I know we all like to have a bit of fun now and again, a sherbets with our mates down the local and a good old laugh. Now for most of us, we know when to stop drinking. We know when we’ve had enough. But for a few of us, we don’t know when to stop!
What if you were involved in a fight? What if someone got punched? What if that someone was you?
Jonathan Woodhall was one of those people. He was punched so hard during a fight in a beer Garden in Great Barr, Birmingham after trying to stop the fight but was knocked out cold. He hit the ground with such force that the 27-year-old father suffered a brain injury and died the following day in hospital.
Since Jonathan's death, it has become clear that he is not the only man to have lost his life this way. ONE PUNCH killings are happening far too often.
We must raise awareness about mindless violence and how ONE PUNCH CAN KILL. We aim to educate young people about the dangers of losing control of their temper and they too, could land a fatal punch or even be the one the be on the receiving end.
Sadly this has happened to many other families worldwide.
All we ask is that young people learn to drink responsibly & think of their actions & consequences.
It happens all too often: fun nights out turning bad because people's judgement is clouded by alcohol and they end up getting embroiled in situations they'd normally avoid.
"When drinking, fights can be sparked by the most insignificant things like a silly argument, accidentally spilling a drink or even a stray glance. It's no excuse to say it was 'the alcohol talking' and anyone involved in violence can expect to spend at least one night in a police cell? and possibly much longer in a prison cell."
𝐒𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞?
When a person is punched on the head, the impact will cause the brain to hit the skull.
Like a large bouncy ball in a small space, the brain may then rebound and smash into the other side of the skull. This bouncing back and forth can also cause twisting of the brain stem: again think of the large ball bouncing around in a small space that’s not quite spherical, like a skull with facial bones.
When picturing the impact of a punch or fall on the brain, think of the brain like jelly on a plate: shake the plate hard enough and the jelly will shake and begin to tear. When a brain ‘rattles’ inside the skull, the neurons and cells making up the soft brain tissue can be damaged and torn apart.
There are a number of conditions that can result from this trauma to the brain.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
A person who has been punched might experience the effects of a concussion.
They may or may not lose consciousness, and for a time their cognitive functions might be impaired. They will most likely have a headache, might have memory loss, nausea, dizziness and ringing in the ears.
Post-concussive syndrome may continue to affect the person after their injury. The more concussions they’ve had in the past, the worse the effects could be.
𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦
As the brain twists from being shaken about, the brain stem can be damaged and torn. A small part of the brain about the size of a thumb, the brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord. Among other things, the brain stem is responsible for autonomic nervous system functions like regulating breathing, heartbeat and digestion. Damage to the brain stem can be a life-threatening injury.
𝐒𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
If the hit person loses consciousness and falls, they may hit their head on the ground or a piece of furniture. The sound will be something like two snooker balls colliding.
This might result in a fractured skull. If they’ve got a depressed skull fracture, parts of their broken skull will press into their brain. Once again, their brain will bounce around in their skull, creating further trauma.
𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧
Like any part of the body, when injured the brain swells. Swelling of the brain can cut off access to blood by squeezing shut the arteries and blood vessels that supply it.
After eight to 10 seconds without fresh blood to the brain, consciousness is lost. After four to six minutes without the oxygen the blood supplies, the brain begins to die. After five minutes, if this doesn’t result in death, it will result in irreversible brain damage.
As the brain swells, pressure inside the skull increases. If the brain swells larger than the skull that holds it, it may begin to press outside of the skull into the nasal cavity, out of the ears and through any skull fractures. Surgeons may have to drain fluid from around the brain or remove part of the skull to help ease the pressure of the swelling.
𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚
Trauma to the brain may also cause a haemorrhage, or bleeding inside the skull or brain. Without immediate treatment, this condition is deadly, as is a hematoma, or blood clot, that forms from the escaping blood.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞?
The brain has limited ability to heal itself. Often the brains of people recovering from brain injuries “rewire”, working around the damaged part of the brain to restore some function.
Survivors of one punch attacks can experience lifelong effects from their brain injury. They may not be able to return to work or study, may have ongoing psychological problems and may require help with basic tasks like shopping, cooking and catching transport.
No matter how old, big, strong, healthy or experienced with fighting someone is, one punch can be enough to kill anyone, or cause them permanent, life-altering damage.
If you are teaching Self Protection, teach the importance of controlling a persons decent, it may save your students from facing charges of manslaughter.
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DJN
Fendo UK