Helium hood method

Questions to those using ******** cylinders:

What size tank are you using?

How many bars are you setting the gas regulator to?

What kind of hose are you using to connect to the exit bag?

PSI is not used to measure flow. You must be looking at a gauge that tells you the outlet pressure. The other gauge tells you the inlet pressure (the pressure in the cylinder).

Are you avaliable for chat>? if so email me
kenneth5874bv@gmail.com

You can get a regulator/flowmeter combination where the flowmeter measures the flow in units of cfh or lpm.

Flowmeters calibrated for ******** flow are made. My flowmeter tube has four sides that can measure ********, helium, argon, or co2. It measures flow in units of cfh (cubic feet per hour) which can be converted to lpm by multiplying the cfh number by 0.47

I live in the US and I was able to purchase the supplies from online welding supplies stores based in my country. I do not know if any of them ship to Canada.

I think you are confusing the outlet pressure gauge with a flow meter, it is not a flow meter as it does not control or measure flow and there is no way of knowing what the flow rate is by looking at the delivery pressure reading. The point of the flow meter is to give flow rate readings, not delivery pressure readings.

To see an example of what I am trying to explain find an image of this gas regulator on *** gle: victor hvts2570. A flow meter is attached to the regulator. There is only one pressure gauge and this measures the pressure in the gas cylinder. There is no outlet pressure gauge because the delivery pressure is already preset to 25 psi. The flow meter is calibrated at this pressure to give flow rate readings (cubic feet per hour). I think this particular flow meter’s scale is for argon gas (there is a way to convert the readings to ********).

With the current setup you have there is no way to control the flow of gas. Ask your welding supply store if they can get you a regulator/flow meter that gives flow rate readings for ******** gas in cubic feet per hour (cfh).

For variable area flow meters there are correction factors you can use when the gas being used is different than what the flow meter was calibrated for. For ******** being used with a flow meter calibrated for argon the correction factor is 1.19.

For Example, ******** gas being used with a flow meter calibrated for argon:
30 CFH * 1.19 = 35.7 CFH
35.7 * 0.472 = 16.8504 LPM

Search on google for this document: 03_VA-FLOW-EN.pdf. It has a table of correction factors to use for flow meters that are calibrated for different gases.

Other correction factors for ********:

flow meter calibrated for Co2: 1.26
flow meter calibrated for Helium: 0.38
flow meter calibrated for Argon: 1.19

Here is the document i was referring to. table starts on page 14.

library.abb.com/GLOBAL/SCOT/SCOT211.nsf/VerityDisplay/9C6E85641DB99A5EC125717F0038C0CD/$File/03_VA-FLOW-EN.pdf

The following paper represents one of the first published accounts of the process of dying using helium to induce asphyxiation. The study occurred at a Swiss right to die organization. The study involves four cases (1 male and 3 females.). Face masks were used instead of plastic bags.

This paper should be read by anyone who is considering this method.

Assisted suicide by oxygen deprivation with helium at a Swiss
right-to-
die organisation

Russel D Ogden, William K Hamilton, Charles Whitcher,

Abstract
Background: In Switzerland, right-to-die organisations assist their
members with suicide by lethal drugs, usually barbiturates. One
organisation, Dignitas, has experimented with oxygen deprivation as an
alternative to sodium pentobarbital.

Objective: To analyse the process of assisted suicide by oxygen
deprivation with helium and a common face mask and reservoir bag.

Method: This study examined four cases of assisted suicide by oxygen
deprivation using helium delivered via a face mask. Videos of the
deaths were provided by the Zurich police. Dignitas provided protocol
and consent information.

Results: One man and three women were assisted to death by oxygen
deprivation. There was wide variation in the time to unconsciousness
and the time to death, probably due to the poor mask fit. Swiss law
prevented attendants from effectively managing the face mask
apparatus. Purposeless movements of the extremities were disconcerting
for Dignitas attendants, who are accustomed to assisting suicide with
barbiturates. None of the dying individuals attempted self-rescue.

