One question keeps coming up on my first aid courses:
"What do you think about anti-choking devices like LifeVac and DeChoker?"
It's a fair question. These devices have received plenty of media attention and are becoming more common in homes, schools and workplaces. So, should you buy one?
The short answer is they may have a role—but they are not a replacement for learning first aid.
What are anti-choking devices?
These devices use suction to try and remove an object causing a blocked airway. They are designed to be used when someone is choking and are marketed as being simple enough for members of the public to use.
Some recent studies have reported encouraging success rates. However, most of the available research consists of observational studies, case reports or simulation studies, meaning the quality of evidence remains limited. Independent researchers continue to call for larger, high-quality clinical trials before firm conclusions can be drawn.
What do the experts say?
The current UK position is clear.
The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) does not currently recommend the routine use of suction-based airway clearance devices because there is insufficient evidence to prove they are safe and effective compared with established first aid techniques. They also express concern that searching for or assembling a device could delay proven treatment.
Similarly, the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) 2025 Guidelines conclude that the current evidence is insufficient to recommend either for or against their routine use.
Are they completely ineffective?
No.
Recent systematic reviews suggest these devices may be effective in selected situations, with reported success rates often exceeding those of traditional techniques in published observational studies. However, these studies have significant limitations, including publication bias, lack of randomised trials and reliance on manufacturer-reported data.
In other words, the results are promising—but not yet definitive.
Are there any risks?
Like any medical intervention, there are potential downsides.
Reported complications include bruising around the face, minor injuries to the mouth and gums, dental trauma and discomfort. Fortunately, serious complications appear to be uncommon, but they have been reported.
Simulation studies have also shown that many users struggle to maintain an effective seal, which may reduce the device's effectiveness.
When might they be useful?
Current evidence suggests they may have a role:
if recommended first aid techniques have failed;
where abdominal thrusts cannot be performed, for example in some wheelchair users or people with certain neuromuscular conditions;
when used by someone who understands their limitations and has already attempted standard choking treatment.
What should you do if someone is choking?
Current UK first aid guidance remains unchanged:
Encourage effective coughing.
Give 5 back blows.
If unsuccessful, give 5 abdominal thrusts (or 5 chest thrusts in pregnancy or where abdominal thrusts are not appropriate).
Continue alternating until the obstruction clears or the casualty becomes unconscious.
Call 999 as soon as possible.
If they become unconscious, begin CPR immediately.
These techniques require no equipment and can be started immediately.
My view
As someone who teaches first aid, I don't dismiss these devices—but neither do I see them as a substitute for knowledge and practice.
If you already own one, understand how to use it and recognise its limitations, it may prove helpful if conventional techniques fail.
But if you asked me where to spend your money first, my answer would always be the same:
Invest in first aid training.
Knowing how to recognise choking, perform effective back blows and abdominal or chest thrusts, call for help and begin CPR will help in far more emergencies than any single device ever could.
After all, the most important piece of emergency equipment you'll ever carry isn't in your first aid kit—it's the knowledge between your ears.
References
Paludi MA, Palermo N, Limonti F, et al. A systematic review on suction-based airway clearance devices for foreign body airway obstruction. International Emergency Nursing. 2025;79:101575.
Galarreta-Aperte S, Domínguez-Vías G, González-Díaz A, et al. Efficacy of Antichoking Suction Devices Versus Traditional Techniques: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 2026.
Resuscitation Council UK. Position on the use of suction-based airway clearance devices on choking individuals. Updated 2024.
European Resuscitation Council. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025: First Aid. Resuscitation. 2025.
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