Latest news with #LifeVac
Perth Now
23-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Wanneroo council endorses rollout of anti-choking devices
The City of Wanneroo council has unanimously backed a plan to install anti-choking devices at 10 city-managed facilities despite staff recommending against it. The council meeting supported an alternative motion from Cr Bronwyn Smith at Tuesday night's meeting to proceed with the rollout after hearing from local father Brian Bwoga, whose son Zaza died after choking last year near Iluka Foreshore. The anti-choking device, known as LifeVac, is a portable tool designed to clear the airway during a choking emergency. City of Wanneroo officers recommended against installing LifeVac devices, citing concerns from St John and Red Cross about possible delays to first aid. They also concluded it would be more practical for people to carry their own LifeVac devices in personal first-aid kits rather than installing them in public facilities, increasing familiarity with the device. The devices are listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and have been installed at 38 community facilities in the City of Joondalup, approved for five staffed recreation centres in the City of Stirling, and placed at 10 locations in the City of Vincent. In a statement to the council, Simon Gould, owner of LifeVac Australia and a former advanced care paramedic of 15 years, said he disagreed with the staff report's recommendation and urged the council to approve the device's rollout. 'The initial report and recommendation to council not to implement the LifeVac, contrary to the decisions of other councils, is frankly based on unevidenced nonsense, a naive understanding of regulatory structures, legislation, law, scientific evidence, and a failure to seek out qualified and reputable sources,' Mr Gould claimed. 'LifeVac has been determined by the TGA to be low risk, non-invasive, safe and can be used without prescription, special training, and without restriction in Australia and worldwide.' The LifeVac anti-choking device kit. Credit: supplied Mr Gould said the device had saved more than 4300 lives worldwide, including more than 75 in Australia. Of those, more than 2400 were children, which he said were all after first aid failed. Mr Bwoga pleaded with the council to act, saying he had attended nearly 20 council meetings across WA advocating for the devices. 'Wanneroo, let's get it home,' he told councillors. 'This will be the best two to 3000 you're going to invest in this city.' Brian Bwoga has been advocating for anti-choking devices after the death of his 22-month-old son ZaZa Bwoga. Credit: Manuel Goria In 2023–24, choking and suffocation led to 1557 hospitalisations in Australia, with 1427 deaths reported in 2022–23, representing 9.3 per cent of all injury deaths. Most of the cases involved males aged between 0–4 years and those 65 years and older. Mayor Linda Aitken backed the rollout, highlighting the safety of vulnerable groups such as children, older adults and those with disabilities. '(LifeVac) is a proven, practical and cost-effective backup in any setting where a choking emergency might occur,' Ms Aitken said. 'This is not about replacing first aid. It's about giving our residents and staff another tool in the moments when every second counts. 'Even with public education, product safety regulations and labelling laws, choking emergencies still occur, often suddenly and silently.' Placing 10 anti-choking devices at city-managed facilities is expected to cost $6500.
