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A new emergency first aid device designed specifically to deal with choking is now available as an essential piece of emergency kit.
The aptly named ‘Dechoker’ has been developed with a view to it becoming a part of all first aid kits across homes and businesses in the UK.
Choking is the leading cause of death in children, and is also a common occurrence in everyday life, across the age spectrum. The Dechoker device provides those with even a basic level of first aid training with a means to effectively resolve the emergency situation that could otherwise lead to death.
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 inbuilt tube, which, when the mask is placed over the nose and mouth, depresses the victim’s tongue allowing maximum access close to the obstruction.
Once the mask is sealed around the person’s face, the first aider gently pumps the air out through the attached respirator for up to 3 seconds. It is important to note that any debris removed cannot be reintroduced into the patient’s airway because of an integral one-way valve that prevents this.
Its simplicity of use and high success rate makes the Dechoker a crucial piece of emergency first aid kit for paramedics, A&E staff, emergency first responders, public places and businesses.
Dechoker Europe Ltd spokesman, Alan Walton commented: “We’ve been developing the Dechoker in close consultation with the medical world for years and now we’re finally in a position to get this device in to the hands of people who really need it. We’re hopeful that it’ll soon become common place in every first aid kit around the UK – considerably reducing choking related deaths.”
The Dechoker has been approved by the FDA in the United States and CE registered for Europe. It is also endorsed by a leading UK anaesthetist and Advance Life Support tutor Dr Biswas, FRCA. A video explaining and demonstrating the Dechoker was made at a Nottingham hospital and can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2EJNFRDH4&feature=youtu.be