CLARKSVILLE, Ind. — Clarksville Police Officers are now ready to save lives in a chocking emergency.
According to a news release, all Clarksville Police Department officers are now equipped with LIFEVAC travel kits to be used in a choking emergency for adults and children.
People of all ages can be injured or die from choking and time is of the essence in those emergencies.
The LifeVac "is a non-powered, non-invasive, single-use only airway clearance device developed for resuscitating a victim with an airway obstruction when current choking protocols have been followed without success," according to the listing on their website. "LifeVac has a one-way valve that does not allow any air to enter a choking victim on the downward motion."
According to the LIFEVAC website, brain damage will occur within 5 minutes of a complete airway obstruction and death can occur within seven minutes.
The LifeVac comes with an adult mask, a pediatric mask, and a practice mask.
They say In 2015 5,051 deaths were reported because of choking.
All Clarksville Police have undergone the necessary training and are equipped to use a LIFEVAC device in the case of an emergency.
"By adding these kits it will allow our officers the ability to apply critical life saving measures that have been clinically proven to work," the release said. "Our goal has always been, and will continue to be, that the department provide exceptional service to all members of our community."
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