LifeVac airway clearance devices could save lives

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There was an article on the news last night about anti-choking devices being installed in community venues in one of Perth’s northern suburbs. A young father was unable to save his 22-month-old son from choking on a grape and the boy died in his arms. Determined to try to prevent such accidents, his research led him to the LifeVac airway clearance device, which is approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. The LifeVac is a suction-based and quite simple device which simulates a strong cough-like reaction in the patient. It should be deployed when standard first aid measures have failed to remove airway blockages. Choking is one of the six leading causes of death in the US and probably about the same in other countries. Children make up 40% of cases. Interestingly, when we did our course on using a defibrillator, the instructor talked briefly about choking, saying the Heimlich manoeuvre was no longer recommended, which I found very strange, but moving on … The boy’s father, Brian Bwoga, hopes that other councils will look at installing LifeVac packs in their community centres. There are many instances where a family tragedy leads a family member to campaign for change. This is another of them.