Conclusions: The dying process of oxygen deprivation with helium is
potentially quick and appears painless. It also bypasses the
prescribing role of physicians, effectively demedicalising assisted
suicide. Oxygen deprivation with a face mask is not acceptable because
leaks are difficult to control and it may not eliminate rebreathing.
These factors will extend time to unconsciousness and time to death. A
hood method could reduce the problem of mask fit. With a hood, a flow
rate of helium sufficient to provide continuous washout of expired
gases would remedy problems observed with the mask.

In Switzerland, Article 115 of the Penal Code makes assisted suicide
punishable only if it is performed with selfish motives. While this
legal situation makes it possible for anyone to assist in suicide, as
long as there is no selfish motive, right-to-die organisations have
led the development of an open practice that ensures routine reporting
of assisted suicides to the authorities for criminal investigation.
Every year there are several hundred such deaths and prosecutions are
very rare.

The two largest Swiss right-to-die organisations were established in
1982. In Zurich, Exit Deutsche Schweiz was founded for German-speaking
members. In Geneva, Exit ADMD (Association pour le droit de mourir)
was founded for French-speaking members. In 1998, Ludwig A Minelli, a
human rights lawyer, founded Dignitas—To live with dignity—To die with
dignity. Foreigners make up the majority of suicides assisted by
Zurich-based Dignitas, thus the organisation is frequently
characterised as a destination for ‘suicide tourism’ This suicide
tourism was the subject of an acclaimed 2007 documentary, ‘The suicide
tourist’, which aired on television networks in several countries. The
documentary showed the assisted suicide of a terminally ill man who
drank sodium pentobarbital.

There is a fundamental difference between Switzerland and other
jurisdictions that permit assisted suicide. In Belgium, The
Netherlands, Oregon and Washington, patients must request assistance
from a physician, who then evaluates the patient’s eligibility with
regard to terminal illness or unbearable suffering. In Switzerland, it
is right-to-die groups that evaluate requests for suicide assistance
in accordance with the person’s prognosis, suffering and disability.
Under the Swiss model, the role of physicians in suicide assistance is
generally limited to assessing competence and prescribing a lethal
dose of sodium pentobarbital. The drug is usually stored by the right-
to-die organisation. Someone from the organisation, who is normally
not a doctor or nurse, assists by preparing the drug and handing it to
the patient/member to drink.

In some cases, patients who have difficulty swallowing have self-
administered the drug through a stomach tube or a percutaneous
endoscopic gastrostomy catheter. Swiss law allows an assistant to
engage in preparatory activities such as setting up an intravenous
drip, but it is legally critical that the individual member who wishes
to die must carry out the final act independently. Right-to-die
organisations ensure that there is a witness to the final act, and in
the case of Dignitas, it is routine to provide video evidence to the
police, which helps to speed the criminal investigation.

On 31 January 2008 the medical director of the Canton of Zurich took
the position that physicians must consult with patients more than once
before prescribing sodium pentobarbital. Dignitas interpreted this as
a signal that the cantonal medical director intended to restrict
suicide assistance. It was also viewed as an obstacle to Dignitas’
foreign members, particularly those who would delay their travel to
Switzerland to a point at which return trips for further medical
consultations were out of the question.

Dignitas believed that the cantonal medical director’s position
infringed on a person’s right to self-determination and the freedom of
its resident physician to prescribe sodium pentobarbital. Therefore,
Dignitas explored oxygen deprivation with helium as an alternative to
an active pharmaceutical such as sodium pentobarbital. The application
of a non-drug method would help Dignitas establish that medical
control over assisted suicide is not necessary.

Physiology of suicide and oxygen deficiency
Humans require sufficient oxygen to live. Without it, the body’s
oxygen cycle will break down and death will occur. The effects of
hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) are well known; sudden exposure to severe
oxygen deficiency will result in loss of consciousness within 5–10 s
and within 2 minutes permanent brain injury is probable.

