Thinking of getting a lifevac...opinions needed

[IrrationalIrational]

I posted a few days ago but my thread was removed

Have you got one?

What do you think?

For people who don’t know what this is, it’s an anti choking device for children and adults

@deathstare so your making accusations now?

@deathstare so your making accusations now?

Not just me! Several other people have also posted saying this.

@deathstare for absolutely no reason other than to just be nasty. Well done

Here's the thing- choking is utterly terrifying. So your child chokes: you can run away from you child, pull the device out of the cupboard, try to get them to open their mouth (ever tried brushing a toddlers teeth when they don't want to?), put the device in, make sure you don't catch their tongue (kids have much bigger tongues) get it down into their throat (is your panicking kid still standing still for you?) make sure you don't go too far as you don't want to go down the oesophagus if the food is in the trachea or vice versa, make sure your kid is staying still and you're perfectly central, otherwise that vacuum is going to suction up the tissue on the wall of the throat and cause further swelling.

Or you can do back slaps and Heimlichs, both of which have been proven to save lives, and which don't require the co-operation of a terrified child.

@butchyrestingface as I’ve explained in the thread I am struggling with postpartum anxiety

Stop accusing me of trying to sell something. I simply wanted to know if other people thought this was a life saving device or not. Simple as that

@wildflowersandweeds this device would only be used if all else had failed. The alternative is terrifying

@butchyrestingface as I’ve explained in the thread I am struggling with postpartum anxiety hmm

You can be struggling with anxiety AND still trying to flog something. Which is how this thread is coming across to quite a few ppl reading it.

That was my first post to the thread incidentally so I haven’t been accusing you of anything.

At the very least, given that you had already posted another thread on the subject, I think a second throw of the die was rather misguided.

In any case, you’ve got your answer. Most people seem to think it’s a bad idea. If all else fails, the advice is to administer CPR until the ambulance arrives from what I remember, NOT use a lifevac.

Thank you for your opinion & support

@anna4141

😂😂😂😂😂

I think @wildflowersandweeds articulated a number of issues very well, OP.

OP, it's a foolish waste of money, and in real emergencies isn't going to be a help. If it was, every ambulance would have one.

You are not crazy to worry about checking, but would be honestly better off to invest in extra help around the house, like a nanny. Someone else who could help during an emergency, who could do CPR if you cant, who could call an ambulance if you couldn't, etc.

@northendgal thank you. I have an app today to hopefully get some help to deal with the anxiety. This issue just seems to have got hold of me at the moment. Thanks again

Reporting now.

@bobstersmum go for it!

If someone is able to make a noise whilst coughing then some gas is getting into the lungs. Applying a face mask that doesn’t supply oxygen at this point may a) freak them out to the point that they lose their airway b) prevent gas getting to the lungs for the duration that the mask is applied.

In order for the thing to work the airway needs to be held in a position in which the upper airway would normally be patent (if the bolus of whatever wasn’t there) and the mask held on with one hand whilst the other deploys the suction. Holding an airway patent and face mask on well enough to have a ‘proper’ seal is not always that easy and does require proper training. It is not difficult to actively obstruct the airway with poor technique (which would make the situation worse).

The suction it claims to generate is not insignificant...in fact it’s probably enough to suck stomach contents up into the upper airway, therefore adding vomit to the scenario and making things even messier.

The standard advice is to do whichever ‘dislodging manoeuvres’ are age appropriate for the patient and to start CPR if consciousness is lost/breathing stops. The chest compression element of CPR may generate enough positive pressure to expel the obstruction. Positive pressure ventilation (eg mouth to mouth) may push a small item down far enough that it’s only obstructing 1 lung (which is still pretty bad, but arguably better than obstructing both).

When you start introducing fancy ‘toys’ to an emotionally high-stakes emergency scenario (even in hospital) inexperienced people may become distracted by the kit to the extent that the basics of management are ignored.

From watching the you tube demo... you’ll notice that the vacuum is lost pretty quickly when he used it in the girl’s thigh. It doesn’t matter if the patient can talk or not...if their cough generates noise the airway is not completely obstructed. His comment that you may need to ‘use a finger to open the airway’ is absolutely wrong. His comment that you can continue to use the mask repeatedly until paramedics arrive is also dangerous. If your patient has stopped breathing/had a cardiac arrest they need CPR.

IME, until this device has a proper evidence base (not just a few case reports) then you’d be far better off sticking to the standard management.

Thank you for @greybeardy

Your post is very interesting. I agree to suggest using the device over CPR when it’s needed is very dangerous. Perhaps this product needs more testing by medical experts. Can I ask you, there are numerous reports this has worked, so you think these are true? I am going to hold off buying this for now as your post does suggest it’ll be more dangerous in the long run

That device could easily inadvertently make an incomplete obstruction a complete obstruction, by moving the item into a worse position.