Dechoker devices donated to school cafeterias
Published 4:02 pm Tuesday, August 30, 2022
- Lake Arthur businessman Troy Trahan (center) on Monday donated 16 portable anti-choking devices to school cafeterias in Jeff Davis Parish. Accepting the donation are Ashley Hanks and Kosette Stewart of the Welsh and Roanoke schools, Sheila Benoit of Elton HIgh School, Jessica Holden of Fenton Elementary School, Child Nutrition Supervisor Tina Coleman, Shonita Brister of Lake Arthur High School and School Board President Jimmy Segura. The devices are designed to use suction to clear food or other objects from the airways of choking victims. (Doris Maricle / American Press)
All school cafeterias in Jeff Davis Parish will soon have devices to save choking children.
The Jeff Davis Parish School Board on Monday received a donation of 16 Dechokers, a portable anti-choking device designed to use suction to clear food or other objects from the airways of choking victims, from Troy Trahan of Trahan Construction in Lake Arthur. The devices are valued at $1,200.
“I’m just happy to do it,” Trahan said. “I know if my child needs that help I’d be happy for someone to be able to administer that help.”
Trahan said he saw an ad for the devices and was intrigued enough to buy one for his own home.
“When we got it, we opened it up and I realized how easy it is to use,” Trahan said. “Many people don’t know how to administer the Heimlich maneuver or might even administer it wrong, so this is a really good alternative.”
The devices were purchased in two sizes for smaller children and older children/adults.
Superintendent John Hall said the devices are another safety tool in the schools, along with defibrillators and other first aid devices, which have been placed in schools in recent years.
The devices will be placed in each school cafeteria and school nurses will train cafeteria staff on using the devices, Hall said.
“They are going to be a big relief to our cafeteria staff who worry about that every morning and every day for lunch,” Hall said. “Now they have a device that can actually remove the obstruction.”
Hall said the devices, which rely on manual suction to clear obstructed airways, are easy and quick to use.
“This is something they can put on the student and relieve the obstruction within seconds,” he said.
Child Nutrition Supervisor Tina Coleman said cafeteria staff and others will now be better prepared for choking emergencies.
“We try to keep the management and cafeteria staff CPR trained, but with this, if something happens anyone can grab it,” Coleman said.
As a parent, Coleman said the device gives her “self-assurance” that if something were to happen to a child, someone would be able to help them.