Progressive human response to oxygen-deficient atmosphere
Dignitas intended to achieve oxygen deprivation by introducing near
100% of the inert gas helium into a mask, to replace the atmospheric
air that participants are normally breathing. The composition of air
is approximately 21% oxygen and 78% ********, and thus the gas expired
in the first few breaths may add sufficient oxygen to the inspired
mixture to delay the effects of oxygen deficiency. To obtain the
maximum advantage, the replacement of atmospheric air with helium must
occur very rapidly. Humans can ‘live’ for several minutes while
breathing very low concentrations of oxygen, so the system must almost
immediately exclude expired breath, which normally contains
approximately 14% oxygen.

This may be accomplished by one of two methods. One is to have a
reservoir bag and mask apparatus similar to that used in clinical
anaesthesia. To exclude expired breath totally, a system of two
unidirectional valves directs expired gas to the atmosphere and allows
helium to fill the reservoir bag, from which inspiration occurs. The
other method is to introduce continuously into the reservoir a steady
volume of 100% helium equal to or greater than two and a half times
the individual’s normal minute volume (approximately 10 litres per
minute in an average adult). This requires a flow metre in the system.
Normal minute volumes for humans can be found in physiology texts.
This continuous flow of helium acts to ‘air condition’ the reservoir
bag by totally washing out expired gas. A critical necessity of these
methods is a perfect fit of the mask to the face so that room air will
not enter the system. This is an important matter—maintaining such a
good fit often requires considerable expertise. Straps and harnesses
are helpful, but they add a dangerous possibility of facilitating
respiratory obstruction.

The use of inert gas, such as helium, for suicide and assisted suicide
is a relatively recent trend. Helium is non-flammable and non-toxic,
and it is often chosen for suicide because its low odour and low
viscosity make it very easy to breath. This gas is also widely
available, given its applications in industry and for party balloons.

In brief, helium is used to replace oxygen. Human exposure to a 100%
helium environment will result in the sudden loss of consciousness
without warning. Continued exposure will result in death from anoxia
within a very few minutes.

The suicide guidebook, ‘Final exit’, did not discuss inert gas methods
when it was first published in 1991. The 2002 edition, however, offers
illustrated instructions on suicide with a plastic bag ‘hood’ filled
with helium.

This study is based on videos of four assisted suicides by oxygen
deprivation with helium, which occurred at Dignitas in the first
quarter of 2008. Dignitas routinely provides video evidence of
assisted suicides to the the Kantonspolizei Zurich (cantonal police),
and the police return the videos after their investigation. In this
instance, the copies returned by the police contained a technical
malfunction that interfered with the playback. In April 2008,
Dignitas’ Ludwig Minelli arranged an appointment with the police so
that the principal researcher could view the videos at the police
station. At that time, the police corrected the technical error and
provided copies of the videos to Minelli and the researcher. Dignitas
also provided a German language copy of its client information sheet,
the protocol for helium, and a blank copy of the client consent.

It is important to bear in mind that the videos are used to establish
that the assisted suicides are lawful. As such, the videos are
Dignitas property, shared for the purpose of researching the technical
aspects of oxygen deprivation with helium. The Dignitas informed
consent included the following clause, to which its members agreed:
“I hereby declare that I am prepared to assist Dignitas in assembling
its own data on the helium method, in my own interests as well as the
interests of other members of Dignitas, and am therefore prepared to
take these risks to myself into account.” (translated from German)

Before data collection, the principal researcher submitted an ethics
application to the Research Ethics Board (REB) at Kwantlen Polytechnic
University, British Columbia, Canada. The REB responded with a series
of questions about privacy, anonymity, terminal illness, Swiss right-
to-die groups and secondary use of data. The researcher appeared
before the REB to explain that the identities of persons receiving
assisted suicide was not known and anonymity would be protected. In
private, the REB deliberated and decided that secondary video analysis
did ‘not deal with human participants and so is not appropriate for
review by the REB’. Therefore, the research was exempted from REB
review.

