Key takeaways:
Choking is a life-threatening emergency, and acting quickly with proven methods like back blows and the Heimlich maneuver can save a life.
Anti-choking devices like LifeVac and Dechoker aren’t FDA approved, and there isn’t enough strong evidence to show they work better than standard treatments.
Anti-choking devices are likely safe. But experts recommend starting with back blows and abdominal thrusts during a choking episode.
Choking is a medical emergency that needs immediate action. When someone’s airway is blocked, oxygen to the brain is cut off. There isn’t time to wait for emergency responders to arrive. Acting quickly with techniques like back blows or the Heimlich maneuver can be lifesaving.
Anti-choking devices may seem like a helpful option too. Manufacturers claim their devices are lifesaving. But it’s important to consider whether these devices work as intended and if they may delay lifesaving steps.
Let’s take a closer look at the evidence behind anti-choking devices.
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What are anti-choking devices?
Anti-choking devices like LifeVac, Dechoker, and other “choking rescue devices” use suction to help clear the airway of someone who’s choking. They’re medical devices that anyone can purchase without a prescription, and they don’t require any special training to use.
Are LifeVac and Dechoker FDA approved?
LifeVac and Dechoker are registered with the FDA. This is required for all medical device manufacturers. But these devices don’t have FDA clearance or approval. The FDA hasn’t reviewed data from manufacturers to confirm that these devices are safe or that they work as advertised.
How do anti-choking devices work?
Anti-choking devices use suction to try to remove whatever is blocking the airway. They typically work in a few steps:
Place the mask: A plastic mask is placed over the person’s mouth and nose to create a seal.
Create suction: A handheld pump is used to generate negative pressure (suction).
Dislodge the blockage: The suction is meant to pull the object out of the airway and into the mask.
Do anti-choking devices work well?
It’s not clear how well anti-choking devices work. At this point, most experts don’t recommend using anti-choking devices. In fact, the FDA and the American Red Cross recommend using traditional methods to treat choking — like the Heimlich maneuver — and not anti-choking devices.
There are a couple of reasons for this.
Insufficient data
There isn’t enough high-quality evidence to show that anti-choking devices work better than standard treatments like back blows and abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver).
In one study, the LifeVac device resolved 38 out of 39 adult choking emergencies. A larger study of 185 choking cases found that both LifeVac and Dechoker resolved choking symptoms in nearly all cases.
But these results come from voluntary reports sent to the companies that make the devices. Because reporting is optional, people are more likely to share successful experiences than unsuccessful ones, which can make the devices seem more effective than they actually are.
There’s also very little independent research on these devices. A 2020 review identified just 5 small studies, most of which were done on mannequins or cadavers instead of real people. Even though the devices appeared to work well, the researchers weren’t able to say if the results would be the same in real-life emergency situations.
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There’s not enough good-quality evidence to know if these devices are helpful, harmful, or no different from standard treatments. That’s the position of expert groups like the:
American Heart Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR)
So experts don’t recommend these devices either way.
Potential for dangerous delays
Experts worry that the time it takes to retrieve an anti-choking device, put it in place, and figure out how to use it may cause harmful delays.
In one study, the most difficult step in using these devices was maintaining a good seal of the mask around the choking person’s nose and mouth. This seal is critical for creating suction. If medical students struggled to get a good seal in a simulation, it could be even more difficult for someone without medical training.
Because of this, using a device could take valuable time away from techniques that are known to work. In an emergency, even small delays can make a difference.
These devices may work in some situations and are unlikely to cause harm on their own. But the time it takes to use them — especially if they don’t work right away — can delay proven, lifesaving steps.
What to do instead of using an anti-choking device
Right now, there’s no evidence that anti-choking devices work better than the Heimlich maneuver or back blows. There’s also no evidence that someone without medical training is more likely to use them successfully compared to these standard techniques.
Instead of anti-choking devices, you can follow these steps to help a choking adult or child:
Call for help: Get someone to call 911.
Use back blows: Stand behind the person who’s choking and have them bend forward. Use the heel of your hand to pound forcefully between their shoulder blades. Do this five times.
Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver): If their airway is still blocked, make one hand into a fist and position it just above their belly button. Wrap your other arm around their belly and put your hand on top of your fist. Pull your hands inward and upward quickly. Do this five times.
Alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts: Repeat these steps until the person can breathe again.
Perform CPR: If the person becomes unconscious, perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Frequently asked questions
The LifeVac device doesn’t expire, but the manufacturer recommends replacing masks every 2 to 3 years. The entire device should be replaced if used to relieve a choking episode. The manufacturer will replace the device for free in this situation.
There are no studies that directly compare how well different brands of anti-choking devices work. So it’s not possible to say if one of them works best.
There are no reports of LifeVac or other anti-choking devices causing a lung collapse. It’s unlikely that these devices would cause a lung collapse if used during a true choking episode.
The LifeVac device doesn’t expire, but the manufacturer recommends replacing masks every 2 to 3 years. The entire device should be replaced if used to relieve a choking episode. The manufacturer will replace the device for free in this situation.
There are no studies that directly compare how well different brands of anti-choking devices work. So it’s not possible to say if one of them works best.
There are no reports of LifeVac or other anti-choking devices causing a lung collapse. It’s unlikely that these devices would cause a lung collapse if used during a true choking episode.
The bottom line
Keeping an anti-choking device on hand in case of a choking emergency seems like a great idea. And there’s some evidence to support the use of devices like LifeVac and Dechoker in addition to traditional first aid maneuvers. But there isn’t enough data to support routine use of anti-choking devices. Instead, experts recommend using back blows and abdominal or chest thrusts to help someone who’s choking.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Red Cross. (n.d.). Adult/child choking.
Carballo-Fazanes, A., et al. (2022). Anti-choking suction devices use: A pilot simulated study with parents and kindergarten teachers. Resuscitation.
Dechoker. (n.d.). Dechoker® airway clearing device.
Dunne, C. L., et al. (2020). A systematic review on the effectiveness of anti-choking suction devices and identification of research gaps. Resuscitation.
Dunne, C. L., et al. (2022). Phase one of a global evaluation of suction-based airway clearance devices in foreign body airway obstructions: A retrospective descriptive analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Lashbrook, A. (2024). What to know before you buy the LifeVac anti-choking device for your baby. Consumer Reports.
LifeVac. (n.d.). Choking rescue device.
LifeVac. (n.d.). FAQs: Expiration.
LifeVac. (n.d.). FAQs: Usage in emergency.
McKinley, M. J. (2021). Use of a novel portable non-powered suction device in patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia during a choking emergency. Frontiers in Medicine.
MedlinePlus. (2026). Abdominal thrusts.
MedlinePlus. (2026). Choking - adult or child over 1 year.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Update: FDA encourages the public to follow established choking rescue protocols: FDA safety communication.
