15-Month-Old Saved from Choking on Animal Cracker

Choking emergencies can happen in seconds, leaving little to no time to respond. The parents of this toddler acted swiftly and appropriately, doing everything that is recommended by the American Red Cross, first responders, and medical personnel. When this protocol wasn't working for them, they reached for the Dechoker and cleared the 15-month-old's airway. Here is what his mother shared: 

"Saved my 15-month-old. I gave him an animal cracker, heard him swallow hard, and then he was trying to cough and cry and couldn't. My husband grabbed him and tried slapping his back with him facing downward, didn't work. I ran to the closet and grabbed the Dechoker. We laid him on the bed and could see the animal cracker in the main back of his throat, one pull of the Dechoker and it came up so we could pull it out. He's already back to playing!"

What to Do if Your Child is Choking

Back slaps are recommended by the American Red Cross, first responder groups, doctors and medical organizations worldwide as a companion treatment to the Heimlich maneuver. The American Red Cross recommends a "five-and-five" approach to delivering first aid to a choking victim, alternating between five abdominal thrusts and five back blows until the object is clear of the airway.

• Give 5 back blows. Stand to the side and just behind a choking adult. For a child, kneel down behind. Place one arm across the person's chest for support. Bend the person over at the waist so that the upper body is parallel with the ground. Deliver five separate back blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. This treatment works by providing a temporary pressure spike and using the natural force of gravity to push the object out of the airway.
• Give 5 abdominal thrusts. Perform five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver). Have the choking victim stand, then wrap your arms around them from behind. Make a fist with one hand and wrap the other hand around it, positioned above the belly button just under the rib cage. Thrust firmly inward and upward several times. This forces air stored in the lungs outward, hopefully dislodging the object caught in the airway.
• Alternate between 5 blows and 5 thrusts until the blockage is dislodged.

Why the Dechoker Works

These traditional first-aid treatments have proven relatively effective for many years, but unfortunately deaths still occur. Additionally, the treatments come with a risk of injury, and their invasive and somewhat jarring nature can make bystanders reluctant to attempt them. Further, they can become less effective over time. For these reasons, we recommend our innovative anti-choking device, The Dechoker in conjunction with these methods.

The Dechoker comes with no risk of injury and is extremely easy to use, so much so that most adults could even use it on themselves. Apply the face mask over the nose and mouth of the choking victim, and pull back on the plunger. This creates suction, often clearing the airway within seconds.

We recommend that the Dechoker not replace traditional treatments such as back slaps but is available as an alternative should those treatments fail. In a choking emergency, we believe caregivers, first responders, and families should have every possible tool at their fingertips.