look for other options.

Just thought this through again. It made sense in my head at the time but it does not now. Apologies.

 

[JesiBel]

Wouldn't it be the other way around? Shorter rope=shorter distance before the fall is stopped
Longer rope=longer way down
I could be wrong though
I guess I will just have to look for other options.

Greater fall (distance) means greater velocity and impact (increasing the risk of severe injury/death). If the impact is too severe, you could even decapitate yourself.


In any case, I don't recommend Drop Hanging. Full Suspension Hanging is better; you can have more control over the situation, since the death mechanism is the deprivation of oxygenated blood flow to the brain, not breaking the neck. It even allows you to test the setup and practice before an attempt.

 

[Captive_Mind515]

I don't see how distance from anchor point to the ground makes any difference to breaking your neck? Your body (and hence your neck) is not going to know the difference between being 1ft/1m off the ground or 100ft/100m off the ground. It's not really a factor at all as regards the mechanism of action.

 

[JesiBel]

I don't see how distance from anchor point to the ground makes any difference to breaking your neck? Your body (and hence your neck) is not going to know the difference between being 1ft/1m off the ground or 100ft/100m off the ground. It's not really a factor at all as regards the mechanism of action.

Uhmm, in Drop Hanging the "impact force" is relevant to break the neck.

Otherwise, the executioners (hangmen) wouldn't have bothered making calculations and tables that they refined over the years.

(I think that's what OP is worried about.. if the distance of the "fall" is significant enough to cause that type of injury)

A longer drop increases the body's speed before the rope arrests the fall (sudden stop, the rope reaches its length limit) = greater impact forces on the neck.

Also a heavier person has more mass. That is why this method (Drop Hanging) was avoided in very obese prisoners due to the risk of decapitation.

Returning to Full Suspension Hanging FSH: here, no "drop" from a height is necessary, since the goal is to adequately compress the carotid arteries in the neck. Positioning the ligature correctly, pre-adjusting it around the neck, and kicking away the chair are the main steps to follow. Any strong, sturdy anchor point that provides a distance of about 50–60 cm (roughly the height of a chair) above the ground is sufficient for FSH.

 

[Captive_Mind515]

Uhmm, in Drop Hanging the "impact force" is relevant to break the neck.

Otherwise, the executioners (hangmen) wouldn't have bothered making calculations and tables that they refined over the years.

(I think that's what OP is worried about.. if the distance of the "fall" is significant enough to cause that type of injury)

A longer drop increases the body's speed before the rope arrests the fall (sudden stop, the rope reaches its length limit) = greater impact forces on the neck.

Also a heavier person has more mass. That is why this method (Drop Hanging) was avoided in very obese prisoners due to the risk of decapitation.

Returning to Full Suspension Hanging FSH: here, no "drop" from a height is necessary, since the goal is to adequately compress the carotid arteries in the neck. Positioning the ligature correctly, pre-adjusting it around the neck, and kicking away the chair are the main steps to follow. Any strong, sturdy anchor point that provides a distance of about 50–60 cm (roughly the height of a chair) above the ground is sufficient for FSH.

The OP said they did not want to do drop hanging, that's why I was confused about why the height was a relevant factor in their planning.

 

[Topaz111]

Uhmm, in Drop Hanging the "impact force" is relevant to break the neck.

Otherwise, the executioners (hangmen) wouldn't have bothered making calculations and tables that they refined over the years.

(I think that's what OP is worried about.. if the distance of the "fall" is significant enough to cause that type of injury)

A longer drop increases the body's speed before the rope arrests the fall (sudden stop, the rope reaches its length limit) = greater impact forces on the neck.

Also a heavier person has more mass. That is why this method (Drop Hanging) was avoided in very obese prisoners due to the risk of decapitation.

Returning to Full Suspension Hanging FSH: here, no "drop" from a height is necessary, since the goal is to adequately compress the carotid arteries in the neck. Positioning the ligature correctly, pre-adjusting it around the neck, and kicking away the chair are the main steps to follow. Any strong, sturdy anchor point that provides a distance of about 50–60 cm (roughly the height of a chair) above the ground is sufficient for FSH.

Thank you, this is exactly what I meant.
I have tried FSH in the past, but have failed due to the rope breaking. I am considering trying FSH again, but the anchor point I have available is likely too high up and the hight would make the impact too bad and render it a drop hanging which I want to avoid.
I will have to look for another spot.

 

[JesiBel]

Thank you, this is exactly what I meant.
I have tried FSH in the past, but have failed due to the rope breaking. I am considering trying FSH again, but the anchor point I have available is likely too high up and the hight would make the impact too bad and render it a drop hanging which I want to avoid.
I will have to look for another spot.

Perhaps as a possible solution, you could buy a longer rope that allows you to tie the ligature at a more appropriate and comfortable height.

My anchor point is also high up, and I need a ladder to reach it and tie the rope to it. Then, with the remaining rope, I can tie the ligature while standing in a chair.
In this way, even the body will be at an "accessible" height for the person who finds me, and the "fall" will be only a few centimeters (with the ligature -Arbor knot- already pre adjusted around the neck)

Spoiler: About ropes

Polyester or polypropylene ropes are strong synthetic materials. Always check the WLL (Working Load Limit); it should be greater than your weight.

▪︎ Tensile Strength and Breaking Strength differences

▪︎ Safety factor, Tensile/Breaking Strength, Working Load Limit WLL/ Safe Working Load SWL

Always test your entire setup (rope + anchor point); they must be strong. You can hang from the rope with your full weight, holding it with your hands. Repeat the test a few times to be sure nothing will break.