Push for use of ‘lifesaving’ device following Cairns choking death
There have been calls for the widespread use of suction airway clearance devices in Queensland early childhood centres following the choking death of a little boy at a Cairns daycare centre.
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There have been renewed calls for the mandatory use of suction airway clearance devices in Queensland early childhood education facilities following the shocking choking death of a little boy at a Cairns daycare centre.
Tragedy struck on Thursday April 24 when Henry Spletter choked on an unknown object while in care at the Redlynch Busy Bees early learning and childcare centre.
Paramedics rushed to the Heritage Central St centre before taking the boy to Cairns Hospital.
He was then flown to Townsville University Hospital and treated at the pediatric intensive care unit but the 22-month-old boy suffered a non-survivable brain injury and was tragically pronounced dead on Saturday April 26.
The death of Henry, who was described as a shining light by his family, has rattled the tight-knit community of Redlynch and across the state.
Former paramedic and LifeVac Australia director Simon Gould claimed the $136 device had saved the lives of 4000 people, including 2300 children since being registered by the Food and Drug Administration in the US.
“It’s a proven device of the removal of upper airway obstruction after the failure of first aid it’s been proven to have saved lives,” he said.
“It should be a natural addition to emergency equipment and it could make the difference between life and death.”
But despite claims made by the Australian importer of the LifeVac, use of the device is not mandatory or widespread in Queensland early childhood education and care centres.
Paramedic and first aid trainer with category 5 emergency care James Taylor said this was in part due to the Australian Resuscitation Council not recommending or endorsing the use of suction airway clearance devices.
“The council has clear guidelines however there is little strong evidence around it,” he said.
The registered nurse said in an emergency situation he would try the device if one was available but there was little evidence available to prove they are more effective than the existing backslapping technique.
“If you have someone that is choking to death you are not going to make it any worse by trying,” he said.
“The fact that it has TGA approval is a good first step but unfortunately it takes a while to change things.
“When there is enough supporting evidence to justify its use I am sure they will.”
In six days since family friend Stuart Brown set up the “in Loving Memory of Henry Spletter” crowd-funding appeal, a total of $132,672 has been raised to support parents Rachel and Aaron Spletter and their newborn daughter Aubrey.
Choking and suffocation caused the deaths of 1427 people in 2022-23 which accounted for 9.3 per cent of all injury deaths nationwide.
Choking is the second leading cause of injury and death among children, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
The death of little Henry has been deemed non-suspicious by police and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the centre.
The airway clearance device LifeVac was approved for Australian use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2017.
But First Aid Academy compliance officer David Scott said emergency first aiders could rely too heavily on the use of the technology.
“While they are a good idea people tend to focus on the device,” he said.
“You have to have a decent seal around the mouth and I think a lot of people would be too worried about that and back slapping would be much more effective.”
Not every individual staff member working within the childcare sector is mandated to undergo first aid training including how to clear airway blockages, but the Queensland branch of the Australian Childcare Alliance told the Cairns Post many centres “go above and beyond” to give their entire team first aid and CPR training.
“In an emergency, educators are trained to act immediately by delivering first aid, calling emergency services, and following the service’s emergency protocols,” a spokeswoman said.
“These procedures are regularly rehearsed and reviewed to maintain readiness.”
Busy Bees Australia chief executive Phil McKenzie said the staff of the Redlynch centre had been both “shocked and saddened” by last week’s incident.
“It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of a child, Henry Spletter, who attended our Redlynch Centre in the Cairns region,” he said.
“We will do all we can to support the Spletter family through this challenging time, as well as
all families and team members at our centre.
“Specialist counsellors will be available on-site to provide support to families and our team members should they wish to speak with someone.”
As a Smithfield State High School teacher, Henry’s dad Aaron was trained in first aid but said he was not aware of airway clearance devices.
Aaron and wife Rachel said the family had been overwhelmed by the support shown by the Cairns community.
“It honestly feels like Cairns is a small county town,” Mr Spletter said.
“It is absolutely incredible and we have heard so many other things that have been happening, my mate’s footy club is doing a raffle and the support has been amazing.
“Words cannot begin to express the pain and heartbreak we are feeling.
“However we want to express our deepest gratitude to our family, friends and Cairns community.”
The couple expressed deepest thanks and gratitude to all those who helped their son in his desperate time of need.
From daycare staff, paramedics, the team at the Cairns Hospital ICU and emergency departments, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Townsville.
“Your care and efforts to try to save our boy mean everything to us,” the parents said in a GoFundMe update.
“Despite everyone’s best efforts Henry unfortunately lost his life.
“However thanks to the care Henry received we were given the precious gift of time to say goodbye and for that we’ll be forever grateful.
“Words cannot begin to express the pain and heartbreak we are feeling.
“However we want to express our deepest gratitude to our family, friends and Cairns community.”
In a final act of hope the Spletters said they signed off on the donation of Henry’s organs and his heart had been successfully transplanted into another child.
“(It was) a final selfless gift that we hope brings life and hope to another family,” the parents said.
A final send off for Henry George Spletter will be held next Thursday at the Heritage Brady funeral chapel in Gordonvale from 10am.
Australian Resuscitation Council has been contacted for comment.
Originally published as Push for use of ‘lifesaving’ device following Cairns choking death
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