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A comment on Dechoker medical device could end deaths by choking.

Re:Dechoker medical device could end deaths by choking by gingerlime on Friday October 23, 2015 @03:58PM (#10440956)
My wife is Japanese, and she said that in Japan lots of old people choke on mochi (a sticky sweet made from rice). From what she says, when this happens - the best thing to use is a vacuum cleaner. I also remember a scene from Tampopo[0] where this takes place. Sounds pretty scary and odd, but probably not an entire myth[1,2]

I wonder how effective this is, and what are the risks to the lungs after whatever's stuck gets dislodged.

I guess when you're choking, you'd take that risk if all else fails (if you or someone around you can act fast enough to pull a vacuum cleaner...)

[0] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092048/

[1] http://www.accessj.com/2012/01/choking-on-mochi-grab-vacuum....

[2] http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2001/01/07/national/daughte...

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Re:Dechoker medical device could end deaths by choking by delackner on Saturday October 24, 2015 @01:49AM (#10442608)
The scene in question from Tampopo:

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KgeYls7iM

To the later reply, well, in the movie they actually use a normal household vacuum.

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Re:Dechoker medical device could end deaths by choking by alvinktai on Friday October 23, 2015 @05:42PM (#10441442)
Nice, I've never heard of this "dechoking" method. I'm guessing you need one of these types of vacuums: http://www.tipa.eu/fotocache/bigorig/08850298.jpg and then you put your mouth around it?
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Re:Dechoker medical device could end deaths by choking by gingerlime on Saturday October 24, 2015 @03:11AM (#10442757)
I guess it won't exactly work with a "standing" vacuum cleaner(like [0]), but in recent years, most vacuum cleaners I see -- like the one you linked to -- have a long hose, and you can definitely fit it in someone's mouth. (you remove the big attachment at the end)

On the cost side, you can probably get a nice vacuum cleaner for $150 :)

I'm still wondering about how effective vs. how risky this technique might be though

[0] http://www.amazon.com/Rowenta-Lightweight-Cordless-Cyclonic-...

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