PASSOUTBLACKOUT

SPACEMONKEY

FLATLINER

Also Known As:

Imagine the grief it caused this Imagine the grief it caused this twin who found his brother in twin who found his brother in

his bedroomhis bedroom

What is the “choking What is the “choking game?”game?”

First and foremost, First and foremost, IT IS IT IS NOT A GAME!!!NOT A GAME!!! There are There are

many variations, but many variations, but essentially, it is cutting off the essentially, it is cutting off the flow of blood to the brain by flow of blood to the brain by choking, hyperventilating, choking, hyperventilating, compressing the chest, or compressing the chest, or hanging by a belt, towel, hanging by a belt, towel,

rope, etc. rope, etc.

What does it feel like?What does it feel like?

The first feelingThe first feeling is a light-headedness (a is a light-headedness (a perceived "high") due to reduced blood perceived "high") due to reduced blood flow, and, therefore reduced delivery of flow, and, therefore reduced delivery of oxygen to the brain. oxygen to the brain. The second partThe second part

comes with the removal of pressure on comes with the removal of pressure on the chest or neck releasing a powerful the chest or neck releasing a powerful surge of dammed up blood through the surge of dammed up blood through the

carotid arteries into the brain (a carotid arteries into the brain (a perceived "rush").perceived "rush").

But it is safer than using But it is safer than using drugs, right?drugs, right?

Wrong!!!Wrong!!! It can be just as deadly. It It can be just as deadly. It also seems to be addictive to the also seems to be addictive to the kids doing this. There are many kids doing this. There are many

ways that this activity can ways that this activity can kill youkill you..

It sounds pretty safe. It sounds pretty safe. What’s the problem?What’s the problem?

It is not safe at all. Many It is not safe at all. Many times the person being choked times the person being choked

faints from the lack of faints from the lack of oxygen, because oxygen, because there is no there is no way to knowway to know when a person when a person

is about to faint from this.is about to faint from this.

People faint all the time, People faint all the time, what is so bad?what is so bad?

In this “game”, fainting is caused In this “game”, fainting is caused by the brain starving for oxygen. by the brain starving for oxygen. Brain cells are dying and will Brain cells are dying and will

never regeneratenever regenerate. This can, and . This can, and will, result in long term brain will, result in long term brain

damage.damage.

Can anything else happen Can anything else happen from fainting?from fainting?

Yes.Yes. People fall and receive many People fall and receive many injuries. There are reports of broken injuries. There are reports of broken bones, concussions, major cuts, eye bones, concussions, major cuts, eye injuries, and even deaths from the injuries, and even deaths from the

fall.fall.

I hear it feels strange when I hear it feels strange when you wake up…..you wake up…..

This is because the blood is rushing This is because the blood is rushing back into the brain. This surge can back into the brain. This surge can

lead to a stroke (bleeding in the lead to a stroke (bleeding in the brain) or seizures. Both of these brain) or seizures. Both of these

can lead to can lead to severe brain damage severe brain damage and even death.and even death.

I hear that some kids twitch I hear that some kids twitch before they wake up?before they wake up?

The twitching is the brain having a The twitching is the brain having a seizureseizure.. At this point there is brain At this point there is brain damage taking place damage taking place that can not be that can not be reversedreversed. Millions of brain cells are . Millions of brain cells are

dying each time this happens leading to dying each time this happens leading to bleeding in the brain or silent strokes.bleeding in the brain or silent strokes.

Why are so many people Why are so many people dying?dying?

The “rush” that kids are getting from The “rush” that kids are getting from this can be addictive. Therefore, kids this can be addictive. Therefore, kids want to do it more and more. Some want to do it more and more. Some

are doing it by themselves by using a are doing it by themselves by using a rope, belt, shirt, etc. rope, belt, shirt, etc. to essentially to essentially hang themselveshang themselves to get this “high” to get this “high”

Why are so many people Why are so many people dying?dying?

The person plans to take the pressure The person plans to take the pressure off just before they pass-out, off just before they pass-out, but there but there

is no way to know when that will is no way to know when that will happenhappen. If the person passes out first, . If the person passes out first, the weight of their body pulls on the the weight of their body pulls on the

rope rope and they dieand they die. .

Why are so many people Why are so many people dying?dying?

After 3 minutesAfter 3 minutes a child will suffer brain a child will suffer brain damagedamage

Between 4 and 5 minutesBetween 4 and 5 minutes without oxygen without oxygen to the brain, a child will dieto the brain, a child will die

Some of those who have died were alone Some of those who have died were alone for as little as 15 minutes before someone for as little as 15 minutes before someone found them and it was already too late.found them and it was already too late.

This activity can claim a child's life This activity can claim a child's life the the first time it is played.first time it is played.

So you’re saying it’s safe if So you’re saying it’s safe if you do it with a friend?you do it with a friend?

Absolutely not! Absolutely not! It is It is NEVERNEVER safe safe. Even . Even if you are not tying something around the if you are not tying something around the

neck, you are depriving the brain of neck, you are depriving the brain of oxygen when you have someone push on oxygen when you have someone push on

your arteries in the neck. Because this also your arteries in the neck. Because this also puts pressure on a group of nerves, puts pressure on a group of nerves, it can it can

cause an immediate heart attackcause an immediate heart attack..

