Philips Life-Saving Necklaces Can Choke Users, FDA Warns

They are designed to save your life in the event of a sudden medical emergency, but some personal help buttons worn around the neck can present a potentially deadly choking risk, the Food and Drug Administration and a leading manufacturer of the devices are warning users.

More than 750,000 people in the United States and Canada, mostly seniors who live alone, wear tiny devices around the neck to alert police and medical personnel in the event of falls, heart attack, and other emergencies, the FDA said. In the early 1990s, some of the devices were promoted with the iconic television commercial in which an injured senior citizen famously cried out “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

Reports of User Injuries, Deaths Received

From 1998 to 2009, the FDA said there were at least six reports of injury or death from choking on the cords that hold the devices around the neck. In four of those cases, the victim died as a result of being choked by the cord.

Part of the problem is that the Philips Lifeline pendant button is designed to not break away when tugged in order to prevent the button from accidentally falling off. That makes it easier for frail seniors to be strangled or choked by a cord that becomes hooked or entangled on a wheelchair, walker, bed rail, or some other object, the FDA said.

Warning Letters Sent to 750,000 Users

Philips recently sent warning letters to about 750,000 of its customers to advise them of the choking risks associated with the cords on its Lifeline personal help buttons. The company also is revising the labeling of the products to list the potential choking risk.

In some cases, users may want to consult with their physician and choose to wear an alert button that is worn like a bracelet around the wrist rather than on a cord around the neck to eliminate or reduce the choking risks, the FDA said.

While such choking incidents are rare given the number of users, the FDA said the seriousness of the potential injuries is reason for concern.

“These widely used devices provide critical and immediate access to emergency care for those at risk of falls or who may be more likely to need outside assistance,” the FDA said in announcing the warning. “It remains important that users, along with their health care providers, assess the options provided by each style of button, and choose the option that best fits their condition.”

No related posts.