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Police Warning Parents of Dangerous "Suffocation Roulette Game" |
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Written by Staff
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Tuesday, 15 November 2005 |
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Police in the Cape Breton Region are warning parents of a dangerous "game" being played by children called the "pass-out" game in which kids render themselves or others unconscious by temporarily cutting off blood flow and oxygen to their brains in an attempt to achieve a ten-second sense of euphoria or a high as they regain consciousness.
This particular "game" has become popular with children between the ages of 9 and 14 but older teens are trying it as well. There are several other names for the dangerous practice including the 'fainting game,' the 'tingling game,' the 'funky chicken', 'space monkey' or 'suffocation roulette'.
Parents of children attending the Baddeck Academy high school were shocked to learn that a group of students had been playing this potentially deadly "game" when an RCMP officer discovered a group of teenagers gathered around one unconscious teen. Academy officials decided to go public in an effort to educate others before someone dies.
The 'game' involves choking oneself or another person using such items as belts, ropes, ties or even their bare hands. The 'high' occurs in two parts - first from the light-headedness or vertigo produced from reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain; the second part or "rush" as it is referred to by teens occurs immediately after pressure to the neck area is released thus causing a surge of blood to flow to the brain.
There have been several cases of death reported in the United States from the 'pass-out' game including a 10 year-old boy who was found hanging from a tree after playing the game alone. The practice can also lead to permanent brain damage.
As the practice continues to attrack children and teens, parents are advised to be on the look-out for possible signs that their own child might be participating:
-Bloodshot eyes -Unusual marks on the neck area -Belts and ropes with unusual knots found in your child's bedroom and tied to furniture. |
