In a city where kids rush between classrooms, scarf down lunch between bell rings, and the cafeteria’s noise drowns out almost everything, one Bronx councilmember is asking a life-or-death question: what happens if a student starts to choke and no one can help in time?
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That’s the worry driving Councilmember Kristy Marmorato, a Republican from the Bronx, to push for a new bill requiring every New York City school to have an anti-choking device on hand. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill first-aid kits. They’re portable suction tools, often known as “airway clearance devices,” designed to clear a blocked airway when traditional methods like the Heimlich don’t work.
And this isn’t some hypothetical for Marmorato. Eight years ago, she watched her own 18-month-old daughter choke on a piece of apple. She was lucky Marmorato, trained in health care, knew exactly what to do. But not every parent gets that second chance.
“I remember thinking, what if I hadn’t been there?” she said. “It was terrifying.”
The bill she’s championing is picking up steam fast 11 Democrats and 4 Republicans have already signed on. It’s expected to go before a public hearing soon. And thanks to LifeVac, a Long Island-based company, the devices might not even cost the city a dime. They’re offering to donate them along with training videos, to every school in the city, both public and private.
That’s over 2,700 schools in total.
LifeVac’s VP of Sales, Heidi Felix, says they’ve already handed out more than 10,000 devices across the country. They’re more than ready to do the same for the Big Apple.
Now, you might ask: don’t schools already train staff in the Heimlich? Yes, they do. And according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office, that’s still the Department of Education’s go-to method for choking emergencies.
But even the Heimlich isn’t foolproof Marmorato’s own grandfather died choking on a piece of meat in a restaurant, despite someone trying the Heimlich.
That’s what makes this different. It’s not about replacing the Heimlich it’s about giving schools another tool when seconds matter.
“This isn’t just about my child,” Marmorato said. “It’s about all of them. If one of these saves one kid’s life, it’s worth it. That’s a win for every family.”
There’s also a similar bill under review in Albany, which could potentially extend the mandate statewide.
For now, the proposed legislation in the city carries no cost to taxpayers and offers a relatively simple way to fill a dangerous gap. Still, change doesn’t always come easy, even when it’s free.
But ask any teacher who’s stood frozen during an emergency or any parent who’s had to wait by the phone while their child’s at school and you’ll hear the same thing: one extra layer of safety is one worth having.
And if it means fewer close calls and fewer empty chairs, maybe that little suction device deserves a permanent spot next to the band-aids and ice packs.
