This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/newsbeat/hi/health/newsid_10510000/newsid_10518600/10518687.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Parents warned about choking game | Parents warned about choking game |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Sima Kotecha Newsbeat US reporter Connor dreamt of being a soldier and going to West Point Military School | By Sima Kotecha Newsbeat US reporter Connor dreamt of being a soldier and going to West Point Military School |
| An American couple are warning parents in the UK about a lethal activity being played by children. | An American couple are warning parents in the UK about a lethal activity being played by children. |
| It's most commonly known as the choking game and it involves them suffocating themselves to reach a high. | It's most commonly known as the choking game and it involves them suffocating themselves to reach a high. |
| Dale and Michele Galloway from North Carolina lost their 12-year-old son Connor in 2007 and say it's a craze which needs to be stopped. | Dale and Michele Galloway from North Carolina lost their 12-year-old son Connor in 2007 and say it's a craze which needs to be stopped. |
| His mum, Michele, said: "He was academically gifted. He loved to play football and played the guitar. He was a nice rounded child." | His mum, Michele, said: "He was academically gifted. He loved to play football and played the guitar. He was a nice rounded child." |
| On a cool autumn morning in October 2007, Michele found her son hanging from his bunk bed. He was dead. | |
| Michele said: "His feet were maybe an inch off the floor. I just screamed." | Michele said: "His feet were maybe an inch off the floor. I just screamed." |
| Deaths | Deaths |
| She says the same question ran through her head over and over again, "Why would such a happy child take his own life like this?" | She says the same question ran through her head over and over again, "Why would such a happy child take his own life like this?" |
| After police spoke to Connor's friends at school, it was discovered that he hadn't killed himself but had died while playing a game. | After police spoke to Connor's friends at school, it was discovered that he hadn't killed himself but had died while playing a game. |
| It's known by several names including five-minutes-in-heaven, suffocation roulette, the choking game and involves children throttling themselves to feel good. | It's known by several names including five-minutes-in-heaven, suffocation roulette, the choking game and involves children throttling themselves to feel good. |
| Doctors say it happens in two stages: First light-headedness from blocking the blood and oxygen to the brain. | Doctors say it happens in two stages: First light-headedness from blocking the blood and oxygen to the brain. |
| Then releasing the blockage which generates a surge of blood to the brain causing the euphoria. | Then releasing the blockage which generates a surge of blood to the brain causing the euphoria. |
| It's mostly done through strangling and crushing the rib cage, and is played alone, in pairs or in groups. | It's mostly done through strangling and crushing the rib cage, and is played alone, in pairs or in groups. |
| The activity is not sexual and is usually practised by young boys. | The activity is not sexual and is usually practised by young boys. |
| Dangerous | Dangerous |
| The Centre of Disease Control in the States says more than 80 American children have died over the last 10 years from doing it. | The Centre of Disease Control in the States says more than 80 American children have died over the last 10 years from doing it. |
| Others estimate the figure to be much higher, saying some cases are ruled as suicide with many doctors and parents not knowing about the game. | Others estimate the figure to be much higher, saying some cases are ruled as suicide with many doctors and parents not knowing about the game. |
| UK children's charity, Kidscape, told Newsbeat: "The Choking Game is a very disturbing dangerous activity that should not be tried. | UK children's charity, Kidscape, told Newsbeat: "The Choking Game is a very disturbing dangerous activity that should not be tried. |
| "It is a growing craze but teenagers don't realise the serious harm this can cause." | "It is a growing craze but teenagers don't realise the serious harm this can cause." |
| No children in Britain are known to have died from it but a head teacher in Gloucestershire recently told the BBC that students at her school had been doing it. | No children in Britain are known to have died from it but a head teacher in Gloucestershire recently told the BBC that students at her school had been doing it. |
| Annette France works at Chipping Campden School and said: "There were a couple of other children caught copying this activity and that's when we took action with the letters home to parents." | Annette France works at Chipping Campden School and said: "There were a couple of other children caught copying this activity and that's when we took action with the letters home to parents." |
| Connor's mum and dad just want people in the UK to recognise it's happening there too. | Connor's mum and dad just want people in the UK to recognise it's happening there too. |
| Michele Galloway said: "People worry that if you talk about this, it brings attention to it and encourages it. That's not the case. | Michele Galloway said: "People worry that if you talk about this, it brings attention to it and encourages it. That's not the case. |
| "It's about educating people so they know what signs to look for because it does go on." | "It's about educating people so they know what signs to look for because it does go on." |
| For those seeking advice: If you know anyone who is doing it or you are trying it, please contact Youth 2 Youth via their website www.youth2youth.co.uk, where young counsellors can advise you on the dangers of the activity. | For those seeking advice: If you know anyone who is doing it or you are trying it, please contact Youth 2 Youth via their website www.youth2youth.co.uk, where young counsellors can advise you on the dangers of the activity. |