The process of suicide by oxygen deprivation with helium
Dignitas members choosing to die from this method received training in
two stages. First, they received a document entitled, ‘Instructions
and terms and conditions for informed consent’. This consent process
explained why helium was being used instead of sodium pentobarbital,
the known effects of helium, and a caution that Dignitas had little
experience with this method for assisted suicide.

The second stage required that Dignitas members choosing to die by
oxygen deprivation practise the correct placement of a mask that
covered their nose, mouth and chin, in what was called the ‘working
position’. With the tubing disconnected from the helium tank, the mask
would next be placed in a ‘preparatory position’ with the elastic band
positioned over the ears and around the back of the head, and with the
mask resting on the member’s forehead. The member would practise
moving the mask from the preparatory position to the working position
(figure 1). Once the mask was in the working position, the member was
instructed to place his or her hands at the sides of the body. The
above process would be repeated until the Dignitas assistant was
confident that the member could carry out the steps competently.

Mask in ‘working position’. Mask is similar to type used by Dignitas
for breathing helium (photo RD Ogden).
An additional instruction was that the member should exhale deeply
immediately before placing the mask in the working position. According
to Dignitas’ protocol, this would have the effect of ‘clearing the
lungs of all used air so that the breathing with helium functions
properly’. We believe that this forced expiration, although it may
result in a deeper inhalation, would have little or no significant
effect on the process of oxygen deprivation.

The protocol required that the member confirm that she or he was
confident with the process. If not, then Dignitas would inform the
member that the suicide could proceed at a later date with sodium
pentobarbital, after another physician consultation.

If the member was both confident with the process and capable of
positioning the mask correctly, the Dignitas protocol required that
the assistant explain the following:
“[T]he assistant must explain to the member that, when the member
places the mask in the prescribed and practiced manner over his or her
own nose, mouth, and chin, and begins to breathe helium, he or she
will, after few breaths, lose consciousness. Because breathing will
continue without difficulty, the resulting oxygen deprivation will
cause a breakdown of brain function. Should this breakdown persist for
longer than three minutes, the consequence is virtually certain
severe, permanent brain damage. Oxygen deprivation to the brain
results finally in death, which will occur without the conscious
realization of the member, as he or she will have long before passed
out, and his or her consciousness terminated….”

The informed consent process for assisted suicide by oxygen
deprivation noted that despite what had been published about the use
of helium, Dignitas was inexperienced with the method and there could
be ‘unexpected consequences’. Members agreed that they were willing to
assume these risks and that they were ‘prepared to assist Dignitas in
assembling its own data on the helium method’, for the benefit of
themselves and others (translated from German).

Variables
The main attributes for observation are time to unconsciousness,
breathing patterns, movements of the extremities, eye and eyelid
movements and time to reach death.

Results
We present four cases of assisted suicide using helium as an
alternative to sodium pentobarbital. Specific health information was
not provided, but the decedents were one man and three women (aged 61,
73, 73 and 89 years). Each death took place in bed with the members
resting on their backs as shown in figure 1.

Summary of findings
In each case, helium flow was initiated before the mask was put in the
working position. Time is recorded with 0 s marking the moment when
the member finished placing the mask in the working position.

Case 1 (male)
In accordance with the Dignitas protocol, the member exhaled deeply
before placing the mask in the working position. Subsequent breathing
appeared normal for approximately 35 s, and then the breathing rate
accelerated. At this point (36 s), the eyelids opened, the eyeballs
rolled, and the head tilted back. It is estimated that consciousness
was lost approximately 36 s after the face mask was in place.

At approximately 60 s, there were purposeless movements in the arms.
The left arm extended upward and reached about involuntarily. The
right hand was held by an attendant, for support. The attendant
appeared surprised at the arm movements. Without struggle, the
attendant continued to hold the member’s right hand. Gross arm
movements and fine tremors lasted for approximately 1 minute.
Eventually, both arms relaxed and the left arm rested with the hand
under the lower back.

