Samantha Lennon is fighting to advocate for daughter Imogen, calls to mandate LifeVac devices in schools, public places

A mother of a five-year-old girl who choked on a cocktail frankfurt earlier this year is advocating for anti-choking devices to be mandatory in schools and public places.

A grieving mother of a five-year-old girl who choked on a cocktail frankfurt earlier this year is advocating for anti-choking devices to be mandatory in regional schools and public settings.

Samantha Lennon, from Canowindra, lost her daughter Imogen in February this year after she choked on a cocktail frankfurt on the way back from swimming lessons while in the back seat of the car.

Despite volunteering for St John’s, Ms Lennon could not save her daughter’s life and has established Imogen’s Mission to advocate the importance of an anti-choking suction cup in public areas.

Five-year-old Imogen Lennon choked to death on a frankfurter

A greater call for action comes a week after a seven-year-old Orange boy, 58km from Canowindra, Decklan Hayward, had his life-support machine turned off after choking on a cocktail frankfurt in school on July 19.

7-year-old Decklan Hayward

The Therapeutic Goods Administration have approved LifeVac that uses suction to clear obstructed airways from an individual's throat.

“This device literally could have potentially saved the obstruction from Imogen’s airway - the heartbreaking part is that after four minutes without oxygen, the likelihood of brain damage is so severe,” Ms Lennon said.

“We have defibrillators on the wall of so many places and we could have a LifeVac sitting right next to it.

Five-year-old Imogen Lennon choked to death on a frankfurter

“If first aid doesn’t work, there is an option there which could potentially save a life and I don’t know why we wouldn’t utilise that device if it is available.

“I don’t know how many children have to die before someone stands up for those kids and says we need to do better as a society.”

Ms Lennon said since Imogen’s passing, two parents have used the device on their children successfully.

“We don’t want other families to have to experience what we’re going through on a daily basis - it’s really heartbreaking.”

She pleaded with parents to tell their children that they love them and “to take plenty of videos of them laughing and playing”.

LifeVac director and former paramedic Simon Gould said the device has saved more than 600 children worldwide.

Anti-choking device called the Life-Vac.

He said the devices have saved nine people in Australia from bacon pieces, bread, apples, and other foods.

“All of them have been saved when basic life support and first aid has failed,” Mr Gould said.

Mr Gould said that even though the devices have a 100 per cent success rate and low risk components, the company has experienced “push back” from government departments regarding the regulations of the device.

“We have had schools say that they are interested in LifeVac but then some bureaucrat within the school says they can’t use it because it’s not within their policy,” Mr Gould said.

“You’ve got four minutes from the time of complete obstruction to have possibly permanent brain injury - no ambulance in Australia is going to come in four minutes - that’s when you institute LifeVac.

“We have never failed and never caused harm to any person or child who have used the device.

Five-year-old Imogen Lennon choked to death on a frankfurter

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said, “all staff in NSW schools are fully qualified in first aid and must attend training every year”.

The Dubbo News understands suction devices are not included in the national training qualification and are not included in first aid kits in NSW schools.

The spokesman said that if suction devices are included in the training provided to first aiders, they will undertake consultation with education partners to have them included in first aid kits.