The use of a gas such as Nitrogen along with a closed environment (such as a plastic Exit Bag) can provide the means of a simple, effective, peaceful and entirely lawful DIY death. While Exit research has found that relatively few people would prefer to use a plastic bag and gas over the simple ingestion of a ‘Peaceful Pill’, it remains one of the most accessible and reliable methods available.
Using Inert Gas for a Hypoxic Death The Physiology
Hypoxia is a term meaning ‘low oxygen’. A death that results from inhaling insufficient oxygen is a hypoxic death. While there are several ways that this might occur, the common method is to suddenly immerse oneself in a non-oxygen environment.
A simple way to do this is by filling a plastic bag with an inert gas and then quickly placing the bag over one’s head. To understand why the plastic Exit bag provides a peaceful and reliable way to die, a basic understanding of human physiology is useful.
In normal life, we live in an atmosphere that is 21% oxygen. Interestingly, when there is a decline in the level of oxygen in the air we inhale, we do not experience alarm or concern. As long as we can breathe easily, the sensation that is experienced as the oxygen level drops is one of disorientation, confusion, lack of coordination and loss of consciousness. Death follows soon after. This experience is sometimes likened to being drunk (alcohol intoxication).