Approximately 3 minutes after the start of the procedure, breathing
appeared to stop, except for six gasps between 3:05 and 6:30. There
were two faint breaths at 7:16 and 7:55. The helium flow was shut off
at 8:25. After the gas was stopped, there were four gurgled snorts at
8:38, 9:07, 9:17 and 10:15.

Case 2 (female)
After exhaling deeply and placing the mask in the working position,
the member appeared to breathe normally for approximately 50 s, after
which the breathing rate accelerated and the eyelids blinked rapidly.
It is estimated that consciousness was lost approximately 47 s after
the face mask was in place. At approximately 58 s the eyelids fixed
open. At 1:05 there were tremors in the arms, arching of the back and
the head tilted back. At 1:18 the neck relaxed and at 1:36 the back-
arch relaxed. At 1:37 the left arm contracted at the elbow, relaxing
15 s later, and then contracting/relaxing two more times over the next
45 s. There were two more slight movements in the left arm at 6:33 and
6:46.

At 2:14 the member exhaled deeply and this was accompanied with a
moaning sound that lasted for 12 s. From 2:45 through to 8:35 there
were 21 short gasps, spaced apart by as few as 6 s and as long as 47
s. At 11:47 the gas flow was stopped, more than 3 minutes after the
final gasp.

Case 3 (female)
This member exhaled before applying the mask to her face, but she then
spoke a few words, which suggests that she may have inhaled room air
before the mask was in the working position. She spent 11 s adjusting
the mask in the working position and approximately 3 s after releasing
her hand from the mask she uttered a few indistinct words. After the
mask had been in the working position for at least 26 s, the Dignitas
attendant spoke to the member. The member nodded affirmatively,
indicating that she was conscious. At 52 s, the member’s breathing
rate began to accelerate and her eyelids fluttered and blinked. Loss
of consciousness is estimated to be approximately 52 s after the face
mask was in place. At 1:06 her eyelids fixed open, her head tilted
back and her quickened breathing continued. At 1:21 the left hand
clenched into a fist and at 2:33 the left arm slowly extended for 10
s. During this same period the member’s lips vibrated with her exhaled
breaths, implying relaxation of facial muscles.

At 2:23 there was a contraction of the left arm, a deep exhalation at
2:30, a contraction of the left arm at 2:50, and at 3:17 there was a
big snort and extension of the left arm. At 4:03 breathing paused and
then at 4:17 there were seven quick short breaths lasting to 4:33. At
4:48, 4:43 and 4:56 there were three final breaths.

Case 4 (female)
The member exhaled before placing the mask in the working position and
after 30 s she appeared conscious. At 33 s she nodded ‘yes’ to an
attendant’s query whether she was breathing. Immediately afterwards
the member’s eyelids blinked rapidly. It is estimated that
consciousness was lost 55 s after the mask was put in place. At 1:11
her eyeballs rolled and there were tremors in both hands. The tremors
continued to 2:06 and then the body appeared relaxed. At 2:09 the
breathing rate quickened for approximately 6 s. At 3:03 there was a
slow extension and contraction of both arms, which then relaxed at the
member’s sides at 3:26.

At 3:58 breathing began to accelerate, pausing occasionally, and then
accelerating again. From 5:36 to 10:12 there was intermittent moaning.
During this same period the eyelids were open and the eyeballs were
moving, but without appearance of control. Between 10:13 and 38:16,
intermittent patterns of accelerated breathing, relaxed breathing and
moaning continued. During this period a number of movements occurred:
at 26:03 the head tilted back; at 30:41 the shoulders shrugged and
left arm contracted; at 34:55 the left shoulder shrugged; at 37:06
both arms contracted for 10 s after which the member appeared quite
inert.

