On June 25th, 2026 a 63 year old woman choked on a breakfast burrito resulting in a total obstruction. Protocol was followed. LifeVac dislodged the obstruction on its second attempt. The woman's daughter described the incident as follows
“The patient, my mom, started choking in front of me. I gave two back blows, yelled for my dad for help, and used the Heimlich maneuver twice. Then my dad took over with 2-3 more attempts while I grabbed the LifeVac. Because she was standing, I did not get a proper hold of the mask on her face the first attempt. On the second attempt my dad held her against him from behind and I was able to get a successful seal and suction. Because she has Parkinson’s, is so thin, and her muscles are so tight, it makes it really difficult to use the Heimlich maneuver because you don’t get the same leverage as someone with more fat and a less rigid abdomen. We are so thankful to have had the LifeVac ready. My mom is feeling much better following the incident. I appreciate you initiating the replacement unit and am forever grateful for LifeVac for altering the course of our lives.”
Elaine N.
