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I presumed the report would be all over FR, hence one of the reasons I differentiated between airway and carotid blood flow to the brain.

There have been times, when the carotid was what we were aiming to crush, vs direct airway. It really is easy, and does not take that much pressure.

Floyd’s airway was not cut off, his carotid artery carrying blood to the brain was at least intermittently being fully compressed. The officer was at least at times only using his right leg for balance, placing most of his weight on the carotid.

When the carotid gets compressed, the carotid artery then tries to deviate to one of the sides, in order to provide blood to the brain. Not only were we taught this as EMT’s, but I have seen this several times. Again, it’s how we are made.

The officer was not directly cutting off the airway. The airway was not directly facing the officer.

Floyd would have been face down, except he naturally had his head turned (as everyone does), in order to try and breath and communicate, exposing his carotid artery to the weight and movement of the officers knee.

Floyd’s unsupported body weight was itself resting on his own diaphragm and lungs (which gets more dangerous as people age), and which is again one of the long standing ttp’s used to weaken an opponent or suspect, and to keep them subdued, vulnerable, and less able to fight. With arms behind the back, they have to work much harder to breath under their own weight alone.

It’s just how we are made.

If Floyd already had a pre-existing condition, or was using narcotics, thise would serve to mess him up more.

It is amazing he lasted so long.

Personally, I don’t think he lasted that long. I believe he was gone well before the officer took his knee off.

I dont know if the report was true, but there was “reporting” that Floyd’s body was evacuating itself. This also happens when a person goes unconscious, or dies, as those muscles totally relax/let go.

IF true, it is likely that is when he was either about dead, or dead. And that reportedly happened well before the officer took his knee off Floyd’s carotid area.