Medi dica cal Impl pliicati tion ons s of
Edged Edge d Weapon Assa Assault ult
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2009
The Medical Implications of Bladed Weapon Assault. It must always be remembered that there is no safe level of knife assault and no such thing as any bladed weapon that when used in an assault should not be considered a deadly weapon. W. E. Fairbairn is recognized as one of the founders of combat edged weapon systems and co-de signer of the famed Fairbairn-Sykes ghting knife that was widely used by the military. Fairbairn described the basic targets of the human physiology which were the most vulnerable to a knife assault. The most vulnerable targets focused on large arteries which would lead to quick blood loss or a rapid drop in blood pressure. Six targets consisting of four arteries: Brachial, Radial, Carotid and Subclavian as well as the heart and the stomach were deemed to be the areas that were most likely to be involved in a fatal knife assault. It was his contention that successful knife aacks to these targets would result in death or quick incapacitation due to loss of the blood volume, and for this reason all encounters with an edged or bladed weapon must be considered a potentially fatal aack. Fairbairn developed what was known as the “Timetable of Death” and whilst it is contentious as to whether it is accurate in a complete sense, it can be considered a guide to the seriousness of having any injury to these areas as a result of being aacked with a bladed or edged weapon. This chart was the rst to identify the depth below the surface of the skin of vulnerable targets, and the time estimated to lapse into unconsciousness and nally die from their knife injuries. Fairbairn’s Original Timetable of Death.
EXPLAINATION OF FIG. 112 No.
Name of Artery
Size
1...... 2...... 3...... 4...... 5...... 6......
Brachial Radial Carotid Subclavian (Heart) (Stomach)
Medium Small Large Large ---------
Loss of Depth below Surface Consciousness in Seconds in Inches. 1/2 1/4
11/2 21/2 31/2 5
Death
14 30 5
11/2 Min. 2 “ 12 Sec.
2 Instantaneous Depending on depth of cut
31/2 “ 3 “
FIG. 112
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2009
It has now become apparent that there is no correlation between the length of the blade and its lethal potential. In many countries knives with very small blades have not been considered capable of causing fatal injuries and as a result, their legal systems have challenged ocer’s deadly force decisions based on the length of a knife blade. To the uninformed , it is widely believed that unless a blade is more than 3 inches long, the knife should not be considered a deadly force threat, and is treated accordingly. Because of the many deaths caused by a large variety of small bladed weapons including “box cuers” or Stanley Knives, it is clear that this assumption is wrong. It is obvious that a 1/2 inch blade on a “box cuer ” is capable of delivering a fatal slash wound to targets such as the Carotid Artery or any number of other vulnerable points that appear on the side of the neck. This fact should reinforce the grave risks of allowing a potential aacker armed with a bladed weap on to close the distance with a person who is unaware of the lethal capabilities of a 1/2 inch knife blade and as a result is hesitant in recognising it as a deadly force situation . Ultimately ignorance of the facts could become a contributing factor in the death or serious injury of the victim. Category of Bladed Weapons. There is a dierent method in technique and distancing in defending against these various edged weapons, which involves varying levels of knowledge, skill and determination.
1) The Screwdriver or Chisel. This falls into the lower danger category because it is only a stabbing weapon and doesn’t have a cuing edge, therefore making it possible to grab hold of without the risk of injury.
2) The Syringe. This is also a stabbing implement which is capable of causing injury, but is also dangerous because of it’s possible contents and their potential to infect the victim with blood born diseases.
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2009
3) The Box Cuer and Stanley Knife. This is a small slashing razor-edged blade which is quite oen contractible and was brought to the public’s aention because of it’s use on the hacked planes in the 911 terrorist aacks in the U.S.
4) The Shiv. Primarily a jail weapon used for rapid re, multiple stabbing strikes, but may also have a sharp edge. It is also capable of causing injury if the sharpened point is dragged across the surface of the skin or face.
5) The Drink Glass and Broken Bole. These are generally weapons of opportunity that are used to stab and to cut. These weapons have many sharp points as well as many cuing edges and can be dangerous to defend against. Oen used from behind or the side of the victim to strike at the face or neck. Aacks with these kinds of edged weapons are commonly used in altercations on licensed premises.
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2009
6) The Flick or Folding Knife. A knife that is folded and can be opened quickly. They come in various congurations such as spring loaded (automatic), gravity loaded or Balisong. They can have one sharp edge or two.
7) The Straight Blade. These knives come in many shapes and sizes and can have one sharp edge or two.
8) The Hatchet or Axe. These are both swinging chopping implements with the smaller hatchet being more mobile and able to be used for faster blows. The axe is slower and harder to use with quick blows against an opponent.
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2009
9) The Sword and Machete. The machete is a large single-edged, bladed weapon which is generally swung in a chopping, cutting motion. It can also be used to stab. The sword is a larger, single or double edged bladed weapon which is generally swung in a chopping or slashing motion but can also be used to stab. These can be extremely sharp along their cuing edge as in the case of the “Samurai” sword. Slashing Bladed Weapons Weapon
Blade Length
Usual Targets
Stanley Knife or “Box Cuer”
10mm-50mm
Head, Neck, Arms
*Broken Bole or Drink Glass *Flick or Folding Knife *Straight Blade
50mm-130mm
Head, Neck, Arms
50mm-140mm
Head, Neck, Arms, Legs, Torso
50mm-220nn
Head, Neck, Arms, Legs, Torso
Hatchet or Axe
Variable
Head, Neck, Arms, Torso
*Machete or Sword
220mm-800mm
Head, Neck, Arms, Torso
Stabbing Bladed Weapons Weapon
Blade Length
Usual Targets
Screwdriver or Chisel Syringe Shiv
100mm-180mm
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen
Needle 15mm-45mm
Anywhere
120mm-200mm
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen
50mm-130mm *Broken Bole or Drink Glass 50mm-140mm *Flick or Folding Knife 50mm-220nn *Straight Blade 220mm-800mm *Sword * Denotes that these weapons can be used for both stabbing and slashing strikes.
Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen Head, Neck, Torso, Abdomen Anywhere
In Conclusion. These bladed and edged weapons are capable of inicting fatal injury to key circulatory vessels that lie just beneath the surface of the skin. The vital veins and arteries which can be found in the neck, as well as the heart lying just below the surface of the Sternum are extremely vulnerable to any aack by a sharp or pointed implement of any description, regardless of the blade length. All persons that are confronted, threatened or assaulted with a bladed or pointed weapon must treat the situation as having potentially fatal consequences and act accordingly.
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2 009
Deadly Knife Assault Targets
Right Carotid Artery External Carotid Vein Internal Jugular Vein External Jugular Vein Brachiocephalic Trunk
Eye Temple Throat
1
2
1
3 4
Lungs Heart Diaphragm Liver Stomach
5
*Under the organs Kidneys Abdominal Aorta Inferior Vena Cava Commom Iliac Artery Commom Iliac Vein
1 2 3 4 5
All Rights Reserved © Specialist Prevention 2009
