HWN Suggests

LifeVac Review: Can It Really Save A Life?

We will conclude from the available research that LifeVac is likely to be effective for treating choking emergencies. We cannot say it’s conclusively effective until we see research on human subjects rather than manikins (though this is unlikely because it would be impossible to sanction a study that puts a real human life at risk of choking to death).

It seems as though this device may be especially useful given that the majority of Americans aren’t trained on properly administering Heimlich maneuvers, which is the abdominal thrust motion recommended to assist choking victims. The LifeVac therefore may remove some of the human error and potentially improve choking outcomes.

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Featured

 It’s Unclear Whether a LifeVac Will Help in a Choking Emergency. You May Want One Anyway

If the standard first aid protocol is unsuccessful, you might consider using an anti-choking device—meant to help clear the choking person’s airway—while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Evidence on the efficacy of these devices, which generally employ suction to help dislodge objects, is mixed. But in a life-or-death situation, they may be useful as a last resort.

 Meet A Dad: Arthur Lih III, Inventor and CEO of LifeVac

I started my research about choking and found out that Heimlich only works about 50% of the time when performed by untrained people and that statistic goes up to 70% if you are trained in Basic Lifesaving Skills. I realized that BLS statistic was not good enough for me. I decided to come up with something that could help me save my little girl in a choking emergency.

Articles of Interest

The Life-Saving Solution: A Conversation with LifeVac Founder

Lih sits down with host Greg Muzzillo to discuss the story behind the creation of LifeVac, why he felt morally obligated to start the company, and the lives he’s touched along the way.

Anti-choking suction devices use. A pilot simulated study with parents and kindergarten teachers

The weakest step was keeping the mask fixed to the victim's airway throughout the procedure: 43.1% failed to do so with LifeVac® device and 33.3% with DeCHOKER®. The only variable with significant differences between the devices was the time spent on performing the test: a median of 9 s less with LifeVac® than with DeCHOKER® (p < 0.001). The estimated success rate was similar with both devices.

Be Warned This is a Cruel Scam... Pam M comment

This device is not ranked by FDA as requiring trials/approval, any more than blood pressure cuffs. Certainty? CPR statistically has a low survival rate, Heimlich does not always work. Cries for safety, studies etc...? Really? CPR and the (formerly called) Heimlich Maneuver are known to cause serious to critical injuries and fatalities. Back in the 70's, Dr. Heimlich developed his maneuver by cruelly killing beagles until he found what worked. With no human trials, only stories and anecdotes, demos in the media (including the Johnny Carson Show) and complete circumvention of a hostile medical establishment, the maneuver achieved adoption. LifeVac is backed by sound science, physician supporters, and hundreds of real world reports. LifeVac however, proposes augmentation of established standards, not replacement (for persons over 22lbs).

Effectiveness of anti-choking device questioned even after hundreds of lives saved

LifeVac points to two more recent studies that show positive results, but those studies also recommend more research.

New potentially life saving device questioned by medical watchdog

A new potentially life saving device is in the spotlight after questions from a medical watchdog. LifeVac claims to help choking victims by suctioning blockages from their airways, but some say it needs more testing first and now it’s being pulled from several local schools.

Toddler Saved By Anti-Choking Device

At UCLA, we recently performed a review of cadaveric studies and performed a simulation study of a portable, non-powered suction-generating device to treat life-threatening blockages due to choking on foreign objects. We found that the amount of pressure generated by such devices were more than double that of the pressure generated by previously well-established maneuvers such as back blows and abdominal thrusts. A mom in Northern California had a terrifying experience of her child choking on an object, and was able to successfully use such a device.

“I Thought He Was Going To Die.” Good Samaritan Leaps Into Action To Save Choking Baby.

A tragedy was narrowly avoided in a South Carolina restaurant, and it was all thanks to a fellow patron who was in the right place at the right time.