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Clarification Statement Regarding LifeVac Devices in Early Years Settings
We are aware that LifeVac has recently been discussed across several Early Years forums and social media groups. While we are unable to participate directly in those discussions, we recognise that inaccurate or incomplete information can sometimes circulate. In situations involving choking emergencies, hesitation caused by uncertainty can have serious consequences.
It is therefore essential that providers, practitioners, and caregivers have access to clear, accurate, and evidence-based information.
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This statement sets out verified facts regarding insurance, regulatory status, safety, training, and appropriate use of LifeVac devices.​
​Insurance
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We always recommend that any setting receiving a donated device notifies its insurer as a matter of good governance and record-keeping.
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To date we have fundraised and distributed more than 1,700 LifeVac devices across the United Kingdom. We have not received a single report of an insurance provider refusing cover where the device is used appropriately namely, after standard first aid procedures have been attempted in accordance with recognised protocols.
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Based on direct correspondence with insurers, their position is consistent: use of a LifeVac device is acceptable only when first aid has failed or cannot be performed.
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In addition, LifeVac Europe Limited, as a medical device manufacturer, maintains full product liability and public liability insurance that extends protection to end users when the device is used in accordance with instructions.​​​
​​​A formal statement provided to The Oliver Steeper Foundation by Morton Michel, a specialist childcare insurer, in December 2025 confirms:
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“Morton Michel confirms that the use of anti-choking devices such as LifeVac is covered under our childcare insurance policies. Provided the device is purchased from a reputable UK supplier. Cover applies where the device is used as a last-resort intervention, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and by individuals who have received suitable training and understand both the correct use and limitations of the device.
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Where these conditions are met, the use of LifeVac is treated as an insured activity under the policy, subject to the standard terms and conditions of cover.”
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It is also worth noting that Ofsted inspection reports have referenced the presence of LifeVac devices positively, commending providers for ensuring accessible emergency safety equipment.​
Regulatory Status and Classification
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LifeVac is not a substitute for first aid. It is a medical device intended for use only when established choking protocols have failed or cannot be performed.
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It is registered as a Class I Medical Device.
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It holds CE accreditation.
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It is regulated in the UK by the MHRA
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It is manufactured in the UK under strict ISO accreditations
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The MHRA states that such airway clearance devices are intended for use after standard techniques (such as back blows and abdominal thrusts) have been attempted.
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As LifeVac is not currently part of statutory first aid curricula, organisations such as the UK Resuscitation Council (UKRC) cannot formally endorse its use, as they follow guidance from ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation).
In ILCOR’s most recent review, the committee stated:
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“While we recognise they have saved lives, there is not enough evidence to encourage or discourage their use.”
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Since that review, LifeVac reports a further 3,510 lives saved worldwide and the publication of 13 additional peer-reviewed medical studies examining safety, usability, effectiveness, and outcomes.
Types of Obstructions Removed in Recorded Cases
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Reported use cases show that when deployed appropriately as a last-resort intervention, LifeVac devices have successfully removed a wide range of airway obstructions, most commonly food items such as grapes, sausages, sweets, bread, and pieces of meat, which are among the leading causes of choking incidents in both children and adults.
Documented incident reports also describe removal of non-food objects including small toys, beads, coins, and medication tablets, particularly in paediatric or vulnerable-adult settings where accidental ingestion risk is higher.
These outcomes reflect the device’s negative-pressure suction mechanism, which is designed to extract rather than push an obstruction, and reinforce its intended role as a secondary emergency tool used only after established choking first-aid techniques have failed or cannot be performed.
LifeVac is used within the NHS
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​During 2023, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
(CNTW), one of the largest mental health and learning disability trusts within the
NHS, undertook clinical evaluation and governance review of LifeVac for use within its services.
Following structured assessment, the Trust approved deployment of the device across relevant inpatient and specialist settings as an additional safeguard in choking emergencies, to be used strictly after standard first aid interventions have failed or cannot be performed.
Implementation included staff awareness, integration into local emergency response protocols, and positioning of devices in accessible clinical areas. Since full rollout in December 2024, the Trust has reported multiple successful uses of the LifeVac device, reinforcing its role as a secondary airway clearance option within a regulated healthcare environment.
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Other trails across further trusts remain ongoing.
​Device Design and Safety Mechanism
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LifeVac is a non-invasive airway clearance device designed to remove obstructions without inserting anything into the airway.
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Key safety features include:
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A patented one-way valve, preventing air from being forced into the airway.
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No internal tubing, eliminating risk of pushing an obstruction further down.
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External application only, reducing risk of internal injury.
