Survival following accidental scarf strangulation. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shetty, Ullasa; Deepak, M; Hussain, Syed Ather; Usmani, Hadi; Osama, Muhammad; Pereira, Kiran Godwin; Menezes, Ritesh George
• Is Part Of: Medico-legal journal. Volume 84:Part 3(2016)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Accidental strangulation -- pillion rider -- dupatta -- long scarf -- survival -- motorbike -- danger of spoked wheels -- need for mandatory protective wheel guards; Medical jurisprudence -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Crime -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 614.105
• DOI: 10.1177/0025817216643443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-8172

Abstract

Injury or death by strangulation, unless otherwise explained, is almost always homicidal. Accidental strangulation may occur but only very rarely. We present such a case of accidental strangulation and survival in a motorbike pillion rider. A long scarf ( dupatta ) clad woman, sitting at the back of a two wheeler motorbike, fell after her long scarf got caught in the back wheel. The lady was first taken to a local clinic and then later was referred to a hospital for a suspected spine injury where she made an uneventful recovery. This case report exposes the precarious position of women pillion riders wearing a long scarf and emphasizes the need for extra caution and the need for wheel guards on spoked wheels in particular.