Japan Today
19-07-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
More elderly Americans choking to death
Dr. Henry Heimlich describes the maneuver he developed to help clear obstructions from the windpipes of choking victims, during an interview in his home in Cincinnati on Feb 5, 2014. By MIKE STOBBE It was the scariest choking incident David Palumbo had ever seen. The 88-year-old man had been dining at a Providence, Rhode Island, Italian restaurant in September 2019. Now he was unconscious, with a piece of bread lodged in his windpipe. Precious minutes went by as first responders were unable to help him with CPR or the Heimlich maneuver. In an ambulance on the way to the hospital, the elderly man's skin was blue, and firefighters worried he was going to die. Palumbo — a fire department captain — used a scissors-like device called Magill forceps to pull the bread from the man's throat. 'We get a lot of calls in the city for choking,' many of which are resolved before emergency responders even get there, Palumbo added. 'This was by far the worst one I've been on in my career." Fortunately, the man survived and made a full recovery, he said. But many elderly people do not. Each year, choking claims the lives of more than 4,100 Americans who are 65 or older. It's the most vulnerable age group, accounting for about three-quarters of U.S. choking deaths, according to federal health statistics. The death rate has been relatively steady, but the number has risen, as the size of the nation's retirement-age population grows. In response, a number of companies are marketing antichoking devices to the elderly. Medical professionals have been debating whether to endorse the products, sold under the names LifeVac, SaveLix, VitalVac and the Dechoker. Dr. Nathan Charlton, a University of Virginia professor of emergency medicine who advises the American Red Cross on first aid, said there is limited evidence for the products and that the Red Cross is still evaluating them. Here's a look at choking and the best ways to prevent choking deaths. Choking occurs when food or some other object partially or totally blocks the windpipe, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs. Telltale signs include someone reaching for their neck and losing the ability to speak normally. Brain damage can occur after four minutes, and death can come just a few minutes later. Older adults are at higher risk for a number of reasons. As people get older, mouth and throat muscles can weaken. Older people also make less saliva. Some chronic diseases and medications can make swallowing even harder. Dentures can be a choking risk. Choking risk can be reduced by cutting food into small pieces, chewing food slowly, drinking plenty of liquids with meals, and not laughing or talking at the same time you are chewing and swallowing. When someone is choking, you can try perhaps the oldest form of first aid: back slaps. There's also the Heimlich maneuver, named after the doctor credited with devising it in the 1970s. It involves standing behind the choking person, wrapping your arms around their abdomen and — with a balled fist — thrusting inward and upward. The idea is that it forces air out of the lungs, and the obstruction with it. The American Red Cross recommends alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts in sets of five. That's for situations in which someone is around to help a choking victim. But what if they are alone? It is possible for someone try to self-administer a Heimlich by thrusting their abdomen against the back of a chair, Charlton said. Makers of some the newer anti-choking devices say that's where their products can make a difference. 'Elderly people probably are not capable of diving on a chair or counter,' said Arthur Lih, the founder and chief executive of LifeVac. They vary in design, but generally the devices look like a face mask attached to a tube or bellows, with a handle at the end. They typically sell for around $30 to $100. A choking person dons the mask, pushes down on the handle and then pulls up. That is supposed to create a suction that would pull out the blockage. Some research suggests at least certain devices can injure the tongue or cause bleeding and swelling in the throat. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reports that some products did not generate enough suction and left people with bruising around the face, lips, and mouth. An injury report led the FDA to do an inspection and issue a warning letter to Dechoker in 2021. Manufacturers note their products are registered with the FDA, but that's not the same as an endorsement. Indeed, the agency last year issued a notice to consumers that said it has not approved antichoking devices sold over the counter, because their safety and effectiveness haven't been established. Lih said the FDA action was in response to the proliferation of antichoking devices entering the market that vary in design and quality. Right now, the consensus — even among antichoking device manufacturers — is that back blows and abdominal thrusts should always be tried first. (The forceps that Palumbo used are not recommended for the general public.) Lih said thousands of nursing homes and emergency response agencies have purchased the newer antichoking devices. One example: The police department in Acworth, Georgia, bought about 75 LifeVac devices after an officer last year used her personal device to save an elderly woman. They are now in every patrol car, said Sgt. Eric Mistretta. Manufacturers claim the products have saved thousands of lives across multiple countries, but it's tricky to document how well they actually work, said Dr. Cody Dunne, a University of Calgary researcher who has tried. The early evidence has come from case reports or small studies that used mannequins and cadavers. 