Maryland Middle School Warns Parents of “Choking Challenge”

The letter sent to parents, Courtesy of Mace’s Lane Middle School

Administrators at Mace’s Lane Middle School in Cambridge are warning parents about the dangers of the “choking challenge” after students encouraged each other to choke each other to the point of passing out.

The Dorchester Banner reports that two students were sent to the emergency room on Monday, one of them in a wheelchair after taking part in the challenge. The newspaper also reports that the students responsible were arrested.

Administrators sent out a letter to parents telling them that the school’s staff is taking “appropriate and decisive action against any students that engage in behavior that places the safety of others at risk.”

Among the measures being taken, the school is providing a PowerPoint presentation with the dangers of the “Choking Challenge”, discussing with students the risks, dangers and consequences, training staff on how to perform CPR or First Aid and following the County’s disciplinary guidelines.

This is not a new challenge, although there have been several documented incidents around the nation nationally including the death of a Colorado girl in October according to FOX Denver, and the death of a Washington state girl in February due to the challenge, according to FOX Oregon.