Strangulation signs and symptoms

Mar 18, 2025

3 min read

Diagram shows the impact strangulation has on your mind and body

I thought I would explain the word petechiae as this was a word I hadn't heard of before I became a Police officer. It's a word used to describe what happens to the capillaries in your skin after prolonged straining/being strangled, the capillaries can bleed and leak blood into the skin. The visible round spots that form on the skin or inside the eyelid and mouth are small like pin prinks and can be red, purple or brown in colour. They might look like a rash on your skin as they cluster in groups. This appearance can make the marks appear bigger too as they group together.

If you have been strangled or someone confides in you and tells you they've been strangled, please seek medical help. You might suspect a friend/colleague has been injured in this way. Approaching the Police is the next stage but your first priority is having any injuries looked at, Police will guide you through this but for many reasons a lot of survivors don't want Police contact.

Injuries can be documented by either using an app such as Injury Capture, by manual photographs using your mobile phone, asking a trusted friend, family member or colleague to help you, visit a force medical examiner (FME, Police doctor) or attending at a Sexual assault referral centre (SARC).

As a sexual offence liaison officer, my main priority is making sure you are safe and have access to support. If you're in a position where you have to return to the person that's hurt you then you need ongoing support and to know help is out there and that you're not alone. Safety plans can be put in place.

Getting help

If you are in immediate danger or it's an emergency call 999.

You can make an appointment to see your doctor, they will be able to signpost you to help, it will also act as a record and if you are injured, the injuries can be documented with your consent.

'Injury capture' app - download from Google and App stores

An app that lets you record injuries sustained during domestic violence.

If you can't add the app to your phone because of safety reasons, ask a trusted friend to keep the app on their phone.

'Bright Sky' app

Looks like a weather app on your phone but once opened takes you to a supportive webpage that lets you document incidents, capture images, seek advice and get support in your area.

If you would like to report an offence then contact your local Police force.

They will be able to guide you through the process and go through your options, our first and main priority is your safety and wellbeing.

Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge

0808 200 0247

www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Institute for Addressing Strangulation (ifas.org.uk )

www.ifas.org.uk

Refuge - National Domestic Abuse Helpline

0808 200 0247

www.refuge.org.uk

Galop (for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people)

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline