The Dangers of Strangulation
Trigger Warning: The following information is not meant to scare, but to inform so that the Family Justice Center can help keep people safe. The information below may be triggering to people who have been strangled.
One of the most serious and deadly forms of relationship abuse is strangulation (or “choking”).
People who put their hands around their partner’s neck are very dangerous, and much more likely to seriously harm or kill their victim.
We care about your safety.
If you have been strangled by your partner, contact the Family Justice Center to talk to a domestic
violence advocate about safety planning.
Strangulation Defined:
Strangulation is defined by New York State as the blocking of normal breathing or blood circulation of another person by using hands, arms, legs, an object or in any other way.
Strangulation Is not the same as “Choking”
STRANGULATION
- Pressure (compression) applied to the outside of the neck
- Pressure restricts blood and air getting to and from the brain.
- Usually intentional (done by someone
to someone) - Potential serious physical injury or death, even after the external pressure ends.
CHOKING
- Airway blocked (obstructed from the inside of the neck).
- Food or other foreign object(s) partly or entirely block the windpipe (trachea).
- Usually accidental (generally while eating).
- Minimal potential for long-term physical injury after the blockage is removed.
Strangulation is:
- an extremely dangerous and potentially deadly form of domestic violence / relationship abuse:
- People who have been strangled are 7 times more likely to be killed by their intimate partner (past or present).
- Ten percent of intimate partner violence victims have experienced attempted strangulation.
- often minimized or undetected because there may be no visible injuries.
- a powerful tactic of control for abusers.
- a tactic often used as part of sexual assault.
- generally committed by compressing the neck using a body part such as fingers, hands, forearms, elbows, shoulders, legs, knees or feet; or by using an object.
Recommendations for people who have been strangled:
- Call 911.
- Seek medical attention even if you think you haven’t been injured.
- Call the Family Justice Center at (716) 558-SAFE (7233) to speak with an Advocate about safety planning and other options.
- Report the incident to law enforcement.
- Consider seeking an order of protection from Family Court.
- Take photographs of any injuries or visit the FJC’s Forensic Medical Unit to have injuries documented.
- Keep a log of signs and symptoms you experience in the days/weeks after the attack.
Common Symptoms of Strangulation:
- Fainting / Unconsciousness
- Dizziness
- Voice changes: raspy and/or hoarse voice, coughing, unable to speak, complete loss of voice
- Swallowing changes: trouble swallowing, painful swallowing, neck pain, nausea/vomiting,
drooling. - Breathing changes: difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, unable to breathe.
- Vision changes: complete loss or black & white vision, seeing ‘stars’, blurry, darkness, fuzzy
around the eyes. - Hearing changes: complete loss of hearing, gurgling, ringing, buzzing, popping, pressure, tunnel-like hearing.
- Behavioral changes: restlessness or combativeness, problems concentrating, amnesia, agitation,
Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome, hallucinations. - Dizziness
- Shaking (especially of the legs when trying to maintain balance)
- Memory loss, confusion
- Headaches
- Short-term and long-term brain injury
Strangulation Can Result In:
- Loss of consciousness within 5-10 seconds
- Brain/nervous system injury
- Emotional injury/lasting trauma
- Death within 4-5 minutes
- Injury to the body
- Death in days or weeks after the strangulation occurred
Signs of Strangulation:
- Under the chin: redness, scratch marks, bruise(s), abrasions.
- Neck: redness, scratch marks, fingernail impressions, bruise(s), abrasions, swelling, ligature marks made by a rope, cord, or fabric.
- Lung and throat damage: vomiting, coughing blood, high risk of aspiration (food or fluids being sucked into the airway), pneumonia.
- Head: pinpoint red spots (petechiae) on scalp, hair pulled, bump(s), skull fracture, concussion.
- Eyes and Eyelids: red spots (petechiae) to the left or right eyeball, bloodshot eyes.
- Nose: bloody nose, broken nose, petechiae.
- Mouth: bruising, massive tongue swelling, swollen lips, cuts/abrasions.
- Face: red or flushed, red spots (petechiae), scratch marks.
- Chest and Shoulders: redness, scratch marks, bruise(s), abrasions.
- Ear: red spots – external and/or within ear canal (petechiae), bleeding from ear canal.
- Miscarriage
- Loss of bodily function: involuntary urination and defecation.
See a doctor immediately if:
- You have a hard time breathing.
- It’s painful to breathe.
- You have trouble swallowing.
- Your voice changes.
- You have problems speaking.
We care about your safety.
Strangulation can produce significant long-term consequences.
If you have been strangled by your partner, contact the Family Justice Center to talk to a domestic violence advocate about safety planning.