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1:17 a.m. • 2-11-12

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Teen-produced PSA warns about 'choking game'


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Raleigh Charter High School sophomore Sarah Huck
Raleigh Charter High School sophomore Sarah Huck

A Raleigh high school student is trying to warn teenagers about the dangers of the "choking game" that killed her childhood friend.

Kris Marceno, a sophomore at Enloe High School, died Nov. 2 playing the "choking game" in which someone asphyxiates himself or herself or chokes a friend to the point of passing out. The oxygen deprivation is believed to produce a euphoric high.

Raleigh Charter High School sophomore Sarah Huck wrote, directed and is producing a public service announcement to highlight the dangers of the "choking game."

Marceno, 15, had tied an electrical cord around his neck and attached the end to a bunk bed.

"In three minutes of playing this game, you can have sufficient brain damage – and in four minutes you can die," Huck said.

"He was funny, outgoing, the life of the party, a great son," Bobbi Jo Marceno said of her son.

His mother said she never suspected her son of trying to play such a dangerous game, but said his friends have since told her they even try to choke each other at school.

"Kids at school had seen him do it, playing around at school," she said.

Huck's "What Can You Do in 3 Minutes?" aims to serve as a lesson to other teens while raising awareness about the "choking game" among parents.

"Hopefully, it will save some kids. And the parents will watch it and maybe there are some signs that their kids are doing it," Huck said.

Huck's production team donated their time and talents to the effort. The PSA was cast with teenage actors, many of whom were friends of Kris.

Huck hopes local TV stations will air the PSA, and she also plans to post it on YouTube.com and Facebook.com upon completion in mid-May.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 82 youths nationwide have died since 1995 while playing the "choking game." Most of the victims were teenage boys.

RELATED TOPICS: Raleigh

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Granted that the "choking game" doesn't necessarily involve autoerotic asphixiation. However, it's important to talk to your children about both. It is incomprehensible to most people that anyone would want to do this. However, many young people don't have a good grasp on the risks involved in dangerous but appealing behaviors. I wish the student the best in getting this message out. It seems futile in some ways. Remember how high school students continued to drink and drive even after having their friends killed in several well-publicized crashes? If she reaches just one person, though, it will have been worth it.

these kids need to go green

"I don't know what is dumber...the "choking game" or WRAL for posting this garbage."

Why is this garbage? What this girl has done is admirable. Using your logic no news should ever be posted, because everyone will want to imitate it. Seriously? Is the only news you want is traffic or the weather? No wait, if the traffic is reported congested at 440 between the Captial Blvd and Western Blvd exits, everyone will want to join the fun. I guess only Greg Fishell's job is secured!

Its like paint huffing & glue sniffing - no it is way different. Paint huffing causes more brain damage quickly. They are both stupid things to do, but, in my opinion, are not comparable.

WOW, using a cord to chock yourself? That is terrible.

When I have done this, as a younger lad, we used our hands to choke each other out. By taking several deep breaths quickly, and while holding the last breathe, someone would tighten the sides of the neck, reducing oxygen and blood flow, which would cause the person to pass out for a couple of seconds. I go so good at doing it that I could so it to myself, and usually cause someone to pass out in less than 3 seconds (I know scary). In fact one night in Bible college, in all places, I think I made the entire dorm pass out. I even did it to some kids without telling them what was going to happen! It was funny and a bunch of good laughs, but STUPID STUPID STUPID. I am lucky no one had any medical problems that could have resulted in death; would have had a manslaughter charge against me for sure!

Passing out like that was fun and dumb, but using a cord or something that may not let go is just scary!

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