Life-Saving Suction: Park Ridge Officers Use LifeVac to Rescue Choking Victim
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
PARK RIDGE, N.J. — A terrifying choking emergency at a local establishment ended in a miracle thanks to the quick thinking of the Park Ridge Police Department and a specialized piece of medical technology.
On a routine shift that quickly turned critical, officers were dispatched to 103 Kinderkamack Road following reports of an unresponsive individual who had stopped breathing due to a severe airway obstruction.
Seconds Count: The Scene at Kinderkamack Road
When Officer Todd Stowe arrived on the scene, he found staff members frantically attempting the Heimlich maneuver on a victim who had already lost consciousness. Recognizing that the standard procedure wasn’t working, Officer Stowe immediately moved the victim to the floor to begin advanced life-saving measures.
Sergeant Michael Babcock arrived moments later to find the victim in a dire state:
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Complexion: Gray/Cyanotic (indicating lack of oxygen)
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Pulse: Weak and shallow
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Responsiveness: None
The Game Changer: The LifeVac Device
With the victim’s airway completely blocked, the officers turned to a tool recently added to their patrol kits: the LifeVac.
The LifeVac is a non-powered, portable suction rescue device. It is specifically designed to clear an airway when the Heimlich maneuver fails. By creating a powerful, one-way suction, the device can dislodge an obstruction in seconds without the need for invasive surgery.
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The Intervention: Officer Stowe applied two suction attempts, followed by two more from Sergeant Babcock.
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The Result: After the final application, the victim’s airway cleared, they began to breathe, and consciousness returned.
A Community Effort
Once the victim was stabilized, Tri-Boro Ambulance Corps and Advanced Life Support teams arrived to provide additional care. The individual was transported to The Valley Hospital for further evaluation and is expected to recover.
The Park Ridge Police Department emphasized that this successful outcome was a direct result of a policy implemented last year to equip every patrol vehicle with a LifeVac unit.
“This incident highlights the importance of equipping our officers with the tools and training necessary to respond to life-threatening emergencies,” the department stated. “Without the quick thinking and decisive actions of our officers, the outcome could have been much different.”
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Tags: Park Ridge NJ Police News Life-Saving LifeVac Emergency Response Bergen County News Public Safety First Responders
Quick Facts: What is a LifeVac?
| Feature | Description |
| Function | Portable suction device for airway clearing |
| Usage | Used when the Heimlich maneuver fails |
| Deployment | Carried in all Park Ridge Patrol Vehicles since 2025 |
| Safety | Non-invasive and effective on children and adults |
