Warning signs of the choking game
(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - There are plenty of worries when it comes to teenagers; sex, drugs, dangers on the internet, to name but a few.
There is however one risk that many parents don't talk about, and may not even know about.
In the second part of our story on the high-risk high known as the choking game, Newschannel 3 took a look at what parents ought to know before talking to their kids.
Colorful balloons filled the sky to mark Uriah Martin's birthday, a day that Toni Martin expected to celebrate with her son.
"My son should be here enjoying his 13th birthday, becoming a teenager, and he won't," said Toni.
Six months ago, Toni found her son near death in his Augusta bedroom. He was hanging from a punching bag.
The twelve year old died four days later. The medical examiner at first said it was suicide, but Toni's mom soon learned that her son hadn't killed himself on purpose, he'd been trying to get a momentary high.
"Then I started hearing about this game," said Toni. "Then I started finding out, yes he had tried it."
Looking back, Toni realized her son had given her a huge clue a few weeks earlier, but she had missed it, because she didn't know the choking game even existed.
"He was sitting on the living room floor," said Toni, "I've seen boys do enough things that make no sense to me, and he had a belt around his neck. I thumped him on the head and said, what are you doing, are you trying to kill yourself?"
That sign is one of several that parents should be watching for. Kids who've been intentionally cutting off their oxygen supply may have bloodshot eyes, they often have marks on their neck, or wear high-collared clothing. They may experience frequent, severe headaches, disorientation after spending time alone could also be a sign. If you notice ropes, scarves, or belts tied to furniture, that should raise a red flag. Also, the choking game can cause pinpoint bleeding under the skin.
Lisa Veleze is a child psychologist from Kalamazoo's Community Healing Center. She says parents should watch for the signs, but also shouldn't wait to talk to their kids.
"To see a piece on TV would be a great way to say, have you kids heard about this at school or know anybody that has experienced anything like this, or is it a hot topic at school," said Veleze.
The choking game was a topic at Mattawan High School recently. The district sent out an email, warning parents that a few students had admitted they'd taken part in the choking game.
"We wanted to be pro-active with parents," said Colin Ripmaster, principal at Mattawan High School. "This is something we can do in talking to sons and daughters so we don't end up with some injured or potentially dies."
Parents should also learn the lingo, the game has many names, from 'space monkey' to the 'pass-out game,' or the 'scarf game.' The list is a long one, and kids share a lot about it on the internet.
One mother compiled a list of choking game victims. Her map shows victims around the state, including more than a dozen people, including Uriah in Kalamazoo County, a 13 year old in St. Joseph County, and a 16 year old in Cass County.
Toni Martin doesn't want any other parents to see their children's names added to that list, to have to have a birthday celebration without their child.
"My entire life as I once knew it is gone," said Toni. "I mean I lived for my son, everything I did was because of him and his future, and now my life consists of telling people about how he died and trying to let it be known so somebody else doesn't have to go through the hell I go through now."
