06/16/2026
NEWS RELEASE
The Carey Police Department has purchased 19 LifeVac devices to assist first responders that encounter individuals with choking emergencies. Councilman Brent Bleam first approached the village in late 2025 regarding the device. At the time, the device was not FDA Approved and did not have approval of the county EMS Medical Director. Since then, the device has been approved for use and cleared to be purchased.
Police Chief Jeff Conley utilized funds raised by Isabella and Molly Kin as part of their Starfish project to purchase the devices. “This is the exact type of emergency equipment I had in mind when the Kin sisters began their project”.
The devices are now carried in all the police cruisers, fire department trucks and placed in the Public Works break room and Supervisors truck, Waste Water Treatment plant break room, Electric Department break room, the pool and in the Village Administration Building. Employees are being trained in the use of the device and the importance of utilizing it with the Heimlich maneuver.
I am grateful for councilman Bleams support of the device and the county emergency medical director’s approval for us to carry it.
The inspiration for LifeVac began when Arthur Lih, inventor and CEO, heard a heartbreaking story of a woman in a hospital, mourning the loss of her young son. A grape had become lodged in his windpipe, and despite attempts to save him using standard protocols, they ultimately failed.
Determined to prevent similar tragedies, Arthur set out to create a solution capable of clearing an obstructed airway.
After a year of research and development LifeVac became available for purchase in 2014! For the first time, families had access to a simple, safe, and effective choking rescue device, providing critical backup when standard methods fail or aren’t feasible.
With over 6,000 lives saved, LifeVac remains committed to our mission to empower individuals, save lives