FAQs

Yes anyone can use LifeVac®, we recommend to use LifeVac® when Resuscitation Council Guidelines (BLS protocol) fails. This is where LifeVac® has saved hundreds of lives, when standard BLS has failed or cannot be performed. Resuscitation Guidelines are reviewed every 5 years and created by a body called ILCOR (International Liaison Committee), this committee is made up from resuscitation council members from all over the world.

In the last review (2019/20) ILCOR stated “while we recognise they have saved lives, there is not enough evidence to encourage or discourage their use”. Since then LifeVac® has saved a further 400 lives and gained 6 more peer reviewed medical publications covering lives saved, comparison studies, ease of use, safety and effectiveness. We are certain non-invasive hand held suction devices will become part of the standard first aid choking protocol at some point in the future as LifeVac® is saving lives when BLS first aid fails. In addition, BLS protocol is only 70% effective when performed correctly in a perfect situation. You also have to remember these are “guidelines” not “laws”. LifeVac® is not a first aid device yet and does not claim to be a first aid device.

LifeVac® is a class 1 medical device, LifeVac® is registered and regulated by governing bodies such as the FDA, MHRA, TGA, CE and many more. These are the “governing/authoritative bodies” and governing bodies are who say what can and cannot be used in the public domain. Advisory bodies such as resuscitation councils look at things from a first aid perspective and do not have the authority to say what can or cannot be used outside of first aid/resuscitation guidelines.

Our long term goal is to have “non-invasive hand held suction devices” implemented into BLS first aid protocol. This will raise the current 70% effectiveness of choking protocol to as close to 100% effective as possible. This will also give people such as wheelchair users and people with physical disabilities an additional option when they cannot receive the abdominal thrusts or back blows.

Being a medical device, LifeVac® has full public liability insurance.

No, LifeVac® has a patented one-way valve system, this means when applied no air can be forced through the interchangeable sized masks.

Yes, we offer face-to-face training, train the trainer training, free video training and our CPD Certified e-learning training to suit your needs.

LifeVac® is single-use due to cross-contamination, but if you let us know you have used LifeVac® like many others have we will replace it free of charge.

Yes, LifeVac® can proudly say it is the only airway clearance device or suction device with independent medical testing, peer-reviewed medical publications and medical abstracts covering safety, effectiveness, lives saved, comparison studies and ease of use. Click here to view these.

No, LifeVac® comes with interchangeable sized masks clearly identified by colour coded labels. Unfortunately, one size mask will not fit all so we have created a device that can be used on everyone by simply changing the mask. LifeVac® has saved lives from the age of 11 months old to 96 years of age.

No.

Being non-invasive, there is no risk of any tubes pushing the obstruction further back, pushing the tongue back in a panic situation, or tearing of the lingual frenulum which will cause bleeding and the tongue to become an additional obstruction. Also, there are no tubes that can become blocked which will render the equipment useless if only part of the obstruction has been removed.

Yes, LifeVac® can self-applied and has also been used like this to save a life.

No, LifeVac® is an FDA, Canadian Health Service, MHRA, TGA and CE registered medical device for sale and use in other appropriate countries where registrations are obtained.

Barotrauma is usually associated with positive pressure, usually of the lower respiratory tract rather than the upper airway, resulting from high inflation pressures and damaging the lung parenchyma. Suction devices which generate a ‘negative’ (sub-atmospheric) pressure will not damage distal tissues beyond the larynx.

Yes. It is recommended to add LifeVac® to the training due to the ease of use and due to the potential consistency of use. The training should consider the availability and non-availability of LifeVac® devices. If the LifeVac® device is unavailable and not within reach, while it’s being retrieved from the first aid kit, it is required that the BLS protocol to be carried out promptly. Once available, LifeVac® can be used almost instantaneously once BLS protocol has failed. Training on LifeVac® is easy and “Train the Trainer” programs are available.