LifeVac Saves 80-Year-Old Woman in a Choking Emergency
LifeVac are delighted to announce another life saved
It was reported to us that an 80-year-old female choked on a steak sandwich. The food caused a partial blockage of the woman’s airway. Her daughter attempted clearing her airway using abdominal thrusts. but unfortunately, those attempts were unsuccessful. Thankfully, her husband had seen an ad for LifeVac a while ago and decided to purchase the LifeVac as a backup option. When choking first aid protocol failed her husband quickly retrieved the LifeVac device and on the 2nd application was able to dislodge the piece of steak saving her life.
Elderly MOST at risk of choking to death
Choking is one of the leading causes of accidental death in adults over the age of 65, this is due to many reasons such as: Frailty, neurological disorders (MS, Parkinson’s Disease), physical disability (wheelchair users), medications taken which cause “dry mouth” to name just a few examples.
In 2020 there were 212 recorded choking deaths in adults over the age of 65. As we know from working with thousands of care and nursing home providers, roughly 50% of people aged 65-74 and nearly two-thirds of those over 85 live with an underlying medical condition. This means if 50% of people aged 65-74 and nearly two-thirds of those over 85 passed away from an FBAO (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction), they would not be included in the above figures as choking would not be recorded as the primary cause of death.
