In Trumbull, Connecticut a 10-month-old baby was saved by local police officer James Sota with the use of an anti-choking device. With the baby’s lips turning blue due to a blocked airway, the officer quickly retrieved a LifeVac kit.

Officer Sota and the child’s parents were able to successfully clear part of the blockage from the child’s airway. By training and equipping officers with anti-choking devices, the Trumbull Police Department demonstrates what is possible. It also highlights why statewide policy is essential and every community deserves this life-saving option. 

According to the National Safety Council, choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. Among infants younger than one year, mechanical suffocation is the leading cause of preventable-injury death.

The recommended response for children and adults has been the Heimlich maneuver which is a series of abdominal thrusts designed to dislodge the obstruction and prevent suffocation. In the event that the Heimlich maneuver is ineffective, what happens next? Many times it becomes a waiting game of continuing abdominal thrusts until medical personnel are able to assess the situation.

What if there was another option for bystanders to a choking incident? When the conventional method fails there is an opportunity for a backup intervention such as an anti-choking suction device.

The Heimlich works by pressing hard on the stomach and chest to push air out, while LifeVac uses suction to pull the blockage free. That difference gives rescuers another option, especially for babies, seniors, or anyone who can’t tolerate the force of abdominal thrusts.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it clear that anti-choking devices such as the Dechoker and LifeVac are not FDA-approved and their effectiveness has not been fully established. The FDA cautions that using these devices first could even delay proven rescue techniques, since they often require unpacking and assembly before use. But with proper policies, training, and oversight the integration of these devices can be successfully implemented. 

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are already required in many Connecticut schools, athletic facilities, and other community spaces. AEDs are a trusted standard for cardiac emergencies, and their mandate shows that Connecticut values life saving measures. Anti-choking devices should follow the same path.

Texas recently enacted the Westyn Bryan Mandrell Act (HB 549), which requires every public school campus to keep at least one anti-choking device on hand. This would provide equipment in priority areas such as cafeterias and other areas where students eat. The law also ensures that staff receive training, that the devices are properly maintained, and that schools are able to use either state funding or community donations to cover costs.

With successful implementation, Texas has offered a clear blueprint for how to bring these devices into schools statewide. Connecticut should take note and begin moving in the same direction to adapt policy ensuring these lifesaving anti-choking devices are available as a backup tool in emergency situations. 

In one controlled trial in a simulated environment, LifeVac was able to successfully remove the obstruction in 99% of attempts compared to abdominal thrust at 71%. The LifeVac was the most effective intervention when the Heimlich maneuver fails. Over 4,000 lives have been saved with the non-invasive airway clearance device LifeVac. 

It is known that choking is one of the leading causes of accidental death, and we already have the tools to prevent it. LifeVac devices are affordable, simple to use, and they work. Texas has already taken the step to put them in every school. Connecticut should do the same and go further by requiring them in nursing homes, restaurants, gyms, and other care facilities where people are most at risk.

For the cost of a couple hundred dollars, schools and communities can be prepared to save a life. It’s a small investment with a huge return for a child, a parent, or a grandparent who gets to go home at the end of the day. 

Krista Schultz lives in Trumbull.