CHOKING GAMEPASSOUT

BLACKOUT

SPACEMONKEY

FLATLINER

Also known as:

Imagine the grief it caused this Imagine the grief it caused this twin who found his brother in twin who found his brother in

his bedroomhis bedroom

What is the choking What is the choking

game?game? First and foremost, First and foremost, IT IS IT IS

NOT A GAME!!!NOT A GAME!!! There are There are many variations, but many variations, but

essentially, it is cutting off essentially, it is cutting off the flow of blood to the the flow of blood to the

brain by choking, brain by choking, hyperventilating, hyperventilating,

compressing the chest, or compressing the chest, or hanging by a belt, towel, hanging by a belt, towel,

rope, etc. rope, etc.

What does it feel like?What does it feel like?

The first feelingThe first feeling is a light- is a light-headedness (a perceived headedness (a perceived

"high") due to reduced blood "high") due to reduced blood flow, and, therefore reduced flow, and, therefore reduced

delivery of oxygen to the delivery of oxygen to the brain. brain. The second partThe second part comes comes with the removal of pressure with the removal of pressure

on the chest or neck releasing on the chest or neck releasing a powerful surge of dammed a powerful surge of dammed up blood through the carotid up blood through the carotid

arteries into the brain (a arteries into the brain (a perceived "rush"). perceived "rush").

What does it feel like?What does it feel like?

Also at this time, brain cells Also at this time, brain cells are starting to die. As the are starting to die. As the

cells die, there is a chemical cells die, there is a chemical release that gives a euphoric release that gives a euphoric feeling. Kids must realize that feeling. Kids must realize that

this feeling is actually this feeling is actually the the brain dyingbrain dying. .

But it is safer than using But it is safer than using drugs, right?drugs, right?

WrongWrong!!! It can be just !!! It can be just as deadly. It also seems as deadly. It also seems to be addictive to the to be addictive to the kids doing this. There kids doing this. There

are many ways that this are many ways that this activity can activity can kill youkill you..

It sounds pretty safe. It sounds pretty safe. What’s the problem?What’s the problem?

It is not safe at all.It is not safe at all. Many times the person Many times the person

being choked faints being choked faints from the lack of oxygen, from the lack of oxygen, because because there is no way there is no way to knowto know when a person when a person is about to faint from is about to faint from

this.this.

People faint all the time, People faint all the time, what is so bad?what is so bad?

In this case, fainting is In this case, fainting is caused by the brain caused by the brain starving for oxygen. starving for oxygen. Brain cells are dying Brain cells are dying

and will never and will never regenerateregenerate. This can . This can

result in long term brain result in long term brain damage; even a damage; even a vegetative state.vegetative state.

Can anything else happen Can anything else happen from fainting?from fainting?

Yes. People fall and Yes. People fall and receive many injuries. receive many injuries. There are reports of There are reports of

broken bones, broken bones, concussions, major concussions, major

cuts, eye injuries, and cuts, eye injuries, and even deaths from the even deaths from the

fall.fall.

I hear it feels strange I hear it feels strange when you wake up…..when you wake up…..

This is because the This is because the blood is rushing back blood is rushing back into the brain. This into the brain. This surge can lead to a surge can lead to a stroke (bleed in the stroke (bleed in the

brain) or seizures. Both brain) or seizures. Both of these can lead to of these can lead to

severe brain damage severe brain damage and even death.and even death.

I hear that some kids I hear that some kids twitch before they wake twitch before they wake

up?up?The twitching is the brain The twitching is the brain having a seizurehaving a seizure. At this . At this

point there is brain point there is brain damage taking place damage taking place that that

can not be reversedcan not be reversed. . Millions of brain cells are Millions of brain cells are

dying each time this dying each time this happens leading to happens leading to

bleeding in the brain or bleeding in the brain or silent strokes.silent strokes.

Why are so many people Why are so many people dying?dying?

The rush that kids are The rush that kids are getting from this can be getting from this can be

addictive. Therefore, kids addictive. Therefore, kids want to do it more and want to do it more and

more. Some are doing it more. Some are doing it by themselves by using a by themselves by using a

rope, belt, shirt, etc. rope, belt, shirt, etc. to to essentially hang essentially hang

themselvesthemselves to get this to get this “high”“high”

Why are so many people Why are so many people dying?dying?

The person plans to take the The person plans to take the pressure off just before they pressure off just before they

pass-out, pass-out, but there is no but there is no way to know when that will way to know when that will

happenhappen. If the person passes . If the person passes out first, the weight of their out first, the weight of their body pulls on the rope body pulls on the rope and and

they diethey die. .

Why are so many people Why are so many people dying?dying?

