3 common ways in which criminals are executed
Lethal Injection:
This method is the preferred option by most criminals as it is the least painful. The condemned person is bound by a gurney and a member involved in the execution team positions heart monitors onto the skin. Two needles are then inserted into the veins, usually on the inmates arms. Long tubes connect the needle through a hole, going through to the other side of the wall where two drips are at the end. The first needle is a harmless saline solution and starts immediately. Then after a signal a curtain is raised exposing the inmate to the other room. The the second needle injects sodium thiopental, which is an anaesthetic and puts the inmate to sleep. After that, pavilion flows through and paralyse the inmates entire muscle system, eventually stopping him from breathing. Finally the flow of potassium chloride stops the heart. Electrocution: For execution by electric chair the person if often shaved and then strapped to a chair with belts that cross his chest, groin, legs and arms. A skullcap made of metal is then attached to the scalp and forehead over a sponge moistened with saline. The inmate is then blindfolded. After the execution team has left the room the warden then signals to the executioner, who then pulls a handle to connect the power supply. A jolt of between 500 and 2000 volts is given, this usually lasts for 30 seconds. They are then turned off, at which the body seems relaxed. The doctors wait for the body to cool and check to see if the inmates heart is still beating, if it is then another jolt is applied. This will continue until the inmate is dead. Hanging: For execution by this method, the inmate may be weighed the day before the execution, and a rehearsal is done using a sandbag of the same weight as the prisoner. This is to determine the length of 'drop' necessary to ensure a quick death. If the rope happens to be too long then the inmate could be decapitated, if it is too short the strangulation could take as long as 45 minutes. The rope, which should be 3/4-inch to 1 1/4-inch in diameter, must be boiled and stretched to eliminate spring or coiling. The knot should be lubricated with wax or soap to ensure a smooth sliding action. The inmate is then blindfolded, with the noose placed correctly around their neck the executioner releases the trap door and the prisoner falls through. |