Skip to main content

The "Choking game", a fatal high and a warning for parents

The "Choking game", a fatal high

Original caption states: Age distribution of y...Image via Wikipedia
Nothing could have been more terrifying for parents Jill and Paul Fung of Lexington,SC than to hear the news that their 11 year old son was dead.  What makes it more disturbing is how their son Spencer Fung died. The latest rage on Youtube and elsewhere for those seeking a quick "high" drug free is called the "choking game".  His death was less than 3 months ago and his story needs to be told to the public. For more on his story see:  Parents have a warning after son dies playing the "choking game"
 



The game involves various forms of asphyxiation whereas the participant chokes themselves just short of passing out. The effect of cutting off blood flow to the brain results in a temporary "high". What is not temporary however, is when it results in death.
A disturbing fact that needs to change as there are no public health agencies tracking the number of deaths that occur from this deadly practice, although many  people are quite aware of it.
A report published from the CDC estimates that between 800 to 1,000 children between the ages of 10 to 19 die of strangulation every year. Most are recorded as suicides, however, the grim reality may be that many of these reported suicides were accidental, brought on by the practice of self asphyxiation.
For more information on this disturbing new "high", see The DB Foundation. This site also has a partial list of many of the victims that experienced a "fatal" high.

Warning signs that your child may be involved with "The Choking Game"
This is a partial list of signs as reported by the Center for Disease Control.
Parents, educators, health-care providers, or peers may observe any of the following signs that can indicate a child has been involved in the choking game:
  • Discussion of the game or its aliases
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Marks on the neck
  • Wearing high-necked shirts, even in warm weather
  • Frequent, severe headaches
  • Disorientation after spending time alone
  • Increased and uncharacteristic irritability or hostility
  • Ropes, scarves, and belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor
  • The unexplained presence of dog leashes, choke collars, bungee cords, etc.
  • Petechiae (pinpoint bleeding spots) under the skin of the face, especially the eyelids, or the conjunctiva (the lining of the eyelids and eyes)
Enhanced by Zemanta
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ways to avoid spoiling your kids

Image via Wikipedia Is there anything worse than a spoiled child ? Yes, a spoiled adult child, the end result. Lets face it, we all have the yearning to always give our children everything they need and want, but to do so well beyond the childhood years is ridiculous. Being a constant "go to" for all your child's problems turns you into a crutch, they never learn to walk with out. Come up with a plan - Start teaching your children early on what you expect out of them. By the time your child is out of high school, they should have a plan in mind for life. Encourage them to discuss their plans with you. Offer suggestions, such as college, trade school , or they are going to have a full time job . If they seek higher education , via college or trade school and drop out before completing, teach them the err of their ways by insisting they pay back any money you spent to put them there. Make sure they understand what you expect by the time they reach adulthood....
Post a Comment
Read more

Talking and connecting with your teen

Parenting is one of the single most rewarding, yet difficult jobs there are. When they are young, you spend your time teaching, and keeping them safe. As they grow and need you less, you find yourself somehow feeling a disconnect. Teen years are a painful mixture of emotions, hormones, and pressure. Bridging the gap between them and yourself is a challenge, but with determination and patience it can be done. Reconnect with your inner teen - Think back to when you were a teenager. Remember how confusing, painful and fun it all was? Take a look through your high school yearbook. Remember the struggles, the tears and the laughter? Things may be a little different now with your kids, but those emotions are the same and we all had them. Tell your teen about your times, so they can relate to the person you was, when you were in their shoes. Find a quiet place - Offer to take your teen out to eat. Order take out fare and go to a local park and make sure you tur...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discipline for your Children

Dawn Gagnon Photography ©2023  If you come from a certain time period, you may well remember what "discipline" meant in your family. It typically meant corporal punishment which could involve the hand, a belt, or a switch from a tree outside. Parents from that time operated on the belief that you mustn't spoil the child by sparing the rod. While considered abuse by today's standards, it was a different time, and no one truly knows for sure whether those tactics were effective in a positive way or not. It really depends on who you ask.  We can agree that the old way of discipline may be an extreme measure, and it was, however has the pendulum swung too far in the other direction? Children today see very little consequence for their actions, and often come from single parent homes. There are a lot of studies showing the damning long term effects of single parent homes. That is not to disparage single parent homes, as there are exceptions and plenty that managed successf...
Post a Comment
Read more