A Game Kids Shouldn't Play

No matter how cute the name “the choking game” may sound, it is still a deadly game. This game is worse than Russian Roulette. Russian Roulette you can “win” at. The choking game reduces the amount of oxygenated blood to the brain. The subject passes out, thousands upon thousands of brain cells die, which never are rejuvenated. The result is some form of long term brain damage, even a vegetative state or death. The extent of brain damage may not be known for many years.

When the subject passes out, it is due to the loss of oxygen to the brain. The brain twitches, or has a seizure as oxygen and blood are allowed to flow freely again. The “high” that is felt just prior to passing out is addictive. The first few times, subjects play this deadly game in the presence of others, then later in the privacy of their own bedrooms. Many participants practicing this game alone use belts or other devices around their necks to stop this flow of oxygenated blood to their brain. As the person passes out, no one is present to help them from sufficating. Some suffer death from strangulation and more often than not, coroners are ruling their deaths as suicides, not accidental. More than 150 boys and girls died last year as a result of “the choking game”. How many more children suffered the same end result but were ruled suicides? The numbers could be much higher.

Have you hear about the choking game? The fact that you have is a problem in itself. The fact that you haven’t is a problem because it “is” occurring right in your community. Boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 16 are playing it. There is no way to play it safely. Children need to be told Telling does NOT equal Tattling when you are helping someone. Mistakes are poor choices you learn from. Children feel that their mistakes can be fixed by mom or dad. Playing this deadly game mom and dad can not fix the end results! Kids are dying because they lack information. More girls than boys play the game. The difference between suicide and death by the choking game is “intent”. Law enforcement when investigating a death such as this needs to consider; is there evidence of depression, is the weight of the individual fully off the ground, is there intent? In the past many deaths were ruled falsely as suicide. Check You Tube by typing “choking game” for video footage. Another You Tube video is found under “thought you died”. Do not use videos to educate children that depict life threatening choices.

Some people will ask; if you talk about the choking game with kids are we planting a seed that will lead to them trying it? The seed is already planted, by friends knowing about the activity, the internet and by You Tube. The Choking Game is not new, there is evidence dating back to the Egyptians and the Pyramids that it was practiced. Parents need to be aware; this awareness empowers them to become educated thus keeping their children safer. For additional information go to GASP.

The Choking Game fact sheet in .pdf format. Click on this link to see a video footage from GASP, Games Adolescents Shouldn't Play.

ChalleNGe Yourself

The Wisconsin Army National Guard Challenge Academy or Badger Challenge Mission Statement is, "To offer our Cadets the opportunity to develop the strength of character and the life skills necessary to become successful, responsible citizens.

The Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy is a 17-month program for at-risk youth ages 16 years 9 months through 18. Academy cadets complete a 22-week residential phase during which the cadets can earn their High School Equivalencey Diploma and change their outlooks and viewpoints on life and character. During the 22-week residential phase cadets learn to put together a Post-Residential Action Plan (PRAP) with the help of staff members assigned to each cadet. This plan will give them a road map for their future. Following the residential phase each cadets participates in a 12-month post-residential phase where the cadets go on to jobs, post-secondary education, or military service. During the post-residential phase the cadets meet regularly with their adult mentors and work to put into service the values and concepts learned during their 22-week schooling.

Cadets come from all socioeconomic groups and all backgrounds, but all must be at-risk youth as defined by the State of Wisconsin. Traditionally cadets are high school drop-outs, habitual truants, expelled students, or students critically deficient in credits. Cadets must be free of drugs, mentally and physically healthy, not on probation and not be awaiting sentencing, be convicted of, or have charges pending for a felony.

The most important aspect of a cadet is the desire to change one’s life .

The National Guard`s Youth ChalleNGe Program began in 1991, when the House Joint Armed Service Committee tasked the National Guard to develop a plan to help at-risk teens and "add value to America". By providing values, skills, education, and discipline to young people using the structure and esprit de corps of the military model, the Youth ChalleNGe Program began a three year pilot program in 1993. Fifteen states participated in the pilot program, which became a permanent National Guard program in 1996.

In 1998, Wisconsin became one of 26 states to offer a 22-week, National Guard-sponsored Challenge Program designed specifically for high school dropouts and habitual truants between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age. The Challenge Academy admits qualifying young men and women to a 17-month long program of life-changing experiences.

I was honored to have been invited to Class #20's graduation held Thursday, June 12, 2008 at Mauston High School. There were 115 graduates earning their HSED and many continued on in the National Guard or other Military Services. These students have many choices to make and their decisions don't get any easier, however now they have them to make. Graduates can go onto higher education, the military or jobs. The road isn't easy for them, many go back to the environment in which put them at ChalleNGe to begin with. Where they have come from, where they have gone, what they have become, will aid in their choices. They have been shown a new beginning, it's up to each of them to start a new!

I saw a packed house in the gymnasium, consisting of families, friends, teachers these graduates have had along the way, mentors and many others who have stood along-side these graduates through thick and thin. We were there to honor the choice they made to dig themselves out of the hole and reach for the sky! You see, these 115 young people at one time took risk taking choices and buried themselves, however something inside each one of them wanted to become successful. Their determination was strong. They needed to show others, but most importantly themselves they can succeed. Congratulations to Class 20! You have become role models for other students who have fallen into their own living hell. Help them to succeed, because that's what it's all about! You are an inspiration to many!

Welcome WHS to the SRO Blog in the news!

Welcome Parents, Students, Staff and Visitors to Watertown High School located at 825 Endeavour Drive, Watertown, WI (920)262-7502 to the first ever blog site created to provide viewers with incite into safety concerns that affect all who enter our schools of the Watertown School District.

I am Officer Phil Neidner of the Watertown Police Department, currently assigned to the Watertown High School and Middle School as a School Resource Officer or SRO. I have been a police officer for Watertown since October of 1985! When asked prior to being hired what one of my goals were, I replied, "To work with students." I spent the first nine years working 2nd and 3rd Watch as a Patrol Officer. During the 1994/95 school year I was assigned to teach Drug Abuse Resistance Education or D.A.R.E. within the School District to 5th grade students. I held this position until the 2004/05 school year when I replaced the then SRO. My first term ends after this school year (2007/08) and I have recently been notified that I have been extended for an additional four year term! I will now be able to continue such programs as Students Are Watching (S.A.W.) a crime prevention program that allows students to anonymously report knowledge of drugs and/or weapons on school district property. You can read more about this program and others in the weeks to come within this blog.

The SRO is a unique assignment allowing the officer, students, parents and school staff to work together to develop a safer learning environment. The SRO works not only as a police officer, but as a counselor, teacher, friend, role-model and resource person. I welcome any student to stop in my office just to say "hi" if nothing else.

For the majority of my law enforcement career I have worked with young people. These same kids are the future and time needs to be spent with them developing their goals. This "time" comes in many forms; eating lunch with them, seeing them at a sporting or musical event to simply saying "good morning". Develop their potential! Spend the time, it "IS" worth it!

Please feel free to post concerns or topics of future blog articles. Visit often as new stories will surface from time to time. For more information on what is an SRO go to the National Association of School Resource Officers.