Committee advances bill on school anti-choking devices
Rep. Candy Massaroni, R-Bardstown, speaks on House Bill 335 during Tuesday’s meeting of the House Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. A high-res version can be found here.
FRANKFORT — A bill aimed at improving how Kentucky schools respond to choking emergencies advanced Tuesday from the House Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee.
House Bill 335, sponsored by Rep. Candy Massaroni, R-Bardstown, would allow schools and other government facilities to obtain anti-choking devices and provide legal protections for staff who use them during emergencies.
“This bill would allow schools or other government facilities to have anti-choking devices,” Massaroni said. “It would remove the liability to align with Good Samaritan laws we already have.”
The legislation comes after the death of 8-year-old Landon McCubbins of Bardstown, who choked on a small ball in a Nelson County classroom. Emergency responders attempted to dislodge the object but were unable to save him.
Landon’s mother, Lauren McCubbins, spoke in support of the measure.
“Those emergency protocols failed my sweet boy, and there was not an anti-choking device in the school to try to save him,” McCubbins said. “I would give anything for my son to still be alive, and I will do everything in my power to save another child.”
Anti-choking devices are portable, nonpowered suction tools designed to help clear airway obstructions when standard first aid methods, such as abdominal thrusts or back blows, are not successful.
Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, offered condolences to the McCubbins family on behalf of the committee.
Massaroni emphasized that the bill does not require schools to have the devices. “It is not mandated. It is a local control issue. They can decide if they want it or not.”
Rep. Steve Bratcher, R-Elizabethtown, referenced similar legislation that passed the House last session and asked whether a program offering free devices to schools was still available.
Massaroni said the company LifeVac, which had a representative attending the meeting via Zoom, previously offered to donate a device to any Kentucky school that wanted one and may still be willing to participate.
HB 335 passed the committee on a vote of 15-0 and now heads to the full House of Representatives.
