What’s an Anti-Choking Device and Does It Work?

Choking is an emergency. When it happens, a person’s airway is cut off, and their brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. But it can be tough to act fast in an emergency. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with the steps to take if you notice someone is choking. 

Anti-choking devices are advertised as an effective way to treat choking in adults and kids. But how do these devices work? And are they really safe to use? 

Let’s review the evidence behind anti-choking devices. 

What are anti-choking devices?

Anti-choking devices like LifeVac and other “choking rescue devices” use suction to help clear the airway of someone who is choking. They’re medical devices that anyone can purchase without a prescription and they don’t require any special training. 

Anti-choking devices have a plastic mask that fits over the choking person’s mouth and nose. Attached to the mask is a small pump that’s used to create negative pressure (or suction). The suction helps move whatever is blocking the airway up and out of the throat.

Are LifeVac and Dechoker FDA-approved?

No, LifeVac and Dechoker are registered with the FDA, but they’re not FDA-approved like medications are. This means that anti-choking devices don’t need to be proven safe and effective before they’re sold.

How well do anti-choking devices work?

The evidence is mixed when it comes to how well anti-choking devices work. At this point, most experts don’t recommend using anti-choking devices. In fact, the FDA, American Red Cross, and the American Heart Association all recommend using traditional methods to treat choking, not anti-choking devices. 

There are a couple of reasons for this. 

Insufficient data

There isn’t enough data to suggest these devices are better than the “standard of care” or traditional methods. Traditional methods include abdominal thrusts (also called the Heimlich maneuver) and back blows. 

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But there’s some evidence suggesting that anti-choking devices may be useful in some cases. In one report, users of LifeVac submitted voluntary feedback cards, which showed successful use in 38 out of 39 adult choking emergencies. However, this study didn’t include information on every use of the anti-choking device, only the events that people chose to report. 

According to another report, LifeVac and Dechoker devices helped clear the airways of choking victims when used in addition to traditional methods. But the authors acknowledged limitations in data collection and quality.

How do LifeVac and Dechoker measure up against one another? There’s limited research directly comparing the two devices:

• In one study, medical students used the devices to clear blocked airways on mannequins. Researchers found that LifeVac was more effective at relieving choking than abdominal thrusts or Dechoker.

• Another small study directly compared LifeVac and Dechoker in simulated choking victims. The main difference was that LifeVac could be used slightly faster. 

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While some of these studies are promising, experts agree that there isn’t enough evidence at this time to recommend the routine use of anti-choking devices. 

Potential for dangerous delays

In the small head-to-head study mentioned above, 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 in a real-life situation.

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.

What to do instead of using an anti-choking device

So, what should you do instead of using an anti-choking device?

Follow these steps to help a choking adult or child:

1. Call for help: Get someone to call 911. 

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. Alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts: Repeat these steps until the person can breathe again. 

5. Perform CPR: If the person becomes unconscious, perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). 

Research suggests these methods are successful in adults 86% of the time. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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