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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was choked by hand, rope, cord, or fabric around the neck. They may be unconscious or have voice changes and bruising.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Marks, bruising, or rope burns on neck. Petechiae (tiny red spots) on face or eyes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, drooling, or worsening breathing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unconscious, seizure, or not breathing after release.
Scene hazards: Violence, Unstable hanging point, Assailant still present
Neck injury is likely. Minimize neck movement during rescue and CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ensure scene safe — call police if assault. Call 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If person is hanging: support body weight, cut ligature or loosen knot if rescuers not on scene.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay person flat if no breathing — start CPR with minimal neck movement.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If breathing: keep still, semi-sitting if easier to breathe, monitor constantly.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not give food or drink.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell 112: "Strangulation/hanging. Breathing: yes/no. Conscious: yes/no. Assault suspected: yes/no."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Request police if intentional harm.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All strangulation survivors need hospital monitoring — stroke and airway swelling can occur without obvious external injury.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hoarseness or trouble swallowing developing after release means call 112 again — airway may be swelling.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume they are fine because they can speak.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT massage or heat the neck.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT let them walk away without ambulance evaluation.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If there are no marks on the neck, strangulation did not happen
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Internal injury can be severe with minimal visible bruising. Medical evaluation is still required.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Survivor sent home develops fatal airway swelling or stroke.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Neck compression can fracture structures, cause brain injury from lack of blood flow, and swelling may block airway minutes later.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person may talk normally at first then collapse — delayed airway swelling is common.