THE CHOKING GAME
I read a newspaper article, today, about how almost a third of U.S. doctors have never heard of the “choking game.” For those reading this who may not know, the “choking game” is a dangerous activity that older children and early adolescents play to get a brief high. They either choke each other, or use a noose to choke themselves. This game is also known by many other names, such as:
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The blackout game
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Passout game
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Scarf game
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Space monkey
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Fainting game
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Flatliner
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Airplaner
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Cloud nine
According to the Web site for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ChokingGame), after just a short time, children can pass out, which may lead to serious injury or even death from hanging or strangulation. Horrifying.
The CDC lists some warning signs that a child is playing the choking game:
- Discussion of the game or its aliases
- Bloodshot eyes
- Marks on the neck
- Wearing high-necked shirts, even in warm weather
- Frequent, severe headaches
- Disorientation after spending time alone
- Increased or uncharacteristic irritability or hostility
- Ropes, scarves, and belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs, or found knotted on the floor
- The unexplained presence of dog leashes, choke collars, bungee cords, etc.
- Pinpoint bleeding spots under the skin of the face, especially the eyelids or conjunctiva.
The site also states that boys are more likely than girls to die while playing this game and that deaths occur all over the U.S. This game is not limited to one area of the country. There is no research available on the best strategies to prevent children from playing the choking game. However parents, educators, and health-care providers should be made aware of this issue and the warning signs that go with it.
The previously-mentioned newspaper article suggests that this game could be much more prevalent than those in the medical profession know. A scary thought. That means many casualties of the game could have been mistakenly attributed to suicide or unintentional choking.
Is your child playing the choking game?