At 38:16 the camera was turned off, to replace the video tape. The
time elapsed for this is not known. The duration of the second tape is
26:57. At 0:49 of part 2 the member let out a deep gasp and the head
tilted back to 0:57. At 1:31 the tongue extended slightly and
withdrew. This tongue movement continued at 15–20 s intervals until
3:45, after which no further signs of life were apparent. The camera
continued to run from 3:45 to 26:57, but the member appeared dead.

The recorded time from the start of the procedure to cessation of all
signs of life was approximately 42 minutes. The actual time from start
to finish is not known due to the change of video tape. The changes in
breathing patterns, moaning and longer dying time appeared to concern
and confuse the Dignitas attendants.

Conclusion
The estimated time to unconsciousness ranges from 36 to 55 s, which
varies greatly from 5 to 10 s noted by Clayton and Clayton.11 Precise
determination of unconsciousness onset is not possible, but it
appeared to coincide with blinking eyelids, rolling eyeballs and
increased breathing rate. In general, arm movements were limited to
uncoordinated contractions or extensions at the elbow. Neither
attendants nor members touched the mask once it was placed in the
working position. There were no attempts at self-rescue, which implies
that each member was unconscious.

While the camera was focused on the dying member, the attendants could
occasionally be observed, and they appeared anxious about the process.
One attendant later stated that the sudden change in skin colour
(cyanosis), and wide open eyelids were unexpected, because with sodium
pentobarbital the loss of consciousness is slower and the eyelids tend
to remain closed.

The time to death in cases 1–3 was approximately 5–10 minutes, and in
case 4 it was over 40 minutes. In case 4, it is probable that
sufficient oxygen was leaking into the breathing system to sustain
breathing and heart function.

Although each member followed the same breathing protocol, variances
in breathing patterns and total time to death can be attributed to
health differences, variable rebreathing, inspiratory leaks and
dilution of the inhaled mixture with room air (which would include 21%
oxygen). While health information and flow rate data are unavailable,
the video image reveals variances in the fit of the mask. Gaps noted
between face and mask would have allowed room air to enter into the
breathing environment, thereby extending the time to unconsciousness
and the time to death. Even if the Dignitas attendants were trained to
recognise a poor mask fit, they probably could not make adjustments
without running foul of the law. This is because Swiss law requires
the dying individual to perform the final act, and a third party
intervention to adjust the mask would probably constitute an offence.

We conclude that much of the variability in time to unconsciousness
and death can be attributed to differences in the mask fit. A hood
method could reduce the problems of fit. The fit at the collar must be
loose enough to serve as an exhaust port, but tight enough to ensure
that the flow of gas will maintain inflation of the hood.

Discussion
In these four cases, oxygen deprivation by breathing helium through a
mask proved lethal. Nevertheless, we believe a mask breathing
apparatus is problematical because it is very difficult to achieve and
maintain a gas-tight seal between the face and the mask. Even if the
initial mask fit is gas tight, subsequent involuntary movements of the
head, neck and facial muscles are likely to spoil the fit. In
anaesthesia, it is well known that achieving a continual airtight fit
is technically difficult. Even tiny leaks may substantially allow the
ingress of oxygen into the breathing environment. By enhancing the
video images, gaps are visible around the nose bridge and under the
chin, thus room air could easily prevent an oxygen-free environment.
Gaps of some degree may well have been present in all four cases.

The inspired concentration of air, and therefore oxygen, will be
determined by the relative amounts of added helium and expired gas. To
replace expired air completely, and thus ensure the highest possible
concentration of helium, the flow rate of added gas (helium) has been
determined to be a volume of at least two and a half times the
individual’s minute volume. This would be true with either the bag and
mask as used by Dignitas, or with the use of a large hood. This flow
rate would require tubing of an adequate internal diameter to deliver
helium from the tank to the inhalation system.

‘Final exit’ offers detailed information about using a plastic bag
hood and helium for suicide. For aesthetic reasons, Dignitas chose a
mask instead of a hood. A hood, however, may be easier to manage than
any mask that we know. The elastic collar on a hood provides an
exhaust port.

