Mission

The Choking Game...Deadly Child's Play

What is the Choking Game?

The Choking Game is a life threatening activity that is circulating through teen and pre-teen culture. They use their hands, arms, ropes, leashes, chains, ties or belts to cut off their oxygen. Kids get a “high” when the pressure is released and blood rushes back to the brain. The sensations received can become very addictive!
Cutting off the oxygen to the body is also known as...

Asphyxiation
Self-Asphyxiation
Hypoxia.

How Do Children Play This Game?

Children play the Choking Game by compressing the chest or squeezing the neck with hands or ligature devices such as ropes, cords or belts. This “game” temporarily starves the brain of oxygen so as to induce a short lived artificial high.
Most dangerous when done alone, the game is also played in groups and the sensations can become habit-forming. Children are reporting that they believe this game to be a “safe” way to seek a “high” as it does not involve taking drugs. This logic indicates that kids have no idea how dangerous this activity is and that they are unaware of the potentially deadly consequences.

picture courtesy A.D.A.M.

What Other Names Does It Have?

airplaning
american dream game
blackout game
choking game
dream game or dreaming game
fainting game
flatline game or flatliner game
funky chicken
hyperventilation game
knockout game
passout game
rising sun game
space cowboy or space monkey
suffocation game or suffocation
roulette, teen choking game
tingling game
airplaning
american dream game
blackout game
choking game
dream game or dreaming game
fainting game
flatline game or flatliner game
funky chicken
hyperventilation game
knockout game
passout game
rising sun game
space cowboy or space monkey
suffocation game or suffocation
roulette, teen choking game
tingling game

Source: Teen Association, Inc. Newsletter (http://www.teenchokinggame.com/)

Who Plays The Game?

Primarily kids in age range 9-15
Middle School- although not exclusively
Kids as young as 6 or 7 especially if they have older siblings playing this “game”
High achievers not using drugs or alcohol
Kids looking for a Thrill Seeking Activity
Kids looking for a “Secret” Activity

Why Do Children Participate?

To achieve “high” without drugs or alcohol
There is no intent to harm selves or others
Unaware of dangerous consequences
Curiosity/peer pressure
Experimenting with bodies and feelings
Considered “cool” and “risky”

What Are Signs My Child Is Playing?

Parents are also encouraged to watch for warning signs that indicate possible participation in this activity...

Unexplained marks or bruises on neck
Short ropes, cords, belts, leashes, or neck ties in odd knots or found in unusual location
Blood shot eyes
Complaints of headaches
Petechiae (tiny red dots) on face or cheeks
Disorientation after spending time alone
Unusual demands for privacy or locked doors
Chat room conversations about game or websites visited

What are the results of 'playing'?

Bruises/concussions (after a fall)
Seizures
Brain Death
Brain Damage
Retinal hemorrhaging
Stroke
UNEXPECTED DEATH

Why Is THIS Game Different?

Parents and other adults may remember engaging in this activity or experimenting with hyperventilation as children... kids today are in more danger because: Children are using ligature devices AND they are playing the game alone

How Can I Talk To My Child?

Treat discussion of this like that of any other high-risk behavior, like smoking, alcohol and drugs. For example, when talking about drugs, you could say, “Some kids think they can ‘get high’ without using drugs or alcohol by hyperventilating or putting pressure on their chest or neck. This can be just as dangerous and some kids have actually died doing it.”

If you suspect your child of participating in this activity, engage them in an immediate discussion regarding the life-threatening dangers and consequences. If you think children are playing this game or have any questions, contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Youth Relations Bureau at 239.793.9260 or your child’s Youth Relations Deputy assigned to their school.

Learning more and warning others on the dangers of the chocking game can save a child’s life. This is not a “game” to be taken lightly. Communication and education is essential in obtaining a healthy relationship with a parent and their child.

How Can I Learn More?

Guidance Channel Online:
”Choking Game: Information and Tips for Parents”
http://www.guidancechannel.com

Connect With Kids:
“The Choking Game- What Parents
Need to Know”
http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/printer/choke.shtml

G.A.S.P.
Games adolescents shouldn’t play
http://www.stop-the-choking-game.com/en/home.asp

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office
3301 Tamiami Trail East, Bldg J-1
Naples, FL 34112-4902
239.793.9250
civilprocess@colliersheriff.net

Collier County Sheriff’s
Youth Relations Bureau
239.793.9260
www.colliersheriff.org

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=2106272

In an EMERGENCY call, 9-1-1

View related articles:
“Teen Choking Game Has Fatal Consequences”
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=2106272

“The Deadly Game: A New Way Kids Are Getting High”
http://wcbstv.com/seenon/Choking.Game.Blackout.2.230348.html

