'Choking game' no game at all
By DEBBIE WALKER Sentinel writer

You wouldn't think anyone would get a thrill out of being choked, but people do. Kids mostly. Choking, depriving the brain of oxygen, can bring about a feeling of euphoria. It can also kill.

That's the message Coach Dale Galloway of Smoky Mountain High School in Franklin, N.C., brought to Hayesville, N.C., middle schoolers last Friday. He told of his young son's death last October from playing the "choking game."

Coach Galloway talked to about 400 Hayesville middle schoolers, telling them about losing his son, Connor, as a consequence of his playing this deadly game. The students also saw a DVD about other families dealing with the loss of their child through choking. It was a sobering portrayal of parents learning to cope with the loss of their children.

Spring break is just upon the kids at Hayesville Middle School. The weather is fine and a warm spring day, and the last thing they wanted to do was sit in an auditorium listening to a lecture. But as 400 or more of the middle school kids arrived for the presentation, they settled in and listened. Mr. Michael Noe, Middle School Principal, opened the presentation welcoming them and parents who had joined for the "Risky Adolescent Behavior" presentation. He explained to them that this presentation was a special message to them because they were special, and the teachers and parents wanted them to know that this "game" was not a game, and that the presentation would be clear and strong hoping that they would make the right decision if ever confronted with others who wanted to play this game. The kids were silent.

Next Mr. Turner Guidry, Guidance Counselor for Hayesville, spoke about the different levels of risk behaviors, and the simple risks you take in life from birth to adulthood are risks that lead you eventually to your goal. For example, learning to walk, you must take a risk of falling before you learn to walk, run or ride a bike. The difference between good risk or low risks help to build courage and good character. As you get older and grow the risk factors take on different levels, such as learning to drive or riding a four wheeler, or ATV. Unfortunately, young people have always participated in risky behaviors for some reason or another. Maybe it's cool or they were dared to do it, not knowing the consequences for the chances they were taking.

Galloway is the head football coach whose son Connor was found dead, a victim of the choking game on October 18. Connor may be gone but through his father and his passion to let other kids and parents know, this may not happen to another family.

This is game that will kill you or make your life not worth living. The choking game also goes by other names such as "black-out," "funky chicken," "space monkey," "flat-liner," "tingling" and "suffocation roulette." Whatever they call it, kids are gambling to cheat death.

Here are the facts you need to know:

Despite the name, this is no game- it doesn't involve playing a game anymore than Russian roulette does. Most young people would not be willing to play the odds associated with putting a loaded gun to their heads, and yet a significant number of children between the ages of 9 and 15 are willing to take the chance of dying from asphyxia just to experience a momentary high.

Why? There are several factors- among them the innocuous sounding nicknames for this dangerous oxygen depriving activity, the fact that there are no drugs involved and it initially appeals to the "I dare you" mentality of youngsters.

As with any risky behavior, knowledge is the best antidote. Most of the youth who participate are smart and talented students- overachievers who most teachers and parents would scarcely suspect doing this sort of activity.

Part of the knowledge that you and your child need to know about the choking game is this involves what happens to you when your brain is deprived of oxygen. There are several ways that this game is played but all involve depriving oxygen as to bring about the feeling of euphoria. Mere minutes can mean the difference between life and death or normal brain capacity and severe brain damage.

Anther shocking thing is most adults are not even aware of the game's existence. Because of this most deaths which should be blamed on this, are ruled as suicides.

Here are the symptoms that as parents, teachers and students should look for if someone is suspected to be playing the choking game.

• BLOODSHOT EYES

• MARKS ON THE NECK

• LIGATURES FOUND TIED IN STRANGE KNOTS

• COMPLAINTS OF HEADACHES

• AN UNUSUAL NEED FOR PRIVACY

• COMPLAINTS

Some very disturbing statistics surrounding the choking game:

75% surveyed never heard of the choking game

35% knew it by another name.

58% have known someone who has participated

15% know someone actively participating.

32% admitted to playing this game themselves.

11% still actively participate.

37% witnessed the practice in a friends home.

17% have instructed someone on how to participate.

53% of boys admit to have participated

82% were not aware of the dangers.

94 % of victims parents were not aware of the warning signs.

• The average age of participation is between 9 and 15.

In his closing statement to the students Coach Galloway stated that he hoped that this message would make the students wiser individually, to love one another enough to understand the actions of their ways and most of all life is precious, don't throw it away.

For additional information regarding the Choking Game go to : www.deadlygameschildren play.com. or go to http.//www.stop-the-chokinggame. com.