Ever heard of the Choking Game? Also known as “Knock Out,” “Space Monkey,” “Flatlining,” or “The Fainting Game”? Apparently, by applying pressure to the main artery in the neck, with a belt, towel, rope, or other item, oxygen and blood flow are limited to the brain. The goal is a “high” once the pressure is released and blood and oxygen rushes back to the brain.
According to WebMD, “A new study, from a survey of nearly 5,400 Oregon 8th-graders, shows that 6.1% said they’d tried the choking game at least once, which is consistent with previous studies from other states and Canada. Of those who reported participating in the choking game, 64% said they had done it more than once, and 26.6% reported doing it more than five times.”
“Between 1995 and 2007, there were 82 U.S. deaths attributed to the choking game in children 6 to 19, according to the CDC. However, the scientists write, that’s likely an underestimation because it includes only deaths covered by the media. And, says researcher Robert Nystrom, adolescent health manager at the Oregon Public Health Division, some deaths from the choking game end up being classified as suicides.”
Apparently this has been a popular game for quite some time now but has been made popular recently thank to YouTube. The more parents, educators, and health care providers who are aware of this, the better chance of preventing more deaths.