'I think the case is definitely being built,' he said, but more rigorous research is needed. For example, a larger study could compare what happened during choking incidents at nursing homes that stock the devices with those that don't. Dunne noted, however, that evidence for the Heimlich maneuver and back slaps is evolving, too. He co-authored a study last year that found back blows worked better than the Heimlich or chest compressions. 'We're only now getting good evidence on the old choking techniques, let alone these new ones,' he said. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Wanneroo recommends against installing LifeVac devices
The City of Wanneroo could buck the trend and not install anti-choking devices at its city-managed facilities, despite several neighbouring councils rolling out the devices in recent months. Following the death of a young child at Burns Beach Foreshore Park in January 2024, the device known as LifeVac has received increased attention from local councils, with calls for broader access to life-saving equipment. The anti-choking device is a self-powered, portable suction tool developed to clear the upper airway when standard first-aid protocols fail to relieve a choking incident. The City of Joondalup has installed LifeVac devices at 38 community facilities. The City of Stirling has approved them at five staffed recreation centres, and the City of Vincent at 10 locations. Meanwhile, the City of Swan and the Town of Bassendean are also considering introducing the devices. Last November, City of Wanneroo councillors requested a report examining the costs and benefits of installing LifeVac airway-clearance devices at its city-managed facilities. This report, set to be formally presented to the council next Tuesday, recommends that councillors do not proceed with installing airway-clearance devices in city-managed facilities at this time, due to several factors. The contents of the LifeVac kit. Credit: LifeVac The devices are registered with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The council report notes that both St John and Australian Red Cross caution against LifeVac use in public facilities, which could complicate or delay traditional first-aid responses such as back blows and chest thrusts. City officers concluded that it would be more practical for people to carry their own LifeVac devices in personal first-aid kits rather than having them installed in public facilities. 'The LifeVac website indicates that familiarity with the unit is important for effective use, along with using the correct size mask,' city officers said in the report. 'The cost of a LifeVac device starts at $130; it is therefore considered reasonable for them to be included in a personal first-aid kit as opposed to a public/community first-aid kit.' The city's recommendation is also based on advice from its insurance provider. In 2022-23, choking and suffocation caused 1427 deaths and 1430 hospital admissions in Australia, predominantly affecting males and people aged 0-4 and 65 and older. According to the city, one suspected choking incident has occurred at its facilities since incident monitoring began in February 2022, involving a toddler who swallowed a Lego piece in 2023. The contents of the LifeVac kit. Credit: Supplied If LifeVac devices were installed at 10 City of Wanneroo-managed facilities with secure cabinets, the total cost to the city would be approximately $6500. Without cabinets, the cost would be around $1500 for the 10. If used, the devices are replaced free of charge by the manufacturer, but it's recommended that the masks be replaced every two to three years. Wanneroo councillors will decide whether to adopt the devices at the next ordinary council meeting on Tuesday July 22.
NBC News
14-07-2025
- Health
- NBC News
More elderly Americans are choking to death. Are these devices the answer?
It was the scariest choking incident David Palumbo had ever seen. The 88-year-old man had been dining at a Providence, Rhode Island, Italian restaurant in September 2019. Now he was unconscious, with a piece of bread lodged in his windpipe. Precious minutes went by as first responders were unable to help him with CPR or the Heimlich maneuver. In an ambulance on the way to the hospital, the elderly man's skin was blue, and firefighters worried he was going to die. Palumbo — a fire department captain — used a scissors-like device called Magill forceps to pull the bread from the man's throat. 'We get a lot of calls in the city for choking,' many of which are resolved before emergency responders even get there, Palumbo added. 