Sudden exposure to a completely oxygen-deficient environment should
result in loss of consciousness within 5–10 s. Given the visibly poor
mask fit, and that the estimated time to unconsciousness ranged
between 36 and 55 s, it is probable that the breathing environment was
not completely oxygen deficient. In two case reports of sudden
exposure to a helium environment inside a hood, Ogden reported loss of
consciousness within 10–12 s.

Assistance with suicide is not necessarily a medical procedure and
these cases of oxygen deprivation show that the prescribing role of
physicians and the use of drugs can be bypassed. Ziegler recently
noted that the Swiss model of assisted suicide has significant
potential to inform the debate over the right to die, and that it
‘could also help demedicalize the way that we die’. The transparency
of the Swiss model and the boldness of organisations such as Dignitas
provide unique opportunities to shed light upon otherwise hidden
behaviours. Switzerland is probably unique in that its right-to-die
organisations can account for nearly 5% of all suicides. Given the
nature of Swiss law and the good faith transparency and accountability
of right-to-die groups in that country, the Swiss model offers unique
opportunities for the observation and measurement of a phenomenon that
cries out for empirical enquiry and understanding.

Over the last few weeks, Ive been reading the postings of a man from the UK on a newsgroup where suicide methods are discussed. He detailed his plan for using an industrial high pressure gas cylinder of ******** with an exit bag. In late 2011 he made one of his last posts before carrying out his plans. In his last post he said he would post back if his attempt was not successful. As far as I know he was never heard from again.

The man I am referring to went by the name ‘saintgod’ on this newsgroup:
groups.google.com/group/suicide-methods-hideout
He also posted on this group as ‘anonymous’
groups.google.com/group/alt.suicide.methods

If you are considering using a high pressure gas cylinder to carry out this method I suggest you read some of his postings on the groups mentioned above. He provided a great deal of information in regards to this method and reading his postings is the main reason I have chosen to use an industrial gas cylinder if I choose to carry out this method in the future.

Below I have pasted (in bold) one of saintgod’s last messages where he details exactly what he used to carry out his method. Some web addresses have been omitted.

1) 9L Gas cylinder of ********

6) The exit bag….see elsewhere!

From what was written above, you can gather that the following will be required to carry out this method:
– Gas Cylinder
– Regulator/Flowmeter
– hose fitting (which will connect to the regulator/flowmeter)
– tubing
– Exit bag

I will expand on these things below. Note that I am from the US and some things may be slightly different in your country.

Gas Cylinder

These can be found at welding shops or gas supply stores. The cylinders will be listed as the amount of compressed gas they can hold. Common sizes are 20, 40, 60 and 80 cubic feet. I would personally choose a 60 or 80 cubic foot cylinder.

Regulator/Flowmeter

Pressure regulators for gas cylinders will usually have two gauges. One gauge shows the pressure inside of the cylinder (inlet pressure) and the other gauge shows outlet pressure (AKA delivery pressure). The outlet pressure is controlled by turning a knob or ‘T-Screw’ on the regulator clockwise.

Saintgod used a two gauge regulator with a flowmeter. He bought the flowmeter and regulator separate. He would have had to set the outlet pressure on the regulator to the calibrated pressure of the flowmeter. Setting the outlet pressure is not required if you get a regulator/flowmeter such as this one:

scottgrossstore.com/servlet/the-1738/Victor-HVTS-2537-dsh-580-Two/Detail

The regulator shown above does not have a second gauge for outlet pressure because the outlet pressure is factory preset to 25 PSI (Note that this is the pressure the flowmeter is calibrated for). Also, this is a two stage regulator just as saintgod used. Two stage regulators provide a stable outlet pressure as the pressure drops in the cylinder. Single stage regulators, which tend to be cheaper, increase the outlet pressure as the cylinder decreases in pressure. This means that the flow rate on a single stage regulator/flowmeter will not be as stable over time compared to its two stage counterpart.

