In this week's issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases the article "Unintentional Strangulation Deaths Among Children and Adolescents: The "Choking Game" – United States, 1995-2007.” The “choking game,” typically played by youths, is defined as self-strangulation or strangulation by another person with the hands or a noose to achieve a brief euphoric state caused by cerebral hypoxia.
This study will help healthcare providers, educators, and parents become more aware of this behavior so that they can recognize early warning signs, such as: discussion of the game or its aliases; bloodshot eyes; marks on the neck; frequent, severe headaches; disorientation after spending time alone; and ropes, scarves, and belts tied to bedroom furniture or doorknobs or found knotted on the floor.
To access the article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/.