PARENTS have been warned not to buy fake anti-choking devices that could make life-threatening incidents worse and put safety “at significant risk”.
It comes after Brits bought an estimated 10,000 unbranded or counterfeit gadgets that claim to clear airways when someone is choking in the last two years.
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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) urged people not to buy choking rescue devices unless they were manufactured by two specific brands and gave pointers on how tell the difference between fake ones and the real deal.
The suction-based devices are intended to be used after other choking first aid measures have been attempted and failed.
There are currently only two brands approved by the MHRA, which have a valid UKCA or CE mark: LifeVac and Dechoker.
But the medicines watchdog has warned that online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay have been flooded with listings for fake anti-choking, choking rescue or emergency first aid devices.
Read more on choking hazards
In fact, it said that thousands of devices had been bought by members of the public from Amazon, eBay and drop-shipping websites in the past two years.
According to the MHRA, the majority of counterfeit or unbranded anti-choking devices are manufactured or shipped from China.
They can appear in a similar or identical design to the LifeVac anti-choking device and, in some cases, claim to be the genuine brand.
But using a fake airway clearing device “carries a significant risk of failure to resolve the blockage and may worsen the situation by pushing obstructions further down the airway passage”.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: “Buying anti-choking devices that do not have a valid UKCA or CE mark increases the risk of receiving a product which does not include appropriate instructions and is either fake or does not meet the UK’s regulatory requirements.
“These products do not meet our strict quality standards and may put your health and safety at significant risk by failing to resolve or even worsening choking incidents.”
Spot the real from the fake
Dr Cave added that the MHRA “is working with online marketplaces to remove unbranded and counterfeit anti-choking devices from sale”.
“Do not use the device if you suspect it is counterfeit,” she warned.
She also asked that you submit a Yellow Card report if you’ve previously used a counterfeit or unbranded device and it failed to work, including details of where you bought the product.
The MHRA provided tips on how to spot real anti-choking devices from fake ones, pointing out subtle details that give counterfeit products away.
For starters, the watchdog noted that counterfeit or unbranded devices won’t have the UKCA or CE mark on them to show their authenticity.
Aside from these markings, genuine devices also have:
- The name and address of the legal manufacturer
- the name and address of the EU authorised
representative - Unique Device Identifier (UDI) numbers
Genuine devices will have a black one-way suction valve inside the bellows or chamber to prevent air being expelled when you press it, so that only upward force is created to suck out obstructions from the airway.
Signs your child is choking and what to do
IF your child chokes, try not to panic or freeze.
According to St John Ambulance, if your little one is choking they may:
- have difficulty breathing, speaking or coughing
- have a red puffy face
- show signs of distress and they may point to their throat or grasp their neck
The NHS says if the child is coughing, encourage them to continue as they may be able to bring the object up. Don’t leave them alone while this is happening.
But if their coughing is silent, they can’t breathe properly or they don’t bring anything up, get help immediately.
Use back blows on your tot if they’re still conscious.
First aiders at St John Ambulance give the following advice based on the child’s age.
Baby
- Slap it out:
- Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head
- Give five back blows between their shoulder blades
- Turn them over and check their mouth each time
2. Squeeze it out:
- Turn the baby over, face upwards, supported along your thigh
- Put two fingers in the centre of their chest just below the nipple line; push downwards to give up to five sharp chest thrusts
- Check the mouth each time
3. If the item does not dislodge, call 999 or 112 for emergency help
- Take the baby with you to call
- Repeat the steps 1 and 2 until help arrives
- Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
Child
1. Cough it out
- Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can
2. Slap it out
- Lean them forwards, supporting them with one hand
- Give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades
- Check their mouth each time but do not put your fingers in their mouth
3. Squeeze it out
- Stand behind them with your arms around their waist, with one clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest
- Grasp the fist in the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards, giving up to five abdominal thrusts
- Check their mouth each time
But counterfeit or unbranded devices don’t have a one-way suction valve, meaning that air may be expelled from the device if you press on it.
“This creates a downward force that potentially pushes obstructions further down the airway,” the MHRA said.
Fake devices might also note that they’re ‘Made in the USA’ on their base, or they might be manufactured or shipped from China.
“None of the anti-choking devices registered with the MHRA are manufactured in China,” the MHRA noted.
“Any products shipped from China should be treated with caution and disposed.”
Finally, counterfeit devices will often only provide a single card of instructions on how to use them, whereas genuine anti-smoking aids come with a full booklet of instructions.
The watchdog advised you be cautious when purchasing these products online and to ensure that they are purchased from reputable sellers.
“People should be particularly vigilant for sites using fake reviews to promote their product and should also check to see that the device manufacturer is registered with the MHRA via the public access database,” it added.
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