On May 3rd, 2025 a 92-year-old woman choked on hibachi noodles resulting in a partial obstruction. Protocol was followed. LifeVac successfully dislodged the food on its third attempt. A good Samaritan who stepped in to help described the incident as follows:
“Patient began choking while eating dinner. She was able to talk a little but was not able to breathe very well and kept saying “I can’t breathe” while gasping for air. Lips began turning purple very quickly. Coughs were very unproductive and hoarse. Abdominal thrusts and back blows were administered while someone grabbed the LifeVac out of my car. By the time we were using the LifeVac the patient lost all color and was purple all around her nose and mouth. It most definitely saved her life. Back blows and thrusts did nothing. She is also 92 so it was pretty difficult without the LifeVac because she is fragile. She would not let us lay her down either which is why it took 3 attempts to use the device since we had to hold her head in order to get the suction needed for it to work properly. I administered back blows in between attempts to use the LifeVac. I was behind the patient holding her up while my sister in law an LPN used the LifeVac on her. After the 3rd attempt it worked and dislodged a bunch of noodles as well as some fluid and she immediately was able to breathe and cough properly. She was evaluated and within an hour was released.”
Kayla F.