Suicidal asphyxia by gas mask.
Antichemical warfare kits that were issued to all Israeli residents 6 months before the Gulf War included masks of various types suited to the age of the user. During the war, 10 adults died of suffocation due to mishandling of the filter of the masks despite the offil Defense Authority's repeated instructions to be cautious. These masks remained in the possession of the population after the war. We report on six cases of suicidal asphyxia incurred by donning the gas mask tightly sealed that have occurred since 1991.
Hiss
J
J
Leopold Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Kahana
T
T
Arensburg
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D013405:Suicide