This led two of the participants to share their experiences of previous choking incidents, which although had occurred many years previously were still very much in their minds. In both incidences the individual concerned lost their life, and the trauma of these events were obvious. Auerbach PS, et al., eds. Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 25, 2022. Since DeChoker was introduced to the UK in 2017 awareness of the product has grown amongst health and care professionals. Discussions have taken place within these communities of practice, with professionals seeking advice from colleagues and their professional bodies. The Resuscitation Council UK issued a statement regarding the generic use of ACD devices in the UK ( 22).

However, even though the purpose of both devices is similar, when looked at closely, the two devices have a variety of differences that can often be pointers for the consumers to analyze and make a choice regarding which one of the two to buy. In all the incidents care home staff had worked together as a team to manage the choking emergency. This meant that between four and six members of staff were actively involved, either dealing with the emergency itself or tending to other residents in the vicinity. Staff articulated that training and practicing as teams within their workplace meant they were ready to respond to medical emergencies. It was suggested however, that the inclusion of roleplay within DeChoker training, similar to other medical emergencies training, would be useful to ensure an automated response to choking events. This would additionally support the development of leadership and the identification of specific roles in the management of a choking emergency. Yes, this device is FDA-registered and has already saved 138 lives. So, it is safe to use. Is this Safe for Children?

Dechoker Medical Advisory Team

In the days/weeks following the incident, did the resident develop a chest infection or aspiration pneumonia? Stand behind the person. For a child, kneel down behind. Place one foot slightly in front of the other for balance. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward slightly. Store the LifeVac at room temperature. Do not store in direct sunlight. Avoid storing in environments with extreme heat or cold as it may affect the integrity of the unit. LifeVac should only be used for resuscitating a choking victim. Do not use LifeVac if the patient is not choking and is breathing on their own.

While there are many methods of stopping choking, some work better than others. In this buyer’s guide, we will compare the Lifevac vs Dechoker to help you decide which one is better for you. Comparison Table Product The Resuscitation] Council recommends new airway clearance devices should only be used by trained healthcare professionals as part of a formal evaluation.” With that being said, LifeVac is a great investment that ensures perfect peace of mind. I would highly recommend LifeVac and urge you to get it into your first aid box without having to spend lots of money. When your loved ones are suffering from choking, every second counts. You will be glad to know that this efficient device works within seconds. All you need to do is – place, push, and pull to save someone choking around you.

Scientific Evidence for LifeVac

We escalated straight away to a safeguarding incident. So the entire shift was nearly then just went with reports and reports and reports. Doing the debriefing, keep coming out making sure staff were ok.”