Kentucky House Bill 335, which addresses the use of anti-choking devices in schools, is facing criticism from a Cincinnati attorney.
Phil Heimlich, son of the inventor of the Heimlich maneuver, said the devices have not been proven effective in clinical trials and may pose risks to choking victims.
The bill would allow Kentucky schools to use anti-choking devices without facing liability concerns. After clearing a House committee, the measure is now headed to the full Kentucky House for consideration.
Lawmakers reintroduced the proposal this year. If it passes the full House, it will move to the Senate.
Heimlich said he believes Kentucky children could face unnecessary risks if the legislation becomes law.
“This bill needs to be voted down,” Heimlich said.
He argued that manufacturers of anti-choking devices have not fully disclosed federal warnings about their products to lawmakers.
“The makers of the devices never tell the legislators about the warnings by the FDA,” Heimlich said.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued letters to LifeVac directing the company to stop distributing its device.
“Warning about these devices, the fact that they have not been shown to work in clinical trials, the fact that they cause danger to the choking victim,” Heimlich said.
The bill is named after Landon McCubbins, an 8-year-old third grader who died after choking on a bouncy ball four years ago at Boston Elementary School in Nelson County. Heimlich said he believes manufacturers are using the child’s tragic death to promote the legislation and appeal to grieving parents.
“They kind of push them out at these legislative committees and convince them that if they had a device there the kid would have lived,” Heimlich said.
He also questioned how practical it is to rely on a device during an emergency.
“You don’t know where a kid is going to choke. It could be on the third floor and swallowing a candy or something and chokes,” Heimlich said.
Instead, Heimlich called for a different solution.
“There needs to be a law requiring every member of school staff to be trained in the Heimlich maneuver,” Heimlich said.
He noted that in Ohio, where he lives, at least one staff member per school must be trained in the Heimlich maneuver.
House Bill 335 would allow — but not require — Kentucky schools to use anti-choking devices.
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