Why does stabbing have a low rate of lethality?

[Pan]

It would seem to me that death by knife would be quick,, given a window of, say, private. If you stab yourself, you would bleed out any thoughts?

 

[narval]

The problem it's not the lethality, it more of making it well. There's things that can go wrong: you'll have to deal with much, very much pain and act with accuracy, strength and with good knife. this only my first impresion, more things can happen or be awared... So i don't advise about this. Probably better options even with a knife

 

[Fragile]

one of the reasons why this method has such low lethality rate is because many of the people that use it do it out of desperation, they want out and they don't have access to the fancy and reliable methods. so they see a knife and think that it will be easy to cut or stab themselves to death... the reality is that doing this is one of the hardest things that there is, even self harmers have trouble with it. there's blood, excruciating pain and many minutes of consciousness while you bleed out if you don't do it properly.

that's the same reason why OD's and cutting have such low numbers, they are the preferred method of people with limited knowledge on the subject and for the ones who are doing it out of pure impulsiveness. but they are also one of the methods that health professionals use the most, and they are quite successful with them. when you have the knowledge and tools necessary for them to work you can turn these methods into something reliable and mostly peaceful.

 

[Jessica5]

Imagine that you're sticking a knife into yourself. You're already in tremendous pain, and you have to force yourself to stick the knife in even further.

It's not that hard to figure out.

 

[Pan]

But wouldn't a stab to the heart be effective? I have read of many who have died doing this.

 

[Krash1990]

But wouldn't a stab to the heart be effective? I have read of many who have died doing this.

Yes, if you're able to do it, but it would be extremely difficult.

A big part of this is SI, plus our natural desire to avoid pain. If you're able to stab yourself in the heart then there are much more efficient and painless methods to CTB.

 

[Pan]

What if you live alone? You could then stab yourself and bleed out over several hours of time, yes?

 

[IrRegularjoe]

Seems like a difficult one. Arteries make you bleed out. So stabbing yourself in places that don't make you die, I can't see that being the least bit easy.

 

[Pan]

I read of an ex-Marine who managed to stab himself several times before bleeding out and dying. That took plenty of courage as I see it. I only wish I had the same fortitude.

 

[deadmalk]

I would imagine that a very good and sharp fillet knife to the cardioid artery would work. You would have to just have one good solid swipe. I once accidentally (it was opening a gift) stabbed the area between my thumb and forefinger with a very sharp knife that I didn't even feel, that's how sharp it was. I knew I stabbed my self ( there were kids around me watching) and immediately pinched my fingers together. I stood up, watched to the kitchen and told my wife we needed to go to the ER. When she asked why, I opened my fingers and blood squirted out. I honestly didn't even feel any pain and it went in the length of the blade, which was around two inches. Anyways, I think you could make it work, but my question is, how long would it take to pass out in this method?

 

[Pan]

Good question. I have heard cutting the femoral arteryis effective, then I have heard that prisoners will opt for the carotid in the neck. It is confusing, particularly because I am not a cutter and have no experience with it. I live alone, so I reason that even if I did'nt bleed out immediately, I would be dead, say, at least the next day. My next door neighbor dropped dead by heart attack two days ago; god, how I envy him...

Yes, if you're able to do it, but it would be extremely difficult.

A big part of this is SI, plus our natural desire to avoid pain. If you're able to stab yourself in the heart then there are much more efficient and painless methods to CTB.

What would you suggest as a more efficient method? Some say that, short of a gun, hanging is the go to method, if you will.

 

[BridgeJumper]

I think its because it takes hella will power and determination
I could fling myself off 15 meters but I could barely prick my sternum with a knife

 

[Y78]

I would imagine that a very good and sharp fillet knife to the cardioid artery would work. You would have to just have one good solid swipe. I once accidentally (it was opening a gift) stabbed the area between my thumb and forefinger with a very sharp knife that I didn't even feel, that's how sharp it was. I knew I stabbed my self ( there were kids around me watching) and immediately pinched my fingers together. I stood up, watched to the kitchen and told my wife we needed to go to the ER. When she asked why, I opened my fingers and blood squirted out. I honestly didn't even feel any pain and it went in the length of the blade, which was around two inches. Anyways, I think you could make it work, but my question is, how long would it take to pass out in this method?

i had the same injury but with cutting sugar cane !
its slipeed and cut it and i bleed (no er!!! im not on tv) alot i think a few hours
they stich it with medical glue.no worry.

i know if you cut 1 cm deep in wrist and you ofcourse failed -you need stiches.

you cut anthing almost -thats take hours to bleed.hours.

your "it"- over hour.
full main vein hand - hours.
main vein in leg- maybe hour.

only carotid will do in few sec. and its 1.5 cm deep as far as i know which mean you need firm and strong slish over side of neck.

you need to loose 20% of blood to faint / die. its 2 litter about.
thats alot.

 

[SpottedPanda]

It seems to depend entirely about where the wound is, and if it hits any major arteries or not