Parents Beware of the Choking Game

Children tend to follow the current trends and wanting to be like their peers they can easily be persuaded to do dumb things. The newest trend is a scary one. No, it is not drugs. But it is a new way to get high.

It is called the choking game. The principle of the game is basically choke yourself, until you pass out or faint. Usually a rope is tied to a tree or something high. The rope is then tied in a noose, just like in the older days when people were hung. They take the noose and put it around their neck, bending their necks downward (creating the chocking effect). They then are suppose to hold their breath count to ten and then quickly raise up their body. Usually, what happens is that the child then feels a sense of light headiness and passes out, faints. This light headiness is what they consider the high.

It has been estimated that in the year 2004 five hundred children have died from playing this game. And it isn’t just teenagers, middle aged school kids are doing it as well.

But what is the worse fact is that this game has been played for this long and nobody is talking about it. Some parents do not even realize that this game exists.

Besides being called the choking game, some kids are calling it, the passing out game or even the fainting game. But it isn’t a game. It is an easy way for children to accidentally kill themselves and they are playing this game on a daily basis.

Like everything else in life there are a few warning signs for parents.

Watch for signs of bruises or red marks on your child’s neck. And of course beware if he or she is suddenly wearing turtle neck shirts. With winter approaching, it is an easy way to hide the marks.

Also pay attention if your child is suddenly developing severe headaches. Cutting off their circulation can definitely cause headaches to appear.

Watch for red eyes

Definitely check to see if belts, ropes or ties are suddenly appearing, especially if they are tied in a noose like way.

Locking bedroom doors suddenly is also a key that something could be wrong.