Positional asphyxia, also known as postural asphyxia, is a form of asphyxia which occurs when someone's position prevents them from breathing adequately. A small but significant number of people die suddenly and without apparent reason during restraint by police, prison (corrections) officers and health care staff. Positional asphyxia may be a factor in many of these deaths.
People may die from positional asphyxia by simply getting themselves into a breathing-restricted position they cannot get out of, either though carelessness or as a consequence of another accident.
Small children under two are particularly at risk from positional asphyxia.
It has been hypothesized that crucifixion killed its victims by slow positional asphyxia as they became exhausted.
Research has suggested that restraining a person in a face down position is likely to cause greater restriction of breathing than restraining a person face up. Many law enforcement and health personnel are now taught to avoid restraining people face down or to do so only for a very short period of time. Risk factors which may increase the chance of death include obesity, prior cardiac or respiratory problems, and the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine.
Some researchers report that the effects of restraint on oxygen levels is limited, and that other factors must be present to explain sudden deaths during restraint.
Asphyxia can literally be translated from the Greek as meaning 'absence of pulse', but is usually the term given to deaths due to 'anoxia' or 'hypoxia'.
Posturalasphyxia is a related condition, recently coming to the fore due to interest in deaths in police custardy etc, and may involve splinting of the diaphragm during restraint, coupled with the additional requirements for oxygen during a struggle.
When oxygen is not able to reach the lungs because of external occlusion of the mouth and/ or nose, or the airway at the level of the larynx is obstructed (eg by a bolus of food), the cause of the asphyxial death is 'obstruction of the airways'.
Positionalasphyxia, also known as posturalasphyxia, is a form of asphyxia which occurs when someone's position prevents them from breathing adequately.
Positionalasphyxia is a potential danger of many physical restraint techniques, and of some sexual bondage techniques.
People may die from positionalasphyxia by simply getting themselves into a breathing-restricted position they cannot get out of, either though carelessness or as a consequence of another accident.
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