Compressive Asphyxia:
The death toll in the stampede at Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam’s (TVK) rally at Velusamypuram has climbed to 41, with doctors attributing most fatalities to compressive asphyxia due to crowd crush.
- Asphyxia or asphyxiation occurs when the body does not get enough oxygen.
- Respiration is the process of air moving in and out of your lungs.
- Humans take in oxygen, which is circulated to all of the cells throughout the body via the blood, and carbon dioxide is then removed through the same system.
- When asphyxia occurs, and the body does not get the amount of oxygen it needs, it can cause a person to become unconscious or even die.
- This type of physical asphyxia happens when an outside force keeps you from expanding your chest to breathe.
- Your lungs are “crushed” and can’t take in air.
- This can happen from a crowd of people pressing against your body or a person’s weight on your chest.
