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My wife is Japanese, and she said that in Japan lots of old people choke on mochi (a sticky sweet made from rice). From what she says, when this happens - the b

My wife is Japanese, and she said that in Japan lots of old people choke on mochi (a sticky sweet made from rice). From what she says, when this happens - the best thing to use is a vacuum cleaner. I also remember a scene from Tampopo[0] where this takes place. Sounds pretty scary and odd, but probably not an entire myth[1,2] I wonder how effective this is, and what are the risks to the lungs after whatever's stuck gets dislodged. I guess when you're choking, you'd take that risk if all else fails (if you or someone around you can act fast enough to pull a vacuum cleaner...) [0] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092048/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092048/ [1] http://www.accessj.com/2012/01/choking-on-mochi-grab-vacuum.html http://www.accessj.com/2012/01/choking-on-mochi-grab-vacuum.... [2] http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2001/01/07/national/daughter-uses-vacuum-cleaner-to-save-dads-life/#.ViqRL2crKAk http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2001/01/07/national/daughte...

alvinktai 11y ago
Nice, I've never heard of this "dechoking" method. I'm guessing you need one of these types of vacuums: http://www.tipa.eu/fotocache/bigorig/08850298.jpg http://www.tipa.eu/fotocache/bigorig/08850298.jpg and then you put your mouth around it?
- gingerlime 11y ago
  I guess it won't exactly work with a "standing" vacuum cleaner(like [0]), but in recent years, most vacuum cleaners I see -- like the one you linked to -- have a long hose, and you can definitely fit it in someone's mouth. (you remove the big attachment at the end) On the cost side, you can probably get a nice vacuum cleaner for $150 :) I'm still wondering about how effective vs. how risky this technique might be though [0] http://www.amazon.com/Rowenta-Lightweight-Cordless-Cyclonic-Functions/dp/B007X6B1HU/ref=br_lf_m_cfkfghes52vm7w3_1_1_ttl/186-4649770-3613910?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden http://www.amazon.com/Rowenta-Lightweight-Cordless-Cyclonic-...
delackner 11y ago
The scene in question from Tampopo: [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KgeYls7iM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KgeYls7iM To the later reply, well, in the movie they actually use a normal household vacuum.

alvinktai 11y ago

Nice, I've never heard of this "dechoking" method. I'm guessing you need one of these types of vacuums: http://www.tipa.eu/fotocache/bigorig/08850298.jpg http://www.tipa.eu/fotocache/bigorig/08850298.jpg and then you put your mouth around it?

gingerlime 11y ago
I guess it won't exactly work with a "standing" vacuum cleaner(like [0]), but in recent years, most vacuum cleaners I see -- like the one you linked to -- have a long hose, and you can definitely fit it in someone's mouth. (you remove the big attachment at the end) On the cost side, you can probably get a nice vacuum cleaner for $150 :) I'm still wondering about how effective vs. how risky this technique might be though [0] http://www.amazon.com/Rowenta-Lightweight-Cordless-Cyclonic-Functions/dp/B007X6B1HU/ref=br_lf_m_cfkfghes52vm7w3_1_1_ttl/186-4649770-3613910?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden http://www.amazon.com/Rowenta-Lightweight-Cordless-Cyclonic-...

delackner 11y ago

The scene in question from Tampopo: [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KgeYls7iM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KgeYls7iM To the later reply, well, in the movie they actually use a normal household vacuum.