Within 3 minutesWithin 3 minutes a child will suffer a child will suffer noticeable brain damagenoticeable brain damage

Between 4 and 5 minutesBetween 4 and 5 minutes without oxygen without oxygen to the brain, a child will dieto the brain, a child will die

Some of those who have died were alone Some of those who have died were alone for as little as 15 minutes before someone for as little as 15 minutes before someone found them and it was already too late.found them and it was already too late.

This activity can claim a child's life This activity can claim a child's life the the first time it is played.first time it is played.

So it is safe if you do it So it is safe if you do it with a friend?with a friend?

Absolutely not! Absolutely not! It is NEVER It is NEVER safesafe. Even if you are not . Even if you are not tying something around tying something around

the neck, you are the neck, you are depriving the brain of depriving the brain of oxygen. If you have oxygen. If you have

someone push on your someone push on your arteries in the neck and arteries in the neck and they put pressure on a they put pressure on a group of nerves, group of nerves, it can it can

cause an immediate heart cause an immediate heart attack. attack.

Also…..Also…..

……there is the chance of there is the chance of seizure, stroke, heart attack, seizure, stroke, heart attack,

or injury from a fall, and or injury from a fall, and alwaysalways results in the killing of results in the killing of brain cells that can brain cells that can nevernever be be

replaced. The damage done is replaced. The damage done is permanent and cumulative.permanent and cumulative.

Why are we talking about Why are we talking about this?this?

Because it is happening Because it is happening everywhere, including everywhere, including here, and you need to here, and you need to know how dangerous it know how dangerous it

is. is.

It only affects me, right?It only affects me, right?

WrongWrong. It affects many . It affects many other people around other people around

you. you.

Who else does it Who else does it affect?affect?

Your parentsYour parents.. Imagine how your Imagine how your parents might feel if they would have to go parents might feel if they would have to go through the tragedy of losing a child – through the tragedy of losing a child – you……….you……….

Your friendsYour friends. If they are there at the . If they are there at the time, they could be charged with murder. time, they could be charged with murder. If they know you are doing it and don’t say If they know you are doing it and don’t say anything, they would have to live with it anything, they would have to live with it for the rest of their lives………..for the rest of their lives………..

Who is doing this?Who is doing this?

Primarily boys and girls Primarily boys and girls between 9-16 years old, between 9-16 years old,

but it can happen to but it can happen to any person at any age. any person at any age.

Imagine the pain of losing Imagine the pain of losing a 10 year old child.a 10 year old child.

How can I say, “How can I say, “NoNo”?”?

Use Humor- “No, I need all the brain Use Humor- “No, I need all the brain cells I’ve got”cells I’ve got”

Walk Away- Leave if people ask you to Walk Away- Leave if people ask you to do itdo it

Give a reason- “No, it’s stupid and it Give a reason- “No, it’s stupid and it can kill you”can kill you”

Strength in numbers- Hang out with Strength in numbers- Hang out with kids who won’t do thiskids who won’t do this

Avoid the situation- If you know kids Avoid the situation- If you know kids that are doing it, don’t go with themthat are doing it, don’t go with them

What should I do?What should I do?

If you are doing it, If you are doing it, STOP!STOP! If If you know someone else you know someone else

who is, who is, tell them to stoptell them to stop. . Don’t take their word for it Don’t take their word for it though. Tell an adult about though. Tell an adult about

it. it.

But my friend will get But my friend will get mad…mad…

It is better to have a friend It is better to have a friend mad at you for saving mad at you for saving their life than having a their life than having a dead friend. Your friend dead friend. Your friend may not realize you are may not realize you are

saving them, but trust me saving them, but trust me this activity is a this activity is a killer!killer!

Telling = Tattling

Who can I tell?Who can I tell? Your parentsYour parents Your friend’s parentsYour friend’s parents TeacherTeacher Guidance counselorGuidance counselor School administratorSchool administrator Aunt/UncleAunt/Uncle Any responsible adult that you trustAny responsible adult that you trust

This Is Not A GameThis Is Not A Game

Who can I talk to in the Who can I talk to in the school?school?

Guidance CounselorGuidance CounselorTeacherTeacherPrincipal or Assistant Principal or Assistant

PrincipalsPrincipalsNurseNurse

What are some signs to look What are some signs to look for?for?

Bloodshot eyesBloodshot eyes Frequent unusual headachesFrequent unusual headaches Marks on neckMarks on neck Locked doorsLocked doors Knots tied in roomKnots tied in room Wear marks on bed posts, closet Wear marks on bed posts, closet

rods, etc.rods, etc. Disorientation after spending Disorientation after spending

time alonetime alone

For More InformationFor More Information

www.stop-the-choking-www.stop-the-choking-game.comgame.com

www.deadlygameschildrenplay.cwww.deadlygameschildrenplay.comom