Latest news with #LifeVac
Perth Now
a day ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Anti-choking devices rolled out after grieving father's plea
The City of Vincent will install 10 life-saving anti-choking machines in various locations after a Perth father advocated for LifeVac machines to be provided after the death of his son at Burns Beach in Iluka last year. Council members voted unanimously in favour of installing the devices at city-managed facilities after it was proposed by councillors Nicole Woolf and Suzanne Worner at their May meeting. Brian Bwoga, father of 22-month-old Zaza, faced a parent's worst nightmare when his son had four grapes lodged in his throat and died. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Mr Bwoga came to the meeting on Tuesday night and shared his gratitude to the council, regardless of how they chose to vote. 'Without you guys hearing my backstory of how my son passed away I wouldn't be here tonight.' he said. Mr Bwoga shared at the May meeting his heart-wrenching story of how his son died in his arms despite attempting CPR and mouth-to-mouth. LifeVac devices can clear obstructions from the windpipe. Credit: LifeVac 'I already did my first-aid course; my oldest son was there with me and his best friends,' he said at the meeting. 'While my son was dying in my arms all I remember I carried him running towards a defibrillator because I thought it was the right tool. 'I delivered my son in my arms and he gave me the same look as when he was passing away. 'We know it takes less than four minutes for brain damage, and less than six minutes to pronounce someone as dead. 'It took 20 minutes for the ambulance to show up.' Mr Bwoga said he was 'so pissed off' when he found the LifeVac device and didn't know the device, which had been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia since 2011, even existed. He said he wanted to turn his grief into a purpose. Brian Bwoga and 22-month-old son Zaza, who died after choking on a grape. Credit: Manuel Goria 'I request for you guys to consider installing this next to your city-run facilities so a parent will never go through the same thing,' Mr Bwoga said. The LifeVac unit consists of a plastic plunger with a one-way valve and a facemask that attaches to the plunger. Staff will be given training on how to use the new devices in locations such as Beatty Park Leisure Centre, Loftus Community Centre, Loftus Recreation Centre and Vincent Library. The City of Joondalup was the first Perth council to roll out the devices in April, having 38 LifeVac devices across the city. Mr Bwoga has also pitched the devices to the City of Wanneroo. The Town of Bassendean will also consider the installation of LifeVac machines, with mayor Kath Hamilton's motion to install the devices to be discussed at the town's meeting on June 24.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bronx councilwoman's bill would mandate life-saving ‘anti-choking' devices in all NYC schools
Every school in NYC would be required to have 'airway clearance devices' to help prevent choking deaths under a City Council bill gaining bipartisan steam. The legislation sponsored by Bronx Republican Kristy Marmorato would mandate that city schools stock the portable, suction-based devices on site. It already has support from 11 Democrats and four other Republicans, and was expected to be the subject of a public hearing this month. The devices, which can be self-administered and are considered an alternative to the Heimlich maneuver, usually run $50 to $70 each, but Long Island-based LifeVac has offered to supply each Big Apple school with a device and an instructional video on how they work at no charge, according to the company. Heidi Felix, LifeVac's vice president of sales, said the company has already donated more than 10,000 devices to schools nationwide and welcomes doing the same in NYC. There's more than 1,800 public schools and about 900 private schools in the Big Apple. The issue is personal for Marmorato. She had a scary incident eight years ago when her then-18-month-old daughter choked on a piece of apple. A trained health care professional, Marmorato was able to save her daughter — but recalled it was a 'very frightening experience.' Her grandfather, Michael Rendino, died three decades ago while choking on a piece of meat at a restaurant after the Heimlich maneuver failed. 'This is not just about my child,' she said. 'It's about all the children in New York City. Even if one device saves one kid's life, it's tremendous, and it's a win for parents and families.' She said she expects the legislation to be approved,considering it won't cost taxpayers a cent. Albany pols are reviewing similar legislation to require schools statewide to stock 'airway clearance devices.' City Hall spokesman Zachary Nosanchuk said the Department of Education and Mayor's Office will review the legislation, but added 'we continue to train [school] staff to use the Heimlich maneuver' because it remains the 'recommended first-aid technique to save children who are choking.'