……..there is the chance of seizure, ..there is the chance of seizure, stroke, heart attack, or injury from a stroke, heart attack, or injury from a

fall. It also fall. It also alwaysalways results in the results in the killing of brain cells that can killing of brain cells that can nevernever

be replaced. The damage done is be replaced. The damage done is permanent and cumulative.permanent and cumulative.

ALSO…..ALSO…..

Why are we talking about Why are we talking about this?this?

Because it is happening Because it is happening everywhere, including here, everywhere, including here, and you need to know how and you need to know how

dangerous it is. dangerous it is.

But if I’m doing it to myself, But if I’m doing it to myself, it only affects me, right?it only affects me, right?

Wrong.Wrong. It affects many It affects many other people around you. other people around you.

Who else does it affect?Who else does it affect? Your parentsYour parents.. Imagine how your parents might Imagine how your parents might

feel if they would have to go through the tragedy of feel if they would have to go through the tragedy of losing a child – you……….losing a child – you……….

Your friendsYour friends. . If they are there at the time, they If they are there at the time, they could be charged with murder. If they know you are could be charged with murder. If they know you are doing it and don’t say anything, they would have to doing it and don’t say anything, they would have to live with it for the rest of their lives………..live with it for the rest of their lives………..

Brothers and sistersBrothers and sisters. . Many times it is other Many times it is other family members who find your dead body………family members who find your dead body………

Who is doing this?Who is doing this?

Primarily boys and girls Primarily boys and girls between 9-16 years old, but between 9-16 years old, but it can happen to any person it can happen to any person

at any age. at any age.

How can I say, “How can I say, “NoNo”?”? Use Humor-Use Humor- “No, I need all the brain cells I’ve “No, I need all the brain cells I’ve

got”got” Walk Away-Walk Away- Leave if people ask you to do it Leave if people ask you to do it Give a reason-Give a reason- “No, it’s stupid and it can kill you” “No, it’s stupid and it can kill you” Strength in numbers-Strength in numbers- Hang out with kids who Hang out with kids who

won’t do thiswon’t do this Avoid the situation-Avoid the situation- If you know kids that are If you know kids that are

doing it, don’t go with themdoing it, don’t go with them

What should I do?What should I do?If you are doing it, If you are doing it, STOP!STOP! If you know someone else who If you know someone else who is, is, tell them to stoptell them to stop..If you can’t tell your friend to If you can’t tell your friend to stop, then tell a parent, aunt or stop, then tell a parent, aunt or uncle, teacher, counselor, uncle, teacher, counselor, principal, or other adult you trust.principal, or other adult you trust.

But my friend will get But my friend will get mad…mad…

It is better to have a living It is better to have a living friend who is mad at you than a friend who is mad at you than a

friend friend who is deadwho is dead and can and can nevernever be mad at you again…. be mad at you again….

Telling = Tattling

What are some signs that a What are some signs that a friend of mine is doing this?friend of mine is doing this?

Bloodshot eyesBloodshot eyes Complaints of frequent, unusual, and severe Complaints of frequent, unusual, and severe

headachesheadaches Marks on neckMarks on neck Ropes tied to beds or furnitureRopes tied to beds or furniture Belts, shirts, or ropes with unusual knots in their Belts, shirts, or ropes with unusual knots in their

roomroom Wear marks on bed posts, closet rods, Wear marks on bed posts, closet rods,

doorknobs, etc.doorknobs, etc.

Are kids really dying Are kids really dying playing this “game”?playing this “game”?

You tell me………

Braden EricksonBraden Erickson13 years old13 years old

Matthew Norman Vander StelMatthew Norman Vander Stel16 years old16 years old

Jason Isaac LinkinsJason Isaac Linkins14 years old14 years old

Stephen T. ConnellyStephen T. Connelly16 years old16 years old

Gabriel Harry MordecaiGabriel Harry Mordecai13 years old13 years old

Chelsea Dunn Chelsea Dunn 13 years old13 years old

Dalton William KnaussDalton William Knauss15 years old15 years old

Michael Anthony GalvanMichael Anthony Galvan15 years old15 years old

Jeffrey Patton Jeffrey Patton 16 years old16 years old

Shawntae ChavezShawntae Chavez14 years old14 years old

Stevie Andrew AckleyStevie Andrew Ackley14 years old14 years old

Dustin ParkhurstDustin Parkhurst15 years old15 years old

Kodee AlcottKodee Alcott13 years old13 years old

Bryson HamiltonBryson Hamilton12 years old12 years old

Kimberly WilsonKimberly Wilson15 years old15 years old

Kyle McCarthyKyle McCarthy13 years old13 years old

Jeffery PeakJeffery Peak14 years old14 years old

Nicholas Andres’ SernaNicholas Andres’ Serna16 years old16 years old

These are These are werewere all all normal kids-normal kids-

Who died from Who died from an an abnormalabnormal

activity!activity!

For More InformationFor More Information

www.stop-the-choking-www.stop-the-choking-game.comgame.com