July 14, 2005
Fainting Game Can Have Deadly Consequences, Officials Warn
Montana youth could be putting their lives at risk if they play a dangerous fainting game often called "blackout," state health officials warned Thursday.
The game--also known as suffocation roulette, space monkey, pass-out, knock-out, or flatliner--can cause brain damage, disability, and even death.
"This game isn't new," said Wilda McGraw, a public health nurse consultant with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). "It's been around for decades and is fairly popular with risk-taking kids who think they can control the outcome. Fatal cases may mistakenly be ruled as suicides by coroners who are unfamiliar with the game."
McGraw, who heads the state Fetal, Infant and Child Mortality Review (FICMR) team at DPHHS, said local FICMR teams have identified the fainting game as a potential problem.
"According to one county FICMR coordinator, they just had a situation in their school last spring where children 10 to 12 years old were choking each other until they passed out," McGraw said. "It was a big thing at some slumber parties the kids were having. The school held an assembly to try to inform parents and children how dangerous this can be."
McGraw also noted that there have been two deaths in Idaho in the past few months of children who may have been playing the asphyxiation game. A 10-year-old boy died just this week.
The game usually involves at least two children. One takes a deep breath and holds it while a partner squeezes off the circulation to the first child's brain, either manually or with a rope, leash or similar device. When the first child starts to lose consciousness due to oxygen deprivation, the partner releases the pressure, allowing the blood to rush to the brain. This supposedly causes a sense of euphoria.
The game is even more dangerous when played alone.
"Strangulation deaths can be the all too tragic result, since no one is around to come to the rescue if the player miscalculates," McGraw said.
According to some professionals, children who avoid drugs and alcohol may be more susceptible to engaging in this activity. They may mistakenly believe that the game is good, clean fun and gives them a "natural high."
"The fact is, there's only a short period of time that brain cells can function without oxygen before irreversible damage or death," McGraw said. "This is a dangerous game, and parents need to talk to their children about the dangers of playing it."
Some warning signs that a child is playing the game are frequent headaches and unusual marks or bruising on the neck.
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