New York Post
07-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
New bill would mandate 'anti-choking' devices in NYC schools
Every school in NYC would be required to have 'airway clearance devices' to help prevent choking deaths under a City Council bill gaining bipartisan steam. The legislation sponsored by Bronx Republican Kristy Marmorato would mandate that city schools stock the portable, suction-based devices on site. It already has support from 11 Democrats and four other Republicans, and was expected to be the subject of a public hearing this month. The devices, which can be self-administered and are considered an alternative to the Heimlich maneuver, usually run $50 to $70 each, but Long Island-based LifeVac has offered to supply each Big Apple school with a device and an instructional video on how they work at no charge, according to the company. 3 NYC Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato (R-Bronx) sponsored a bill that would mandate city schools stock 'airway clearance devices' to help prevent choking deaths. James Keivom Heidi Felix, LifeVac's vice president of sales, said the company has already donated more than 10,000 devices to schools nationwide and welcomes doing the same in NYC. There's more than 1,800 public schools and about 900 private schools in the Big Apple. The issue is personal for Marmorato. 3 LifeVac has already donated more than 10,000 devices to schools nationwide and welcomes doing the same in NYC. LifeVac She had a scary incident eight years ago when her then-18-month-old daughter choked on a piece of apple. A trained health care professional, Marmorato was able to save her daughter — but recalled it was a 'very frightening experience.' Her grandfather, Michael Rendino, died three decades ago while choking on a piece of meat at a restaurant after the Heimlich maneuver failed. 3 More than 1,800 public schools and about 900 private schools in the Big Apple would have the life-saving devices under the bill. Monkey Business – 'This is not just about my child,' she said. 'It's about all the children in New York City. Even if one device saves one kid's life, it's tremendous, and it's a win for parents and families.' She said she expects the legislation to be approved,considering it won't cost taxpayers a cent. Albany pols are reviewing similar legislation to require schools statewide to stock 'airway clearance devices.' City Hall spokesman Zachary Nosanchuk said the Department of Education and Mayor's Office will review the legislation, but added 'we continue to train [school] staff to use the Heimlich maneuver' because it remains the 'recommended first-aid technique to save children who are choking.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tampa Police get 300 new lifesaving choking devices from New York-based company
The Brief A company based in New York donated choking rescue devices to the Tampa Police Department. The devices, which are called LifeVac, create a one-way suction to remove lodged food or objects from a choking victim. These devices will be distributed to officers soon. TAMPA, Fla. - A New York-based company donated 300 choking rescue devices to the Tampa Police Department. These devices, called LifeVac, create a one-way suction to remove lodged food or objects from a choking victim. "This is just another tool for us, especially for our youth, to be out there and provide another opportunity to save a life," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said of the donation. The backstory Last month,a Tampa police officer used back blows to help save a toddler who was choking on a tomato. "That's the reason that we're getting this donation," Bercaw said Friday of the bodycam video. "[LifeVac inventor] Mr. Lih saw that video and said, 'I've got to get that product down here in a generous donation.'" "I knew as a parent, I'd be freaking out. I would be very distressed. So I tried to come up with something really simple. You push it, pull it, and that suction pulls it out," LifeVac President and Creator Arthur Lih said. These devices will be distributed to officers soon. Bercaw told FOX 13 the devices will be placed in patrol cars and will be used in schools and at Police Athletic League youth activities. Dig deeper As shown in LifeVac's online instructional video, the New York-based company said people should first follow choking protocols established by the American Red Cross. That means doing back blows and abdominal thrusts first. And if those actions don't work – or if those actions cannot be completed for whatever reason – then a LifeVac device can come into play. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages people to follow established choking rescue protocols by the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. In an April 2024 update, the FDA said these protocols do not include anti-choking devices: "The safety and effectiveness of anti-choking devices that are being sold over-the-counter have not been established; they are not FDA approved or cleared." Success Stories Just this week, a Georgia police officer used a LifeVac device to save a driver choking on a water bottle cap. Years ago, LifeVac devices were placed in every school in Sarasota County. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Ariel Plasencia.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lyft driver taken hostage in lobby of Dawson County Sheriff's Office, officials say
The Dawson County Sheriff's Office said a hostage situation happened far closer to home than normal. In the early morning hours on Thursday, Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson defused a hostage situation in the Law Enforcement Center's front lobby. According to the sheriff's office, David Christopher Morris, of Dawsonville, was holding a knife to a man said to be his Lyft driver. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Morris told the sheriff's office he'd been picked up in Hall County, and while on his way to an address in Dawson County, threatened the driver and had him drive him straight to the sheriff's office. When the driver and Morris got to the office, Morris held him at knifepoint and walked into the building, demanding to speak to Johnson. TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta rent prices down 1% compared to 2024, but rose month-to-month Acworth police save life of man choking on water bottle cap using LifeVac device Man accused of depositing check meant for GA county commissioners into personal account While waiting for Johnson to arrive, SWAT deputies established a secure perimeter, according to officials. After speaking for a while, Morris released the hostage and surrendered the weapon without further incident. The Lyft driver sustained minor injuries and was treated by Dawson County Fire and Emergency Services, the sheriff's office said. Morris was taken into custody and is in custody at the Dawson County Detention Center. 'We're grateful this situation ended without further harm to the victim, our deputies, or the suspect. It is an honor to work for a strong leader who leads calmly by example, even in the face of danger‚" Dawson County Sheriff's Public Information Officer Sgt. Matthew Blackstock said in a statement. Morris' charges were not made public yet. The sheriff's office said more details would be released when they are available. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