'This was by far the worst one I've been on in my career.' Fortunately, the man survived and made a full recovery, he said. But many elderly people do not. Each year, choking claims the lives of more than 4,100 Americans who are 65 or older. It's the most vulnerable age group, accounting for about three-quarters of U.S. choking deaths, according to federal health statistics. The death rate has been relatively steady, but the number has risen, as the size of the nation's retirement-age population grows. In response, a number of companies are marketing antichoking devices to the elderly. Medical professionals have been debating whether to endorse the products, sold under the names LifeVac, SaveLix, VitalVac and the Dechoker. Dr. Nathan Charlton, a University of Virginia professor of emergency medicine who advises the American Red Cross on first aid, said there is limited evidence for the products and that the Red Cross is still evaluating them. Here's a look at choking and the best ways to prevent choking deaths. Choking is a danger to older adults Choking occurs when food or some other object partially or totally blocks the windpipe, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs. Telltale signs include someone reaching for their neck and losing the ability to speak normally. Brain damage can occur after four minutes, and death can come just a few minutes later. Older adults are at higher risk for a number of reasons. As people get older, mouth and throat muscles can weaken. Older people also make less saliva. Some chronic diseases and medications can make swallowing even harder. Dentures can be a choking risk. The best ways to stop choking Choking risk can be reduced by cutting food into small pieces, chewing food slowly, drinking plenty of liquids with meals, and not laughing or talking at the same time you are chewing and swallowing. When someone is choking, you can try perhaps the oldest form of first aid: back slaps. There's also the Heimlich maneuver, named after the doctor credited with devising it in the 1970s. It involves standing behind the choking person, wrapping your arms around their abdomen and — with a balled fist — thrusting inward and upward. The idea is that it forces air out of the lungs, and the obstruction with it. The American Red Cross recommends alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts in sets of five. That's for situations in which someone is around to help a choking victim. But what if they are alone? It is possible for someone try to self-administer a Heimlich by thrusting their abdomen against the back of a chair, Charlton said. Makers of some the newer anti-choking devices say that's where their products can make a difference. 'Elderly people probably are not capable of diving on a chair or counter,' said Arthur Lih, the founder and chief executive of LifeVac. Antichoking devices aren't always risk-free They vary in design, but generally the devices look like a face mask attached to a tube or bellows, with a handle at the end. They typically sell for around $30 to $100. A choking person dons the mask, pushes down on the handle and then pulls up. That is supposed to create a suction that would pull out the blockage. Some research suggests at least certain devices can injure the tongue or cause bleeding and swelling in the throat. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reports that some products did not generate enough suction and left people with bruising around the face, lips, and mouth. An injury report led the FDA to do an inspection and issue a warning letter to Dechoker in 2021. Manufacturers note their products are registered with the FDA, but that's not the same as an endorsement. Indeed, the agency last year issued a notice to consumers that said it has not approved antichoking devices sold over the counter, because their safety and effectiveness haven't been established. Lih said the FDA action was in response to the proliferation of antichoking devices entering the market that vary in design and quality. More research is needed, choking expert says Right now, the consensus — even among antichoking device manufacturers — is that back blows and abdominal thrusts should always be tried first. (The forceps that Palumbo used are not recommended for the general public.) Lih said thousands of nursing homes and emergency response agencies have purchased the newer antichoking devices. One example: The police department in Acworth, Georgia, bought about 75 LifeVac devices after an officer last year used her personal device to save an elderly woman. They are now in every patrol car, said Sgt. Eric Mistretta. Manufacturers claim the products have saved thousands of lives across multiple countries, but it's tricky to document how well they actually work, said Dr. Cody Dunne, a University of Calgary researcher who has tried. The early evidence has come from case reports or small studies that used mannequins and cadavers. 'I think the case is definitely being built,' he said, but more rigorous research is needed. For example, a larger study could compare what happened during choking incidents at nursing homes that stock the devices with those that don't. Dunne noted, however, that evidence for the Heimlich maneuver and back slaps is evolving, too. He co-authored a study last year that found back blows worked better than the Heimlich or chest compressions. 'We're only now getting good evidence on the old choking techniques, let alone these new ones,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
14-07-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
More elderly Americans are choking to death. Are these devices the answer?