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Because of these characteristics, the device is specifically designed to function as a last-resort intervention when manual techniques have failed.
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Counterfeit Devices
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Counterfeit or unbranded anti-choking devices should never be purchased or used under any circumstances.
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The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued formal safety alerts and recalls warning that numerous imitation devices are being sold online which do not comply with UK medical device regulations and may pose a serious risk to life.
See the official MHRA information here: Counterfeits and unbranded copies of LifeVac anti-choking devices may fail to work correctly or worsen choking incidents if used, DSI/2024/003
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These copies often resemble genuine products but lack valid UKCA or CE marking, appropriate instructions, and verified safety mechanisms, meaning they may fail during an emergency or even worsen a choking incident by pushing an obstruction further into the airway due to the one way valve being nothing more then a rubber grommet.
The MHRA specifically advises that suspected counterfeit devices must not be used and should be safely disposed of, and confirms it is working with online marketplaces to remove such listings from sale.
For safety and legal compliance, devices should only ever be obtained from reputable suppliers whose manufacturers are registered with the MHRA, and any suspected counterfeit products should be reported through the Yellow Card scheme.
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More information on counterfeit devices can be found here: https://www.tosf.org.uk/counterfeitdevices
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LifeVac devices should only be purchased from our webshop, or via www.lifevac.uk/shop​​​
Training and Practical Use
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Although specialised training is not legally required to operate LifeVac, multiple training pathways are available:
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Each kit contains a QR code linking to instructional videos.
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A CPD-accredited e-learning course is available free of charge.
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Group and in-person training sessions can be arranged.
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Wall-mounted kits include a practice mask for simulation exercises.
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These resources allow practitioners to rehearse the “place–push–pull” technique in controlled environments, improving confidence and response speed during real emergencies.
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Training providers are free to incorporate LifeVac instruction into their courses, provided they continue to emphasise that it is used only after standard Basic Life Support (BLS) choking procedures.
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Why Some Training Providers Do Not Recommend It
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Some first aid trainers do not include LifeVac in their teaching. This is typically not due to safety concerns, but due to lack of awareness on the device, it's regulatory position and clinical evidence. If a first aid provider tells you "you won't be insured to use it, it will do more damage" sadly this is misinformation.
Other reasons may include but not be limited to:
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Their syllabus is limited to mandatory content within EYFS requirements.
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UKRC guidance currently states it cannot recommend for or against use.
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The device sits outside standard curricula.
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RCUK guidance for 2025 reiterates this neutral position. Importantly, regulatory authority for the device’s lawful use lies with the MHRA, which confirms it may be used by anyone in a choking emergency when first aid has failed or cannot be performed.
Are the big providers using LifeVac?
Yes, several large providers including Banana Moon Nurseries have taken a proactive,
network-wide approach to choking emergency preparedness by implementing LifeVac
devices across their settings as part of their national “Big Moments, Bright Futures”
safeguarding initiative supplied by our foundation, and Eden Training LTD.
The franchise confirms that it has equipped its nurseries with wall mounted LifeVac anti-choking
devices, and travel kits for adventures outside of settings to add “another layer of protection for the
children entrusted to us,” supported alongside prevention measures such as safe food preparation and supervision.
Individual branches, including locations such as Bromley, Gloucester, Caterham and Aberdeen have publicly confirmed installation of wall-mounted devices in accessible areas, emphasising that they are intended only for use after standard first-aid techniques have been attempted and that they provide reassurance to families and staff.
The initiative forms part of a broader safety strategy within the Banana Moon network, which previously installed defibrillators across all sites and has since expanded its equipment provision to further strengthen emergency preparedness across more than 50 UK nurseries.
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Read more about Banana Moon here: bananamoondaynursery.co.uk
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Conclusion
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LifeVac is a regulated medical device designed to be used only after first aid has been attempted and proven unsuccessful, or when such techniques cannot be performed. It does not replace established first aid procedures and should always be considered a secondary intervention.
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When used in accordance with instructions:
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It is lawful to use once first aid has been attempted and deemed unsuccessful or cannot be performed
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It is recognised by insurers as an acceptable intervention once first aid has been attempted and deemed unsuccessful or cannot be performed
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It is supported by manufacturer liability cover.
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It has documented evidence of effectiveness and lives thousands of lives.
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With more than 5,500 recorded lives saved worldwide, including approximately 3,350 paediatric cases, LifeVac represents a significant additional safeguard in choking emergencies.
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For us, as Oliver’s parents, our mission remains unchanged: to help ensure that every nursery, preschool, and childminder across the United Kingdom has access to a device that could save a child’s life.
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Further information is available on our FAQ page.
