BRIEF REPORT

Self strangulation by hanging from cloth towel dispensers in Canadian schools

D Le and A J Macnab

Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Andrew J Macnab, Critical Care Research Office, L317, Children's and Women's Hospital of British Columbia, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3V4, Canada
amacnab{at}cw.bc.ca

Objective—To investigate a local "epidemic" of incidents of strangulation by hanging from continuous cloth towels in dispensers.

Method—The coroner's office in all provinces and territories were contacted. Five cases of hanging from continuous cloth towels in Canadian schools were identified and reviewed.

Results—There were four deaths, and one near-death, all males age 7 to 12. Two cases were attributed to a "choking game" that provides a sensation (impending loss of consciousness) described as "cool". In three cases, the child was alone at the time. All deaths were due to strangulation from hanging and all occurred in school washrooms. One child (playing with two friends) recovered after admission to an intensive care unit.

Towel dispensers were removed from the two index schools. In one province the Ministry of Education encouraged removal of towel dispensers from all schools and education of students of the dangers of "choking games".

Conclusions—Thrill seeking from partial asphyxiation appears to underlie these incidents. Awareness of such cases should prompt appropriate education strategies to highlight the serious consequences of this form of risk taking behavior in young males. In Canada, these incidents have resulted in changes in the design of, and legislation regarding, cloth towel dispensers.

Keywords: youth; self inflicted; asphyxia

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Macnab, A J, Deevska, M, Gagnon, F, Cannon, W G, Andrew, T (2009). Asphyxial games or "the choking game": a potentially fatal risk behaviour. Inj. Prev. 15: 45-49 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• (2008). Unintentional Strangulation Deaths From the "Choking Game" Among Youths Aged 6-19 Years--United States, 1995-2007. JAMA 299: 1418-1421 [Full Text]  
• (2008). Suicide Trends Among Youths and Young Adults Aged 10-24 Years--United States, 1990-2004. JAMA 299: 283-284 [Full Text]  

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Accidental hangings of our youth must stop

Sarah Pacatte

IP Online, 7 Jun 2005 [Full text]

Re: Accidental hangings of our youth must stop REPLY

Ann L

IP Online, 3 Aug 2005 [Full text]

An old game

JM DeVink

IP Online, 20 Mar 2006 [Full text]

The Passing Out Game

Cindy G. Holmes

IP Online, 20 Mar 2006 [Full text]

I'm 16 years old and have experienced the Choking Game

Lyndsey M.G Holmes

IP Online, 20 Mar 2006 [Full text]

Re: An old game

Sandy Clements

IP Online, 2 Apr 2007 [Full text]

Yes, this is an old game

Stacey Robins

IP Online, 13 Aug 2007 [Full text]