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Show Notes

• Archived Blog Post

  Date / Time: 5/22/2008 5:04 AM UTC

  Russian Roulette Is Not A Game...Neither Is The Chocking Game - Some Teens Don't Know The Difference
  

  This is not new; however, with the power of the Internet, its popularity is growing. It's practiced predominately by adolescents and teens and is called by many names and the outcome is your child is dead, brain damaged, and/or a life of diminished capacity. And the absurdity is, it's called the "Choking Game". It's as much a game as "Russian Roulette".
  
  Carlos Flores, a pediatric nurse in emergency trauma care and trauma coordinator for Children’s Hospital Central California in Madera, County, and is an authority on the "choking game".
  
  The Choking Game is a high risk activity being played by pre-teen and teen kids, usually peaking at age 13 for both boys and girls. This activity causes a self induced loss of consciousness by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and is responsible for hundreds of deaths worldwide. There are a variety of methods that are used, all legal and seemingly innocuous, including a method using ligatures. The first step in prevention is awareness.
  
  This high risk activity is performed individually, in pairs, or groups of kids. Essentially they are altering their sense of consciousness by restricting the supply of oxygen to their brain. This is accomplished by hyper ventilation by creating an alkalosis and throwing the PH level out of whack, creating a vassal constriction and diminishing the flow of blood to areas of the body; particularly the brain. Another step is by holding your breath and bearing down without exhaling. Another is chest pressure where a child holds their breath and given a bear hug. Carlos explains other methods which can be heard on the show and what happens when kids participate in these behaviors. If it doesn't kill your child it does kill brain cells and the accumulation damage of this activity should be a concern for parents.
  
  It's not uncommon for many of the victims of the choking game to be ruled a suicide by hanging, when in fact it is not.
  
  Most children and teens have no concept of their own mortality. So, how do you reach teens that feel invincible and bring it to a level that they understand? Carlos replied, "You need to reach them on an emotional level". Carlos reaches children by giving them real live scenarios, talking to them about families that he has met, and then introduce them to videos of actual cases of parents that have lost a child.
  
  Carlos, as well as the CyberHood Watch, are proponents of monitoring your children's online activities and in the case of the CyberHood Watch we strongly endorse PC Pandora for monitoring and the fully managed personal computer service provided through Invisus Direct for your families protection.
  
  We discussed the tragedy of the survivors of the victims and how it affected them. We were fortunate to have Sarah Pacatte (www.StillLovingMyGabriel.com) call in to the radio show. I've got to tell you that I have read this story and listened to the 911 call and it will break your heart to hear so much sorrow in one child's voice. Please, let others know about this tragic and senseless activity teens are involved in. I mentioned earlier the Internet and how kids are instructing other kids on how to do this activity and it's imperative that we as Responsible CyberCitizens let other parents and guardians know about this activity.
  
  Here are some warning signs:
  
  1. Recognize it
  
  2. Severe headaches
  
  3. Disoriented
  
  4. Argumentative and aggressive behavior
  
  5. Linear bruising or redness around the neck
  
  6. Blood shot eyes; blood red
  
  7. Sleeping during the day
  
  8. Ligatures, bungee cords, belt, ropes, braided plastic bags
  
  9. Wear marks on furniture (around bunk beds) or furniture, wear marks on dowels in closet
  
  Let others know and send them to this post or forward the post to others.
  
  Come Join Us @ The Responsible CyberCitizen Community
  • Tags:
  • Choking Game
  • Ligatures
  • Carlos Flores
  • GASP
  • Sarah Pacatte
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