HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Parents in Hutchinson USD 308 are being asked to have a conversation with 
their children about a decades-old practice that goes by various names, including the “choking game.”
The district has seen a recent uptick in student reports of the game. Essentially, one youth will hold the neck of another until the second student passes out because of the lack of oxygen. The activity also can be done by one person. In this case, a student will choke themselves with a scarf, belt or rope, tying it onto a door, a bedpost or other object. Students who participate in such activities receive counseling from district staff and are disciplined according to school policy.
Below is information that was sent to parent in Hutchinson Middle School this year when students were reporting an earlier uptick in activity. The information is from a CDC podcast on the choking game.
Important – Choking Game – Please Read and Discuss with your Children
A MINUTE OF HEALTH WITH CDC
The Choking Game Can Be Deadly “Choking Game” Deaths Among Youth Aged 6–19 Years — United States
This program is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – safer, healthier people.
It’s called the “choking game,” but it’s no game, and there are no winners. Some kids are choking themselves or each other, by hand or with some form of noose. The intent is to get a high, caused by a temporary lack of oxygen to the brain. Tragically, this so-called ‘game’ sometimes goes too far and results in death.
Parents should be aware of the warning signs of the choking game. Mention of the choking game or one of the many names it goes by can be a sign, and bloodshot eyes, marks on the neck, and ropes, belts, or scarves tied to bedposts or doorknobs are other clues. If your child is participating in the choking game, let them know that the game can be deadly.
Thank you for joining us on A Minute of Health with CDC. To access the most accurate and relevant health information that affects you, your family and your community, please visit www.cdc.gov.
Another resource for parents is available at http://www.erikscause.org/