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Students Flirt With Death In New Chest-Punch 'Choking Game'
Parents Advised Of So-Called Game By Recorded Message
POSTED: 9:55 pm EST December 10,
2007
UPDATED: 9:03 am EST December 28,
2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Students at a middle school in Orange County have been experimenting with what is believed to be a new variation of the choking game, where teens hold their breath and get punched in the chest until they blackout.
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The latest reported incident of the so-called game was reported at Maitland Middle School in Orange County, according to Local 6.The students are closing their eyes and holding their breath while another student slams a fist into their chest, Local 6's Mike Holfeld reported.A parent who wished to remain anonymous said his son was recruited to play the choking game and passed out."While you are holding your breath, they push your chest in, which causes a lack of air or oxygen and you faint or pass out," the parent said. "He thought it was a game. He stated his friend wanted to show him a magic trick.""It's no game, absolutely no game," Orange County Public Schools representative Madeline Offner said. "They are definitely flirting with death."Offner, who is part of the school district's student assistance and family empowerment office, said incidents of the choking game date back to 2005, but this is the first-known report of a game that involves punching the chest."Maybe they heard of the choking game and they're not sure how it is done so they are just making up their own rules to the choking game and that can be even more serious," Offner said.The parent who said his child passed out during the game said he came forward in an effort to protect other children.The school principal gave the parent student witness statements Monday afternoon, Local 6 reported.A recorded message went out to parents in the last few days advising them what had happened, Local 6 has learned.Also, the students were given copies of a recent story with the headline, "Boy Dies Playing The Pass-Out Game,"Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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