The Choking Game: Understanding the Dangers and Motivations, Cheat Sheet of Biology

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The Choking Game -

Staff/Parents Briefing ONLY

• The choking game (also known as the fainting game and a wide variety of

local slang names) refers to intentionally cutting off oxygen to the brain

with the goal of inducing temporary syncope (fainting) and euphoria.

• There are two distinct methods used to achieve oxygen deprivation:

strangulation and self-induced hypocapnia (forced over breathing)

The Choking Game - What

Staff Only

Strangulation

• A ligature such as a belt or rope around the neck, or hands or arm pressure on the neck

compresses the internal carotid artery. Apart from the direct restriction of blood to the

brain there are two other significant responses produced by pressing on the neck:

• Pressing on the carotid arteries also presses on baroreceptors. These bodies then cause vasodilatation

(dilation (widening) of the blood vessels) in the brain leading to insufficient blood to perfuse the brain with

oxygen and maintain consciousness.

• A message is also sent via the vagus nerve to the main pacemaker of the heart to decrease the rate and

volume of the heartbeat, typically by a third. In some cases there is evidence that this may escalate into

asystole (no heart beat), a form of cardiac arrest.

• This method is responsible for most, but not all, of the reported fatalities.
• The method is especially dangerous when practised alone: - Involuntary movements can lead to head trauma and other injuries. - If standing, loss of consciousness can result in substantial head trauma through falling. - In the event that consciousness is not immediately regained, medical help cannot be sought

by a third party, observer, or friend.

Staff Only

Self-induced hypocapnea

• The second mechanism requires hyperventilation (forced over-breathing) until

symptoms such as tingling, light-headedness or dizziness are felt, followed by a

breath-hold.

• This alone is enough to cause a blackout, but it is widely believed that the effect is

enhanced if lung air pressure is increased by holding the breath "hard" or "bearing

down" (tightening the diaphragm as in a forced exhalation while allowing no air to

escape or having an assistant apply a bear-hug

• In some versions the bear-hug is replaced by pressure on the neck in which case

blackout is a hybrid of strangulation and self-induced hypocapnea

• The method is especially dangerous when practised alone: - Incidental, or indirect, injuries may arise from falling or uncontrolled movements - Crushing injury by a ligature or an assistant. - Other injuries may include concussion, bone fractures, tongue biting and haemorrhaging of the eyes

Staff Only

Staff Only

Add ‘key words’ to your on-line monitoring software

and scan computer use across your setting

Raise the issue with your pupils – this is happening

across all the year groups

Talk to parents about this topic

Look out for the warning signs

‘Intention to harm others’ – deal with under

disciplinary policy

The Choking Game – Next steps

Staff Only

Physical Signs:

Blood shot eyes

Frequent Headaches

Bruise marks on the neck

Disorientation after

spending time alone

Other Signs

Locked doors at home

Ropes, scarves, belts

hanging from

bed/doorknob

Ropes, belts, scarves

knotted on the floor

The Choking Game – signs to look for

If you are worried about a friend of yours – tell someone today

Staff Only

Staff Only

This is where young people self strangulate to cut off oxygen

to the brain

• They do this because they believe that they will get a “high”

when the blood rushes back to the brain

What is it?

Some people think it’s

exciting

They think that it is

low-risk

It might be a challenge

or dare

They might be curious

BUT

It kills MILLIONS of brain

cells

It can cause stroke, fits &

brain damage

You can DIE

Why do it?