Autokabalesis: a study of intentional vertical deceleration injuries

Suicidal jumping from a height appears to be a seasonal problem in Glasgow. A series of 58 individuals were studied, giving a total of 60 jumping incidents. Of these, 21 were killed outright, and of 31 reaching hospital a further 11 subsequently died. Many were young, single, unemployed, adult males, the majority of whom had a known psychiatric diagnosis. Jump heights ranged from 1 to 27 floors and jumps from more than 6 floors were almost always fatal. Below this height mortality was related to the attitude of fall. Overall, 50 per cent mortality occurred at the 3rd floor. A wide range of multiple injuries were sustained and the Injury Severity Score was used to grade these for quantitative comparison. This was found to be highly discriminating between survival and non-survival.