NEW YORK (AP) — It was the scariest choking incident David Palumbo had ever seen. The 88-year-old man had been dining at a Providence, Rhode Island, Italian restaurant in September 2019. Now he was unconscious, with a piece of bread lodged in his windpipe. Precious minutes went by as first responders were unable to help him with CPR or the Heimlich maneuver. In an ambulance on the way to the hospital, the elderly man's skin was blue, and firefighters worried he was going to die. Palumbo — a fire department captain — used a scissors-like device called Magill forceps to pull the bread from the man's throat. 'We get a lot of calls in the city for choking,' many of which are resolved before emergency responders even get there, Palumbo added. 'This was by far the worst one I've been on in my career." Fortunately, the man survived and made a full recovery, he said. But many elderly people do not. Each year, choking claims the lives of more than 4,100 Americans who are 65 or older. It's the most vulnerable age group, accounting for about three-quarters of U.S. choking deaths, according to federal health statistics. The death rate has been relatively steady, but the number has risen, as the size of the nation's retirement-age population grows. In response, a number of companies are marketing antichoking devices to the elderly. Medical professionals have been debating whether to endorse the products, sold under the names LifeVac, SaveLix, VitalVac and the Dechoker. Dr. Nathan Charlton, a University of Virginia professor of emergency medicine who advises the American Red Cross on first aid, said there is limited evidence for the products and that the Red Cross is still evaluating them. Here's a look at choking and the best ways to prevent choking deaths. Choking is a danger to older adults Choking occurs when food or some other object partially or totally blocks the windpipe, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs. Telltale signs include someone reaching for their neck and losing the ability to speak normally. Brain damage can occur after four minutes, and death can come just a few minutes later. Older adults are at higher risk for a number of reasons. As people get older, mouth and throat muscles can weaken. Older people also make less saliva. Some chronic diseases and medications can make swallowing even harder. Dentures can be a choking risk. The best ways to stop choking Choking risk can be reduced by cutting food into small pieces, chewing food slowly, drinking plenty of liquids with meals, and not laughing or talking at the same time you are chewing and swallowing. When someone is choking, you can try perhaps the oldest form of first aid: back slaps. There's also the Heimlich maneuver, named after the doctor credited with devising it in the 1970s. It involves standing behind the choking person, wrapping your arms around their abdomen and — with a balled fist — thrusting inward and upward. The idea is that it forces air out of the lungs, and the obstruction with it. The American Red Cross recommends alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts in sets of five. That's for situations in which someone is around to help a choking victim. But what if they are alone? It is possible for someone try to self-administer a Heimlich by thrusting their abdomen against the back of a chair, Charlton said. Makers of some the newer anti-choking devices say that's where their products can make a difference. 'Elderly people probably are not capable of diving on a chair or counter,' said Arthur Lih, the founder and chief executive of LifeVac. Antichoking devices aren't always risk-free They vary in design, but generally the devices look like a face mask attached to a tube or bellows, with a handle at the end. They typically sell for around $30 to $100. A choking person dons the mask, pushes down on the handle and then pulls up. That is supposed to create a suction that would pull out the blockage. Some research suggests at least certain devices can injure the tongue or cause bleeding and swelling in the throat. And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reports that some products did not generate enough suction and left people with bruising around the face, lips, and mouth. An injury report led the FDA to do an inspection and issue a warning letter to Dechoker in 2021. Manufacturers note their products are registered with the FDA, but that's not the same as an endorsement. Indeed, the agency last year issued a notice to consumers that said it has not approved antichoking devices sold over the counter, because their safety and effectiveness haven't been established. Lih said the FDA action was in response to the proliferation of antichoking devices entering the market that vary in design and quality. More research is needed, choking expert says Right now, the consensus — even among antichoking device manufacturers — is that back blows and abdominal thrusts should always be tried first. (The forceps that Palumbo used are not recommended for the general public.) Lih said thousands of nursing homes and emergency response agencies have purchased the newer antichoking devices. One example: The police department in Acworth, Georgia, bought about 75 LifeVac devices after an officer last year used her personal device to save an elderly woman. They are now in every patrol car, said Sgt. Eric Mistretta. Manufacturers claim the products have saved thousands of lives across multiple countries, but it's tricky to document how well they actually work, said Dr. Cody Dunne, a University of Calgary researcher who has tried. The early evidence has come from case reports or small studies that used mannequins and cadavers. 'I think the case is definitely being built,' he said, but more rigorous research is needed. For example, a larger study could compare what happened during choking incidents at nursing homes that stock the devices with those that don't. Dunne noted, however, that evidence for the Heimlich maneuver and back slaps is evolving, too. He co-authored a study last year that found back blows worked better than the Heimlich or chest compressions. 'We're only now getting good evidence on the old choking techniques, let alone these new ones,' he said. ___
