Could Die. Lodged in Your Throat

Fncrs Aeour SrReueu urroru You WERE SrRnucrco. Now WHAT?

. Strangulation is one of the most . Seek medical care immediately! You You were not lethal forms of violence. could die within 36 hours if your . lt only takes 7 seconds to lose injuries are not treated. choked. consciousness. . Make a repoft to law enforcement (city police, sheriff's deputy, or . Death will occur within !lo 21/z police). minutes. campus you . You can die within 36 hours after . Be aware of what were feeling and thinking You being strangled due to internal during the attack and were share those thoughts and feelings injuries. with the professionals who are strangled. . Strangulation occurs when blood assisting you. vessels and air passages are . Keep a log of signs and symptoms closed by external pressure on the you experience, especially in the neck. weeks following the attack. . Strangulation stops oxygen to the . lt cannot be stressed enough: GET brain and blocks the airway. And you MEDICAL ATTENTION as soon as . Strangulation is not choking - possible. Go to the emergency room, choking is having a piece of food a walk-in medical clinic, or your could die. lodged in your throat. private doctor, butjust do it. Your life depends upon it. . Strangulation is caused by manual force (like one hand around your neck, two hands around your neck, CoNTACTS/ RESOURCES a forearm pressed on your neck or Signs, Symptoms, and wrapped around your neck, Emergency Police Department Facts about Strangulation kneeling your on neck). 911 5s2-6300 . Strangulation is also caused by a YWCA crisis line sheriff's Office ligature (like a rope, phone cord, 542-1944 258-481.0 Crime Victirn electrical cord, shoelace) or UM Police Advocate Program hanging. 243-4000 258-3830

. Remember ... Seconds to uM SARC 243'6559 First Step 329-5776 unconsciousness, minutes to Student Advocacy Sexual assault center death. Resource Center resource prous Loc YouR Srclrs lNo Svuprous Srcrus or SmRrcuuaroru SYU oF STRANGULATToN Take photos and record your voice (cell phone works fine). Do this right after your attack and . Face Red or flushed, tiny pinpoint . HEENT* Changes in vision, during the next few days. Signs and symptoms - - may not show up immediately. Documentation red spots (petechiae), scratch marks blurriness, ringing in ears, sore throat, is important. coughing, hard to swallow. voice over time . Eyes and Eyelids Bloodshot eyes, - change (hoarseness, change in sound tiny pin point red spots of voice, difficulty speaking) . Nose Bloody nose, broken nose, - . Respiratory Hard to breathe, chest petechiae - p pain, uncomfortable to lie down flat . Finger tips - Numbness or tingling oz . Gastrointestinal - Heartburn, acid 69 . Ear- Petechiae around and behind reflux, vomiting, nausea the ear, bleeding from the ear canal o.= . Neurological - Dizziness, weakness, . Mouth - Bruising, swollen tongue, loss of consciousness, headache swollen lips, cuts/abrasions . Psychiatric - Memory loss, depression, a . Under the chin - Redness, scratch su icidal, insomnia/can't sleep, : marks, bruises, abrasions nightmares, anxious . Chest - Redness, scratch marks, . Behavior - "Wild" or combative, bruises, abrasions restless, manic, agitated, highly . Neck - Redness, scratch marks, finger emotional, confused nail impressions, swelling, ligature * HEENT = Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat mark(s), single finger or thumb-size E o bruise, other bruises VISIBLE SIGNS E . Head - Petechiae on the scalp o o . Urinary/Bowels - lncontinence, o BLOODRED c wetting oneself , defecating EYE6 (! BROt(EN c o.s0

There may be no external signs of \ BRUlaINO strangulation, but internal damage to your CoRD on throat tissue can result in a stroke, SCRAICHES ROPE BUiNA resulting in death within days or even \ q) years after the strangulation occurred. E lllustration by Yesenia Aceves, tr ! courtesy of Alliance for HOPE c the o www.strangulationtraininginstitute.com o) (o zi,. This p,ojectwas supporied by subgrant No. 15 W04 91821awarded by the state admin istering otfice for the STOP Formula Glant Program. The opinions, o rta , tinO nes, conclusnns, and recommendations expressed i. th s publication are those orthe authors and do not necessarily reflect the views ofthe state or III ,n" ui. o"panmem or Justrce, office on viotence Against women. Brochure contenl compiled by JUST Response, Missoula's coordinated criminaljustice rltrr.irot6! syslem response to domestic violence, administered by the Depanment of Grcnts and Community Programs, Missoula, Montana, with grateful acknow edge me nt to the Alliancefor HOPE, FirstStep Resource Center, RVS Crime Victim Advocates, and theirclients. V.O40116