Passing Out & Catching Fire - Games Kids Play

Just when you think you've heard it all, another tale of idiocy smacks you right across the forehead. Apparently, there are some new games that the kiddies are playing these days. Let's start out with something they call the "pass-out game".

Now, when I first heard about the pass-out game, I figured it was just some teenagers who were experimenting with alcohol. Hey, most of us remember that cheap thrill of downing a 16-ounce can of malt liquor. But this is way beyond that. Apparently, in a twisted attempt to get high, kids are now strangling themselves! Yes, that's right. They're finding creative ways to cut off the blood supply to the brain with the ultimate goal of losing consciousness. Although the asphyxiation is usually self-induced, in some cases, "friends" will assist in putting you to sleep. These are probably the same friends who will draw all over your face with a Sharpie while you're passed out.

Using popular social media sites like Facebook and YouTube, teens are video-recording their pass-out adventures and posting them online. As a result, the game is gaining popularity. Peer pressure is a contributing factor as some kids view the game as a rite of passage. Remember the good ol' days when Little League was considered a rite of passage?

In some cases, the kids will pass out and wind up cracking their head on the floor. I heard of one girl who passed out and fell through a glass table. She wound up severing an artery in her neck and ultimately died. There have been over 80 reported deaths from this insanity since 1995. By the way, if this "game" has been around for almost 20 years, why am I just hearing about it? I guess I need to start paying closer attention to the news....

As if this wasn't crazy enough, I've also read about another group of Darwin Award candidates who are participating in something called the "fire challenge". The object of this game is to pour a flammable liquid onto your skin and then light yourself on fire. No, I'm not making this up. In most cases, the kids are able to quickly extinguish the flames before any major damage is done. But some unfortunately fools aren't so lucky and wind up with serious burns. As with the pass-out game, teens are quick to post their flaming exploits online. A recent YouTube search on the term  "fire challenge" brought up up tens or thousands of videos.

Fire prevention representatives are asking parents and teens to sit down and talk about the consequences of the fire challenge. So, we now have to sit down with teenagers and explain that fire is hot? Are you kidding me? I guess while we're explaining the dangers of fire, we should also inform them that food and water are essential to sustain life. No sense in assuming anything here.....

kw