Hi,

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control recently released the results of the first-ever government study on the “choking game.” This is a game where children try to asphyxiate (themselves or with a friend’s help) and lose consciousness, and then experience euphoria with the rush of oxygen when they revive. If they regain consciousness, that is.

The CDC found that at least 82 children have been killed since 1995, just playing the game. This is just an approximation, since there are no official records. CDC had to make their estimate by scouring the news reports. The first incident was reported in 1995, and there were less than 3 deaths per year, until 2004.

And then there were more: 22 deaths in 2005, 35 in 2006, and 9 in 2007. The victims were young, ranging from 6 to 19 years old, and came from 31 states. Most kids engaged in this behavior are between ages 9 and 14.

The Web site GASP (Games Adolescents Shouldn’t Play on www.stop-the-choking-game.com) estimates even more deaths. Its campaign was started by Sharron Grant of Ontario, Canada, whose 12-year-old son strangled himself in 2005 using a computer cord to play the choking game.

According to the GASP tally, 30 children died in 2004, 74 in 2005, and 101 in 2006; they have tallied 66 deaths for 2007 and 2 so far in 2008.

The choking game has other names: Pass-Out Game, Blackout Game, Fainting Game, Tingling Game, Space Cowboy, California Dreaming, Space Monkey, and, probably the most appropriate, Suffocation Roulette, as suggested by Israeli doctors. It involves children or adolescents trying to cut off circulation by choking, strangling, or suffocating a friend until he/she passes out. Then they release the pressure, which gives a tingling sensation and euphoria that lasts a few seconds as the friend regains consciousness. They may engage in the game, and their parents may be in the next room or in the house unaware of what they’re doing.

The children love the sensation and may get so addicted they begin to play the game alone. They’ll use belts, ties, scarves, ropes, even dog leashes to strangle themselves. This becomes particularly dangerous, since no one is around to help revive them. In the CDC study, 67 of 70 deaths happened when children were playing alone. Almost 90% were boys.

When airflow has been cut off longer than the body can tolerate, the child may suffer brain damage; they may also die, and their deaths may be mistaken for suicides. They may pass out within a minute and die in as little as 2-4 minutes. They’re not trying to kill themselves; they’re normal children and adolescents trying to get high and having some fun.

Even if they don’t die, repeated sessions can lead to permanent disability. A 15-year-old boy in Minnesota was revived but suffered severe brain damage and now looks like he was born with cerebral palsy. Children can also suffer concussions, fractures, and hemorrhaging in the eyes and cornea.

Parents of victims often were not aware of the game, until their children died. Parents should talk to their teens and warn them about the dangers of this game. It is easy to hide, so it pays to be extra vigilant, and watch for:

• Bloodshot eyes
• Suspicious marks on the neck below the ears (they may try to hide the marks with clothing, scarves, etc)
• Frequent headaches, often very painful
• Loss of concentration; disorientation
• Dull noises (thuds) coming from their rooms
• Belts, ropes, scarves, etc., tied to room furniture, doorknobs, or closet poles

Children are playing this game because they think it’s fun. It’s not! It is very dangerous and they need to understand that. Life has no reset button, think safety.

Safe Living,
Yovette Mumford

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