Texas Takes Bold Action on Choking Emergencies with HB 549; LifeVac Supports New Law

The Westyn Bryan Mandrell Act requires life-saving airway clearance devices on every public school campus in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark step toward preventing several annual choking deaths in schools, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed HB 549 (also known as the Westyn Bryan Mandrell Act) into law. The bill mandates that every public-school campus across the state make non-invasive airway clearance devices available in key locations where students eat.

This legislation marks a major victory in the effort to equip schools with tools proven to save lives during choking emergencies. LifeVac, the leading provider of airway clearance devices, applauds the Texas legislature for taking bold, preventative action that will undoubtedly save lives.

Named in honor of Westyn Bryan Mandrell, a young boy whose tragic choking death inspired this bill, HB 549 ensures that schools are no longer left unequipped in the face of airway emergencies. The law not only mandates device availability but also requires school personnel to be trained in their use, helping to ensure timely, effective response.

No child should ever die at school from a preventable choking emergency. Between 2011 and 2020, at least 141 school-age children in the United States died from choking incidents, many of them occurring during school hours or in childcare settings. HB 549 is a critical step toward ending these tragedies once and for all.

This forward-thinking legislation follows a growing nationwide movement toward making airway clearance devices as standard as AEDs in public spaces. LifeVac is proud to support this momentum, with over 4,000 documented lives saved worldwide—including children in schools, daycares, and youth programs.

LifeVac is committed to working hand-in-hand with Texas school districts, parents, and educators to ensure full compliance with the law and, more importantly, to help save lives.

About LifeVac LLC:
LifeVac is the manufacturer of the world's leading airway clearance device. Based in Nesconset, New York, LifeVac is registered with the FDA, MHRA, and ARTG. Since its founding in 2010, the company has remained dedicated to one mission: to save lives by putting an end to preventable choking deaths.

Media Contact:
Laura Bonelli
(516) 659-4122
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SOURCE LifeVac LLC