The Health Ministry warns teenagers to steer clear of the trending stunt,skip challenge known as the “pass-out” game, which can be fatal.

Health Ministry warns against trending pass-out game, urges schools to take necessary action

AUDREY DERMAWAN
New Straits Times14 October 2017



GEORGE TOWN: The Health Ministry has warned teenagers to steer clear of the trending stunt, known as the “pass-out” game, which can be fatal.

Stressing that the stunt which involved applying enormous pressure to the chest is highly dangerous, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said it could kill someone suffering from heart illness within minutes.

He said the ministry, through its national blue ocean strategy collaboration with the Education Ministry, would give emphasis to this trending stunt.

“All schools must advise their students to refrain from playing this game altogether.

“Stern action should be taken before any death is reported.

“There is a limit for the young to enjoy, but this is certainly off limits,” he cautioned when asked to comment on the latest trending stunt.

Explaining, Dr Hilmi said the stunt could lead to shortness of breath and oxygen being cut from the brain.

“That is as good as dead,” he pointed out.

A video of three teenage boys performing the stunt had recently made rounds on social media and led to the public voicing their concerns.

In the 25-second video, two of the boys pressed their friend’s chest for approximately five seconds.

The teenagers believed to be high school students were heard laughing while pressing the boy’s chest until the latter suddenly collapsed.

The two almost panicked when they realised their friend was not breathing but resumed laughing when their friend recovered.

Included in the video’s description on YouTube is a warning by the National Professor’s Council social development and welfare deputy cluster head Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Taib Dora, who described the act as reckless and would lead to health complications and death. © New Straits Times