How to escape a strangulation attempt: Tulsa County deputy shares self-defense tips

Strangulation is one of the deadliest forms of domestic assault. Victims can become unconscious in less than 10 seconds and can die within minutes. Experts call it the ultimate show of power and control over the victim, as the assailant literally controls their next breath. Victims who have been strangled are 750 percent more likely to be killed by the same person.,

Knowing how to respond could save your life. Deputy Kimber Take with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office teaches both law enforcement and citizens how to defend themselves. She walked through how to escape when someone is strangling you—from behind or on the ground, the two most common scenarios.

What should you do if someone attacks you from behind?

Take said awareness and immediate action are crucial.

“If I have a subject coming up behind, I immediately put hands on either side of the elbow, make myself a hole to my airway and tuck my chin,” she said. “Make my feet as wide as they’ll possibly go. Drop your butt to the floor, right knee to the ground, twist and escape.”

How quickly can someone lose consciousness?

If the attacker cuts off the carotid arteries on either side of the neck—the main blood supply to the brain—you could be unconscious in six to eight seconds. If they release, you might regain consciousness in about that same amount of time.

However, if the attacker cuts off your airway from the front, you may have a little more time to fight, but the risk of death is even higher.

How do you protect your neck during an attack?

Take said protecting the neck is one of the first things you should do.

“So, I want to take my hands on either side of the elbows, dig deep, tuck my chin and protect everything in my neck,” she said.

Breathing is key—if you can’t breathe, you can’t fight back.

How can mental preparation help?

Thinking through scenarios ahead of time can give you a critical advantage.

“Absolutely, your brain can’t do what it doesn’t know,” Take said. “So foreshadowing, practicing, running scenarios in your mind lays the work for something your brain thinks it knows how to do.”

What if the attacker has you on the ground?

Take advised bringing your feet as close to your butt as possible, then pushing up and over with all your strength.

“So, one arm here, one arm here, bridge high and push that way,” she said. “Bridge, push and get away.”

What if you’re trapped after rolling the attacker off?

If the attacker traps you with their legs, Take said to grab them or their belt, get up tall to protect your neck and face, punch as hard as you can, and do whatever it takes to get away.

Domestic Violence Intervention Services hotline number: 918-743-5763

Other resources: Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention: Free Resources

Related Coverage:

How to escape a strangulation attempt: Tulsa County deputy shares self-defense tips

Strangulation can kill days later: The hidden, lasting effects

Breaking The Silence On Domestic Violence: Resources

This story is part of News On 6's Oklahoma's Own In Focus, which takes a closer, in-depth look at stories and issues that impact Oklahomans' daily lives.