Emerita
Martyr for Peace
- Jan 16, 2025
- 31
This is for educational reasons and is just from what I understand/know. Please do your own research to verify any information.
What is Near Hanging?
Near hanging refers to situations where an individual attempts suicide by hanging but survives long enough to reach the hospital. Hanging involves strangulation and is one of the most common methods of suicide worldwide, primarily due to its perceived accessibility, speed, and lethality.
Types of Hanging
There are two primary types of hanging in the case of suicide:
1. Partial Hanging: Part of the body remains in contact with the ground. This method is often attempted because it is easier to find a location. However, the pressure around the neck is typically less intense and less consistent, leading to a potentially slower loss of consciousness. Lower risk of brain damage if found in adequate time frame.
2. Complete Hanging: The individual is fully suspended, which normally results in a quicker loss of consciousness and a higher likelihood of death.
Factors Influencing Lethality
The lethality of hanging is influenced by multiple factors, with time being the most critical. The duration of hanging significantly impacts survival rates, followed by the degree of compression and obstruction. Emergency medical attention is the final factor that may affect outcome.
Medical Response to Near Hanging
When emergency medical responders arrive, they typically follow the ABC protocol:
A— airway: Ensuring the airway is clear.
B— breathing: Assessing and supporting breathing.
C— circulation: Monitoring blood circulation and pressure.
The first action is to safely release the ligature if it has not already been done. Then securing the airway, provide ventilation or oxygen, monitor heart/ BP and assess for any potential injuries, such as neck fractures (this is uncommon). At hospitalization possible neurological evaluation may be conducted to know the extent of injuries.
Physiological Effects of Hanging
1. Airway Obstruction: The airway becomes blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs.
2. Compression of Blood Vessels: Reduced blood flow and or congestion
The carotid arteries, supply blood to the brain
Jugular veins, drain blood from the brain
3. Vagal Nerve Stimulation: This can cause a change in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to cardiac arrest.
These factors can result in unconsciousness within seconds, while death may take several minutes.
Causes of Near Hanging
- The position of the ligature
- The type of ligature used
- Inadequate knots
- Slipping or breaking of the ligature
- Timely intervention
Near hanging cases involve a hanging that was not long enough for fatal outcome, as time is the most critical aspect of survival.
Potential Side Effects
Survival of hanging can lead to potentially a range of side effects for various lengths, including but not limited to:
- Ligature marks
- Neck soreness
- Tissue damage in the neck
- Damaged voice box loss or change of voice
- Breathing difficulties, including aspiration pneumonia or ARDS
- Jugular injury
- Motor deficits
- Cognitive decline
- Memory issues
- Speech problems
- Brain damage
- Psychological effects
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in the digestive process
- Visuomotor
- Intellectual impairment
- Personality changes
Individuals may arrive at hospital initially in a coma, they may wake up but complications can arise after the initial survival, leading to death later.
Social Impacts
Survivors of near hanging may face various social challenge:
- Stigma associated with their attempt
- Difficulty finding stability in their lives
- Ongoing mental health issues
- Challenges in reintegrating into social and work environments
- Potential for substance abuse
It is not uncommon for someone to not be able to recall their attempt, especially right afterwards. Confusion when waking in the hospital, feeling of fear may be seen as well in some cases anger. This lack of insight of their attempt may cause issues possibly not seeking support.
Conclusion
The effects of near hanging is complex. Hanging is high risk of death and is considered to be a violent means of self-harm compared to other methods.
Severe neurological defects may be reversible if intervention is within half an hour of suspension, but before cardiac arrest has occurred. Most hangings are lethal before reaching hospital care. However, near hanging patients either survive with mostly favorable function neurologically and are discharged, or die in the hospital. Meaning survival with severe neurologic disability or in a vegetative state is rare, not impossible though. Yet multiple if not many cases of uncomplicated recovery have also been recorded. Also note this fails to mention failed attempts that are not hospitalized, leading to a lack of insight for those cases.
