The Choking Game: Children in Danger

There is a frightning new epidemic on the rise. Studies have suggested that children as young as 6 are participating in a new "game". It's called the Choking Game. It's usually done in groups and one at a time they use their hands, belts, scarves or even rope to choke themselves. They do it for the high they get from the blood rushing back to the head when pressure is released from the neck. It is describes as floating on a cloud and euphoric but what it really is, is scary and dangerous.

There has been a study done that stated that 82 deaths last year were from this dangerous game. The game is played mostly by males but that is not to say that the females don't participate. They choke themselves or others do the choking. It deprives their brain of blood and oxygen which is an important key to maintaing health and more importantly, LIFE. The death rate is higher in those children who engage in the game by themselves. They generally use furnature or even the bar in a closet to help maintain the pressure on their neck to achieve their ultimate goal of passing out.

If you find your children engaging in these types of games, please get them to a mental health professional ASAP. It is not always easy to catch them doing it but some of the warning signs that they have this new passtime are: bloodshot eyes, marks on the neck (usually unexplained or have strange reaseons), frequent and severe headaches, disorientation after spending time alone, ropes, scarves and/or belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs (even in the closets) or found knotted on the floor. It is so hard to send our children off to school and not know if today will be the day that they get shot by a classmate, worry about drugs both prescription and street, alcohol and friends that pressure them to make terrible decisions.

I urge each and every parent to spend the time talking to your kids about all of the dangers out there. Educate them, they will put it to good use. To just turn a head and think that "My kid would NEVER do that" is not responsible parenting and could be their death sentance. Please spend the 5 minutes it takes to talk to them and if they need to talk to you, drop what you are doing to listen to them. Often when we don't do our best to listen they stop trying to tell us things. It's not always easy to drop everything to listen to what may be usless drivel but you never know when the day will come when it is something far more serious. If you cannot stop what you are doing, schedule a "meeting" with just you and your child and involve family when you have all your facts. It is a good lesson not only for the child that needs to talk to you but for the others in the home. It will keep you connected. Don't let your child become a statistic. It may be the best move you make in your childs life.