Story by Jeanette Otto, G. Mitchell and Susan Bellonzi

SAC OCSD logos
Drug Use Is Life Abuse | P.O. Box 28 | Santa Ana, CA 92702

	The Choking Game...Deadly Child's Play What is the Choking Game? The Choking Game is a life threatening activity that is circulating through teen and pre-teen culture. They use their hands, arms, ropes, leashes, chains, ties or belts to cut off their oxygen. Kids get a “high” when the pressure is released and blood rushes back to the brain. The sensations received can become very addictive! Cutting off the oxygen to the body is also known as... Asphyxiation Self-Asphyxiation Hypoxia. How Do Children Play This Game? Children play the Choking Game by compressing the chest or squeezing the neck with hands or ligature devices such as ropes, cords or belts. This “game” temporarily starves the brain of oxygen so as to induce a short lived artificial high. Most dangerous when done alone, the game is also played in groups and the sensations can become habit-forming. Children are reporting that they believe this game to be a “safe” way to seek a “high” as it does not involve taking drugs. This logic indicates that kids have no idea how dangerous this activity is and that they are unaware of the potentially deadly consequences. picture courtesy A.D.A.M. What Other Names Does It Have? airplaning american dream game blackout game choking game dream game or dreaming game fainting game flatline game or flatliner game funky chicken hyperventilation game knockout game passout game rising sun game space cowboy or space monkey suffocation game or suffocation roulette, teen choking game tingling game airplaning american dream game blackout game choking game dream game or dreaming game fainting game flatline game or flatliner game funky chicken hyperventilation game knockout game passout game rising sun game space cowboy or space monkey suffocation game or suffocation roulette, teen choking game tingling game Source: Teen Association, Inc. Newsletter (http://www.teenchokinggame.com/) Who Plays The Game? Primarily kids in age range 9-15 Middle School- although not exclusively Kids as young as 6 or 7 especially if they have older siblings playing this “game” High achievers not using drugs or alcohol Kids looking for a Thrill Seeking Activity Kids looking for a “Secret” Activity Why Do Children Participate? To achieve “high” without drugs or alcohol There is no intent to harm selves or others Unaware of dangerous consequences Curiosity/peer pressure Experimenting with bodies and feelings Considered “cool” and “risky” What Are Signs My Child Is Playing? Parents are also encouraged to watch for warning signs that indicate possible participation in this activity... Unexplained marks or bruises on neck Short ropes, cords, belts, leashes, or neck ties in odd knots or found in unusual location Blood shot eyes Complaints of headaches Petechiae (tiny red dots) on face or cheeks Disorientation after spending time alone Unusual demands for privacy or locked doors Chat room conversations about game or websites visited What are the results of 'playing'? Bruises/concussions (after a fall) Seizures Brain Death Brain Damage Retinal hemorrhaging Stroke UNEXPECTED DEATH Why Is THIS Game Different? Parents and other adults may remember engaging in this activity or experimenting with hyperventilation as children... kids today are in more danger because: Children are using ligature devices AND they are playing the game alone How Can I Talk To My Child? Treat discussion of this like that of any other high-risk behavior, like smoking, alcohol and drugs. For example, when talking about drugs, you could say, “Some kids think they can ‘get high’ without using drugs or alcohol by hyperventilating or putting pressure on their chest or neck. This can be just as dangerous and some kids have actually died doing it.” If you suspect your child of participating in this activity, engage them in an immediate discussion regarding the life-threatening dangers and consequences. If you think children are playing this game or have any questions, contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Youth Relations Bureau at 239.793.9260 or your child’s Youth Relations Deputy assigned to their school. Learning more and warning others on the dangers of the chocking game can save a child’s life. This is not a “game” to be taken lightly. Communication and education is essential in obtaining a healthy relationship with a parent and their child. How Can I Learn More? Guidance Channel Online: ”Choking Game: Information and Tips for Parents” http://www.guidancechannel.com Connect With Kids: “The Choking Game- What Parents Need to Know” http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/printer/choke.shtml G.A.S.P. Games adolescents shouldn’t play http://www.stop-the-choking-game.com/en/home.asp The Collier County Sheriff’s Office 3301 Tamiami Trail East, Bldg J-1 Naples, FL 34112-4902 239.793.9250 civilprocess@colliersheriff.net Collier County Sheriff’s Youth Relations Bureau 239.793.9260 www.colliersheriff.org http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=2106272 In an EMERGENCY call, 9-1-1 View related articles: “Teen Choking Game Has Fatal Consequences” http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=2106272 “The Deadly Game: A New Way Kids Are Getting High” http://wcbstv.com/seenon/Choking.Game.Blackout.2.230348.html Story by Jeanette Otto, G. Mitchell and Susan Bellonzi Drug Use Is Life Abuse \| P.O. Box 28 \| Santa Ana, CA 92702