How to use ResQVac, and when not to

Read this before an emergency, not during one. FDA advises anyone who chooses to own an anti-choking device to learn it ahead of time. Standard first aid always comes before this device.

Last updated 2026-11-04

Before you do anything: is this a complete block?

If the person is coughing strongly or can speak, do not use back blows or the device. FDA warns that back blows can turn a partial block into a complete block, and most people clear a partial block themselves. Encourage coughing, stay with them, and watch for a change. Act when they have a weak or absent cough, cannot speak, make high-pitched sounds or no sound, or turn pale or blue. The sign list is from the American Red Cross.

Who should not get this device used on them

A baby under 1 year. We do not advise it. The manual has no infant instructions, and the one device FDA had authorized as of March 2026 is indicated only for people at least 1 year old. Use back blows and chest thrusts, and call 911.
A person who can cough or speak. That is a partial block.
A person who is unresponsive. Start CPR and keep emergency services on the line.

Children aged 1 and over: the pediatric mask is in the box, but the manual gives no age limits or child-specific instructions. We cannot tell you it suits any given child. Back blows and abdominal thrusts remain the steps to use.

Know the parts

Part	What it does
Red sealing lid	On top of the tube. Tighten it so the plunger stays sealed.
Handle and plunger	You pull this to lower the pressure inside the tube and create suction.
Holder and vent valve	You press and hold this while the mask is on the face. It helps make the seal and lets air out of the tube. Our support notes call this the exhaust valve under the handle.
Face mask	Soft mask that goes over the nose and mouth. One adult size and one pediatric size.
Open Tube	Clear plastic tube in a separate bag. It does not go inside the device.

Product clip showing the masks being fitted. It is not a rescue.

The three steps in the manual

Use these only after 911 has been called and back blows and abdominal thrusts have not worked.

Place. Put the face mask over the person's nose and mouth.
Press. Press and hold the holder and vent valve to make a good seal around the face. Air leaves the tube through the valve.
Pull. Keep the mask firmly against the face and pull back the handle and plunger to create suction.

Posed demonstration of where the mask sits. It is not a real emergency and not a result.

If nothing comes out on the first pull

The manual says to keep pushing and pulling the handle without taking the mask off the face until the obstruction comes out. We add three cautions from first aid guidance. Stay on the line with the emergency dispatcher and follow what they tell you. If the person becomes unresponsive, stop and start CPR, starting with chest compressions. If a device is not working, do not keep trying it in place of back blows and thrusts. CPR step source: American Heart Association.

After the blockage comes out

Get medical care even if the person seems fine. The American Heart Association stresses emergency medical care whether or not the object has come out, and the NHS notes that part of the object may remain or that the person may have been hurt.

What about the clear Open Tube?

Customers often ask about this part. The supplier sheet calls it an optional aid that helps open the mouth for easier suction. It does not go inside the device, and the manual's three steps do not use it. We have no detailed instructions for it, including how far it goes or who it suits. Our cautious advice: leave it out unless a trained person tells you otherwise. First aid guidance warns against poking blindly in a choking person's mouth, since this can push the object further in.

Get ready ahead of time

Take a first aid class that covers choking. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association both list classes. If you care for a baby, choose one that covers infants.
Read this page and the instructions in the box. Learn which mask is which.
Remove the outer packaging, so that this does not cost time later. FDA notes that unpacking and assembly can add delay.
Check that the red sealing lid is tight.
Pick one place to keep it and tell everyone in the house.
Do not practice suction on a person's face. FDA has reports of bruising from these devices.

Care, cleaning and storage

Cleaning and reuse: the manual does not say whether the device or masks can be reused, or how to clean them. We cannot give you a method we do not have. Do not count on a device that has already been used on someone for a later emergency. Contact us if this happens.
Storage: we have no temperature or shelf-life figures. Keep all the parts together, in a clean place an adult can reach and away from young children, who may put the small parts in their mouths.
Replacing masks: spare parts are not offered.

Troubleshooting

What you see	What to check or do
No resistance when you pull the handle	Tighten the red sealing lid. It keeps the plunger sealed.
Mask will not seal	Check you are using the right mask size. Press and hold the holder and vent valve. If a part does not fit or does not work, send us a photo or short video.
A part looks broken or does not fit	Do not rely on the device. Send a photo or short video to support@myhealiq.com. We troubleshoot first, then send a new one if it still does not work.
A part is missing from the box	Contact support@myhealiq.com and tell us which part. We send the missing part.
A small metal tube is in the package	That is not part of this device. It comes from a separate bonus item on some orders. The Open Tube for this device is clear plastic.
You had a problem with the device during an emergency	Tell us at support@myhealiq.com. You can also report it to FDA through MedWatch.

Next, read what to do when someone chokes and our answers to common questions.

Sources

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