Last updated: November 2, 2026
Alaina Ruvoldt was getting food at a concession stand just after halftime when she noticed a young spectator choking. It was October 23 at the St. Marys Memorial football game against Elida in Ohio. Ruvoldt told WLIO she gave abdominal thrusts and turned care over to the medics when they arrived. The station reported on October 27 that St. Marys had honored her with its Community Hero Award.
Ruvoldt is a senior at St. Marys Memorial High School and studies in Tri Star Career Compact's Med Prep program. Her account identifies where she was and what she did. It does not identify the object that blocked the spectator's airway or report the use of a rescue device.
Someone standing beside the food counter knows exactly where the emergency is. An ambulance crew outside the stadium may have several entrances to choose from. FITIGER's product safety team suggests a simple pregame check. Ask a concession volunteer to give directions to a second adult standing outside the grounds. See if that adult can pick out both the right gate and the right counter.
Write down the street address and the landmark both people recognize. Decide who can meet responders while a trained adult stays with the spectator. Repeat the check for the visiting side if it has a separate entrance. These are questions for a rehearsal. The published accounts give no indication that medics were delayed in this case.
In the US, call 911 for severe choking and begin age-appropriate first aid promptly. If someone can still cough forcefully, encourage them to keep coughing and stay with them. Someone who cannot breathe, speak or cough effectively needs immediate help.
The American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics advise cycles of five back blows followed by five abdominal thrusts for a responsive child with severe obstruction. Stop if the object comes out. For an infant, use back blows and chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts. If the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR and follow the dispatcher's directions. Remove an object from the mouth only if you can see it. The AHA also publishes guidance for adults. Looking for a choking first aid kit must not delay the call or first aid.
In a March 2026 customer account published by FITIGER, Sophie LeBegue of Orlando said she could carry her device with her and store it in a drawer. Her observation was about portability. At a game, a similar drawer might be behind a locked office door. An administrator researching an anti choking device for schools can ask the evening volunteers to show where the equipment is stored. FITIGER's school readiness guide covers elementary campuses. A high-school stadium needs its own gate names and evening roster.
One EasyPumpVac recording in FITIGER's public usability summary begins after setup. Timing it from the first frame would omit the walk to the equipment and the work of getting it ready. A separate manufacturer-supplied FoldPumpVac FAC02 evaluation involved 15 lay rescuers and 15 healthcare professionals in simulated handling tasks. Neither observation provides a stadium response time. The AHA and AAP found the evidence insufficient to recommend a suction device for choking in infants or children.
Staff checking an inventory that already includes a portable choking rescue device should use the instructions for the exact model on the label. FITIGER sells the FoldPumpVac Home Kit and the EasyPumpVac Travel Kit. Before the next game, try that gate-to-counter walk with the people actually working the evening shift. A set of directions they can use matters whether the school office is open or locked.