It may not be absolutely necessary to purchase a two stage regulator/flowmeter but you should perform an exhaustive test with the regulator you are using to ensure that an adequate flow rate (greater than or equal to 15 liters per minute) will be maintained for at least 30 minutes. You can always refill your cylinder if you lose a significant amount of gas during testing. The link below has more information on two stage and single stage regulators.
gases.co.in/drupal/index.php?q=node/25

This link has information on how different pressures effect the flow rate readings on flow meters:
netwelding.com/Pipeline%20Flow%20Variations%20w-%20Pressure.pdf

One last note on regulator/flowmeters: When choosing a regulator/flowmeter, make sure the scale on the flowmeter goes up to at least 20 liters per minute. You may see scales that are in units of CFH (cubic feet per hour). To convert these numbers to LPM (liters per minute) multiply the CFH number by 0.47.

If the flowmeter you are using is calibrated for a gas other than ******** then you can use a correction factor to find the approximate flow rate for ********. The table found at this link has correction factors for ******** and other gases.
coleparmer.com/TechLibraryArticle/813
The table is called ‘specific gravity correction factors’.

Hose fitting

In the US, most regulators for inert gas cylinders have a 5/8 – 18 (also referred to as CGA 032) female outlet. To connect 3/8 ID (inside diameter) tubing to the regulator/flowmeter you will need a CGA 032 male nut and hose a nipple. Search on google for these two parts:
Western enterprises AW-14A
Western enterprises AW-19
one is a male nut and the other is a hose nipple.

Tubing and Exit Bag

3/8 ID tubing can be found at a hardware store such as home depot.

For detailed instructions on how to make the exit bag see this video:
youtube.com/watch?v=f4VrKvGKvYw

********, helium, and argon are all inert gases which will displace oxygen in an enclosed environment. I can’t say for sure the exact differences that helium and ******** have on the body in regards to this method because as far as I know there hasn’t been a documented study for using ******** gas to induce asphyxiation. There are however, case reports of deaths resulting from ******** asphyxiation in industrial plants, laboratories, and medical facilities.

I can understand if you want to use helium given its documented track record with this method. If you do use helium it doesn’t mean that you have to use a disposable helium tank such as the tanks provided in the ‘Balloon time kits’. In the United States, industrial gas cylinders of inert gas (argon, helium, ********) have the same valve (called CGA 580) which means whether you choose a gas cylinder filled with ******** or helium, the setup will be the same. The only difference will be the regulator you use as you would want a regulator/flowmeter with a scale for helium gas.

I’m not realy sure of that… fisrt, they don’t have the same density… you know into a bag, helium gonna go automaticly to the top of it and expulse other gas to the bottom… but with nitro… 78% of the air are actually made of nitro… so into a bag… it will just mix up with the rest of the air… Have you think about that ?

I am not sure what you are saying here. Inside the exit bag, while the inert gas is flowing inside of it at an adequate rate, and the collar of the bag is around the neck, there should be a high concentration of inert gas present. This should hold true no matter what inert gas is used. The amount of other gases inside the bag at that moment should be negligible.

Here is a quote from the Peaceful Pill Handbook

“With helium in the bag instead of air, one doesn’t
have to ‘breath down’ the oxygen in the bag from an initial
21% to < 5%. Helium in the Exit Bag displaces the air (and
oxygen). It is important to note that the helium, itself, does
not interact with the body. Helium has no taste or smell and
quickly dissipates after death. There is no test that can reveal
its use. Helium is not the only gas that could be used. There
is nothing particularly special about helium, indeed any gas
that does not react with the body, is odourless and available
in a compressed form would do. Other inert gases that could
be used include: argon, neon, even ******** – the gas which
makes up 80% of the air we breath."

KiKiC, you say that the idea of the elastic and toggle is not so simple. Can you share with us why you think its problematic?