"Choking Game" Kills Teens

Who knows why anyone would think this feels good?"

Published on October 1, 2005 By Sid_Gibson In Parenting

You have undoubtedly read or seen a media bltz on "The Choking Game". If not, do a Google Search using this term or some of the other terms used by teens: space monkey, space cowboy, knockout, gasp, rising sun. The Choking Game is a dangerous mutation of games of old which involve hyperventilation to get a brief sensation of light-headedness, kind of a "high". We did it back in the '50's by holding our breath and "pushing", similar to what people do when they try to unclog their ears as they descend on an airplane. The latest version involves near-strangulation and is either administered by a "friend" or is self-inflicted--it is a DEADLY game. It has already taken the lives of many of our children. In some cases, doubt is raised as to whether the "game" or suicide caused death. Rather than getting into the details here, I can start your search with the following links:

Choking Game Is Deadly Child's Play (ABC News 20/20)

Mother missed signs of 'choking game' (CNN.com)

'Choking Game' A Deadly Trend (CBS News)

'Suffocation games' among kids turn fatal (USA TODAY)

I leave you with a comment from Dr. Thomas Andrew, a pediatrician and New Hampshire's chief medical examiner, an expert on the dangers of this high-risk game:

"Long-term effects have not been studied and one can only speculate what they may be. There are reports of children having sustained enough anoxic (lack of oxygen) brain damage as a result of some catastrophe playing the game to be permanently disabled. Short-term effects may still include sudden death — even when playing with a partner or group. For example, if a player has his/her hands around a partner's neck and stimulates a small mass of nerve cells, called the carotid bodies, the heart can be brought to a virtual standstill. Other short-term effects may be traumatic injury. There have been reports of emergency room visits to repair lacerations of the scalp, sprained wrists and other injuries when a player has passed out and fallen against a piece of furniture or to the floor. One article from France describes damage to the retina in children playing what is called 'the scarf game'."

"There are two parts to the experience. The first is a light-headedness (a perceived "high") due to reduced blood flow, and therefore reduced delivery of oxygen, to the brain. The second part comes with the removal of pressure on the chest or neck releasing a powerful surge of dammed up blood up through the carotid arteries into the brain (a perceived "rush")....

Who knows why anyone would think this feels good?"

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