What is Near Hanging?
Near hanging refers to situations where an individual attempts suicide by hanging but survives long enough to reach the hospital. Hanging involves strangulation and is one of the most common methods of suicide worldwide, primarily due to its perceived accessibility, speed, and lethality.
Types of Hanging
There are two primary types of hanging in the case of suicide:
1. Partial Hanging: Part of the body remains in contact with the ground. This method is often attempted because it is easier to find a location. However, the pressure around the neck is typically less intense and less consistent, leading to a potentially slower loss of consciousness. Lower risk of brain damage if found in adequate time frame.
2. Complete Hanging: The individual is fully suspended, which normally results in a quicker loss of consciousness and a higher likelihood of death.
Factors Influencing Lethality
The lethality of hanging is influenced by multiple factors, with time being the most critical. The duration of hanging significantly impacts survival rates, followed by the degree of compression and obstruction. Emergency medical attention is the final factor that may affect outcome.
Medical Response to Near Hanging
When emergency medical responders arrive, they typically follow the ABC protocol:
A— airway: Ensuring the airway is clear.
B— breathing: Assessing and supporting breathing.
C— circulation: Monitoring blood circulation and pressure.
The first action is to safely release the ligature if it has not already been done. Then securing the airway, provide ventilation or oxygen, monitor heart/ BP and assess for any potential injuries, such as neck fractures (this is uncommon). At hospitalization possible neurological evaluation may be conducted to know the extent of injuries.
Physiological Effects of Hanging
1. Airway Obstruction: The airway becomes blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs.
2. Compression of Blood Vessels: Reduced blood flow and or congestion
The carotid arteries, supply blood to the brain
Jugular veins, drain blood from the brain
3. Vagal Nerve Stimulation: This can cause a change in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to cardiac arrest.
These factors can result in unconsciousness within seconds, while death may take several minutes.
Causes of Near Hanging
- The position of the ligature
- The type of ligature used
- Inadequate knots
- Slipping or breaking of the ligature
- Timely intervention
Near hanging cases involve a hanging that was not long enough for fatal outcome, as time is the most critical aspect of survival.
Potential Side Effects
Survival of hanging can lead to potentially a range of side effects for various lengths, including but not limited to:
- Ligature marks
- Neck soreness
- Tissue damage in the neck
- Damaged voice box loss or change of voice
- Breathing difficulties, including aspiration pneumonia or ARDS
- Jugular injury
- Motor deficits
- Cognitive decline
- Memory issues
- Speech problems
- Brain damage
- Psychological effects
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in the digestive process
- Visuomotor
- Intellectual impairment
- Personality changes
Individuals may arrive at hospital initially in a coma, they may wake up but complications can arise after the initial survival, leading to death later.
Social Impacts
Survivors of near hanging may face various social challenge:
- Stigma associated with their attempt
- Difficulty finding stability in their lives
- Ongoing mental health issues
- Challenges in reintegrating into social and work environments
- Potential for substance abuse
It is not uncommon for someone to not be able to recall their attempt, especially right afterwards. Confusion when waking in the hospital, feeling of fear may be seen as well in some cases anger. This lack of insight of their attempt may cause issues possibly not seeking support.
Conclusion
The effects of near hanging is complex. Hanging is high risk of death and is considered to be a violent means of self-harm compared to other methods.
Severe neurological defects may be reversible if intervention is within half an hour of suspension, but before cardiac arrest has occurred. Most hangings are lethal before reaching hospital care. However, near hanging patients either survive with mostly favorable function neurologically and are discharged, or die in the hospital. Meaning survival with severe neurologic disability or in a vegetative state is rare, not impossible though. Yet multiple if not many cases of uncomplicated recovery have also been recorded. Also note this fails to mention failed attempts that are not hospitalized, leading to a lack of insight for those cases.
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