The Choking game--a Killer game
By : Debbie Walker Sentinel Writer

Left: Gabriel Mordecai died in May 2005 after choking himself with a rope in his bedroom. Looking back, Sarah Pacatte, Gabriel's Mom realizes she missed the warning signs. But at the time, the mother of four thought maybe her 13-year-old son, Gabriel Mordecai, was smoking marijuana. She never imagined he was putting a rope around his neck and choking himself for a rush."A couple of months before he died, he became very hostile, very angry, and he complained of horrible headaches," Pacatte said. "Then I started seeing bloodshot eyes."What killed him in May was the "choking game," one of the names for a practice in which children use their hands, arms, ropes or belts to cut oxygen to their brains and pass out. Pacatte says she wants to warn other parents about the risks before it's too late for them.

Franklin father tells of son's death, warns Hayesville students.

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, brought to Hayesville 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 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 probably 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 its cool or they were dared to do it, and not knew the consequences for the chances they were taking.

Coach Dale Galloway, from Smoky Mountain High School is the head football coach whose son Connor was found dead, a victim of the "Choking Game" on October 18th. He showed a tremendous amount of courage to stand up there and explain to these kids the consequences of playing this deadly game. But knowledge is power and through knowledge and the stand that love one another to understand the game, and not throw away your lives. 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.

A DVD was shown with actual families dealing with the loss of a child in a result from this game, and students giving their knowledge about the game. It was a sobering portrayal of sons, daughters and parents learning to cope with the loss of a child by the means of such a stupid act.

Our children we hope are smarter and more informed as to the facts these days about the use of drugs and misguided sexual activities, but they need to be informed of the facts, and in no uncertain way than : This is game that will kill you, or make your life not worth living. So please tell everyone you know. The Choking Game also goes by several names: " Black-out","funky chicken,space monkey,flatliner, tingling and suffocation roulette." Whatever they call it kids are gambling on cheating 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 nick-names 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 you 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 id 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 individual, 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-choking-game. com.

Feel free to contact the Hayesville Guidance Office or speak to the Hayesville Middle School Nurse with your questions 389-9924.

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