Although your teen probably has a good understanding, as a parent you may still be wondering what is the choking game? In recent years, this game has grown in popularity among teens and often results in dangerous consequences including some cases of death. Keep reading to find out more about the answer to what is the choking game and to find solutions to help educate your teen to keep them safe.
What is the choking game?
The choking game is an activity that has found popularity among teens, but is mostly known for causing death, injuries and long-term brain damage. The choking game is also known as the fainting game as well as a wide variety of slang names like Blackout, Rocket Ride and more. The game works by intentionally cutting off oxygen and air supply to the brain with the intent to achieve a level of euphoria. Many doctors and researchers have determined the primary goal of the game to be to get high without the use of drugs. However, severe repercussions have been found to result. In some cases, teens have been deprived of enough oxygen for a lengthy enough of time to result in long-term brain development and brain damage. In other more serious cases, teens have actually died as a result from playing the choking game.
How does the choking game work?
When it comes to knowing the answer to the question, what is the choking game, it is important to know and understand how it works. During strangulation, using a belt or rope, or using hand and arm pressure on the neck, there are two responses that occur. Insufficient blood flow to the brain combined with lack of oxygen can result in fainting. The heart race also decreases, which can result in cardiac arrest. There are several ways teens will play the choking game including using a rope or belt, or having a friend place pressure on the neck.
Injuries arising from the choking game:
Any time the brain is deprived of oxygen, there is the potential to create moderate to severe brain damage. This can range from permanent neurological function loss to difficulty concentrating, short term memory loss, lifelong mental disability as well as death. Documentation of these instances are difficult to track because in many cases the choking game death may have been mistakenly ruled a suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there about been about 82 teen and child deaths that have resulted from ages 6 to 19 since 1995 in the United States. About 86 percent of these deaths were male and usually occurred when the teen was trying the choking game alone. Neurological damage and other injuries as a result of the choking game is even more difficult to track.
How parents can help:
One of the best ways you can prevent your child from getting involved in dangerous activities like the choking game is to talk to them about it. Explain the risks that are associated with playing the game. There are also warning signs you can watch for including:
- Your child keeping a rope or plastic bag
- Bloodshot eyes
- Headaches
- Marks on the child’s neck
It is important for parents to talk to their child about the dangers of the choking game, and to be aware of the signs associated with the game in order to prevent death or serious injuries resulting to your child.
Sources: http://www.cbsnews.com, http://www.gaspinfo.com,
