The Choking Game

Call it Flat Liner, The Fainting Game or a Trip to Heaven no matter the name, the game is very dangerous and can end in death. In fact it is estimated that anywhere between 250 and 1,000 children die each year in the United States from playing this game. Experts say that the number will never really be known because it is believed that many deaths are labeled as suicides.

How is the game played? The goal of the game is to deprive the brain of oxygen until you blackout. This can be done several ways. You can strangle yourself, be strangled by a friend or use a ligature. You can also hyperventilate until you feel your hands start to tingle then hold your breath. The effect can be enhanced by having a friend give a bear hug or by taking a hard breath, which means to force exhalation without allowing air to escape. The end result is always blackout.

Many of you are asking yourselves why anyone would do such a thing. The answer is simple; they want to get high. Unfortunately, the Choking game is legal, free and offers the players a brief feeling of euphoria. This makes the game very attractive to many children. Adding to the danger is the fact that most have no idea how dangerous the game they are playing really is.

Most players feel the mild effects of strangulation on the body those are muscular spasms, tingling and/or numbness in the hands, feet and around the mouth, dizziness or giddiness and a sense of euphoria. These effects can be just as addictive as any drug. Plus, there is the always present effect of peer pressure. Watching someone twitching, disoriented and stumbling around can be very funny.

The more the game is played the higher the risks are. Brain cells start dying within 5 minutes of oxygen deprivation. Brain damage is a real threat faced by these children as well as damage to the retina. As the desire to play the game grows children become more accustomed to playing by themselves with the aid of ligatures. At this point it is not a question of if they will die but when.

So as a parent what can you do? The most important thing you can do for you children is to discuss the game with them. Explain the dangers involved and what can happen. Let them know that you understand and keep talking; encourage them to talk to you. Some of the signals that your child is playing the game are:

· Unexplained marks or bruises on neck
· Short ropes, cords, belts, leashes, neck ties or plastic bags in odd knots or found in unusual locations
· Blood shot eyes
· Complaints of headaches
· Petechiae (tiny red dots) on face or cheeks
· Disorientation after spending time alone
· Unusual demands for privacy or locked doors

This game is popular and is played by children as young as 9 years old. It is believed that 75% of parents in the US have no clue what is happening in their own homes. It is time to expose The Choking Game for what it is; a major killer of our children.

References
G.A.S.P., (2007). www.deadlygameschildrenplay.com. Retrieved April 16, 2007, from G.A.S.P. Games Adolescents Web site: http://www.deadlygameschildrenplay.com/en/home.asp
Wikipedia, (2007). en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved April 16, 2007, from Chocking Game Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choking_game
Rosenbluth, Julie (2007). www.guidancechannel.com. Retrieved April 16, 2007, from The Choking Game Web site: http://www.guidancechannel.com/default.aspx?index=1878&cat=13
Gross, Kenneth (2006). medlineplus.gov. Retrieved April 16, 2007, from Cerebral hypoxia Web site: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001435.htm