New emergency device to save lives from choking

“Choking is the leading cause of death in children”

The Dechoker, which has been endorsed by leading consultants and advanced first-aid trainers has been created in the hope of saving millions of lives from an all too common medical emergency – choking.

Most people have experienced the fear of watching a loved one choke and although most cases end in the obstruction being cleared, far too many young, old and vulnerable people have lost their lives to this common medical emergency. In fact, choking is the leading cause of death in children. If trained in first aid, anyone who witnesses a choking emergency will have been taught traditional methods of extracting the foreign body which blocks the patient’s airway, such as the Heimlich manoeuvre.

Although such techniques can be highly effective, if ineffective, the only course of action is to await an emergency response; however, knowing that it only takes 4 minutes for brain damage to possibly occur in someone choking, this is a costly wait. Dechoker Europe were only too aware of these facts, and as a result have worked tirelessly over the last few years to research and bring to production the Dechoker.

The principles behind the Dechoker are simple: the device sucks the air from a patient’s airway (behind the obstruction) in turn sucking out the debris which has been blocking it. The mouthpiece attached to the Dechoker resembles a traditional oxygen mask but has an additional tube which is fed into a patient’s mouth which depresses the victim’s tongue allowing maximum access close to the obstruction. Once the mask is sealed around their face, the first aider gently pumps the air out through the attached respirator for up to 3 seconds. This process can be repeated after a brief rest to allow the lungs to re-inflate. What seems like such a simple piece of equipment could indeed be the decider between life and death.

Dechoker Europe have launched a video campaign via YouTube which shows a consultant anaesthetist demonstrating the effectiveness on the Dechoker on medical manikins. He, along with a host of other medical professionals, endorse the product and recommend that all places which hold first aid equipment should also have a Dechoker.

Its simplicity of use and high success rate have led to some suggesting it should be a must for public premises, care homes and even individual homes inhabited by young children. Some leading advanced first-aid trainers will shortly be running training courses for children so that they can save the life of a parent, grandparent or a sibling.

Watch a video demonstration below:

To find out more about the device, visit the website HERE