Use of a pig model to demonstrate vulnerability of major neck vessels to inflicted trauma from common household items.
Or: You gave us a grant to stab a pig with all the random crap we could think of and all you got was this stupid report. Joking aside, this looks like a cool study. Commonly available items including a ball point pen, a plastic knife, a broken wine bottle, and a broken wine glass were used to inflict stab and incised wounds to the necks of 3 previously euthanized Large White pigs. With relative ease, these items could be inserted into the necks of the pigs next to the jugular veins and carotid arteries. Despite precautions against the carrying of metal objects such as knives and nail files on board domestic and international flights, objects are still available within aircraft cabins that could be used to inflict serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. If airport and aircraft security measures are to be consistently applied, then consideration should be given to removing items such as glass bottles and glass drinking vessels. However, given the results of a relatively uncomplicated modification of a plastic knife, it may not be possible to remove all dangerous objects from aircraft. Security systems may therefore need to focus on measures such as increased surveillance of passenger behavior, rather than on attempting to eliminate every object that may serve as a potential weapon.
Hopefully the take away from this is "Airport security precautions are worthless security theatre" and not "we should make airline passengers fly naked, and drug them during the flight..." |