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Are you choking? Yeah, there's an app for that, too.

On the list of "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes" apps, this one takes the cake... and chokes on it.

The free I am choking app could save your life if you are choking on food and can't speak. If you have your iPhone in hand and can avoid panicking, then you can launch the app, wave your iPhone frantically in front of someone who is nearby, and hope that they can a) read English, and b) follow the instructions in the app to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on you.

Actually, this is no joking matter -- about 3,000 adults die every year from choking on food. Of course, you'll need to have the app downloaded and installed on your iPhone or iPod touch before this happens. As fellow TUAW blogger Erica Sadun noted, "by the time you download and install, you could be dead."

Apparently the developers, Thought Shaping LLC, don't want to get sued by the relatives of people who are not saved by the app, as they've added the disclaimer "Note that this is for novelty use only!" at the bottom of the app description in the iTunes Store.

Want to see the app in action? Check out a public service announcement video made by the folks at iPhoneSavior.com by clicking the Read More link below.


On the list of "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes" apps, this one takes the cake... and chokes on it. The...
 

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aleonell.10

brian said Or you could just...
http://images.google.com/images?q=universal%20choking%20sign


noo because that would take why too long to go on to google and search when u could just click on the app

February 22 2010 at 7:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
aleonell.10

it would be better if i made noises, screaming "BEEP BEEP, I AM CHOCKING"

that u be get people attention.

February 22 2010 at 7:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brian

Or you could just...
http://images.google.com/images?q=universal%20choking%20sign

February 22 2010 at 5:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Titolito

Pfffftt. I think an app that guides you through surviving the impending zombie apocalypse would be much more useful.

"Rule #1: cardio."

February 22 2010 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
emil

Would have been a great app to have as a Sox fan during the 2004 ALCS.

February 22 2010 at 5:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to emil's comment
Chris Hall

Steven, I work with the developer of this app, @mathiask on twitter, for my day job. Thanks for the write up on his inaugural iPhone application.

You bring up a great point about choking not being a laughing matter. What makes this app funny to me though is the irony in taking the time to fumble for an iPhone during a life or death situation where seconds count.

I wouldn't recommend it. :)

@emil - Krapps.com had an awesome write up about Peyton Manning using this app right after the Super Bowl. :) I really like that application of this application.

@aleonell.10 - The app does have a kicking soundtrack. :)

February 22 2010 at 11:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben

The Heimlich Maneuver!?! (See John's comment) I hear the developer has also released a survival app for the black plague.

February 22 2010 at 5:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Clark

If the video is really showing the app in action, they aren't demonstrating the American Red Cross approved method for helping a choking victim. For conscious victims, the new guidelines (nicknamed "the five and five"), recommend first applying five backblows; if this method fails to remove the airway obstruction, rescuers will then apply five abdominal thrusts. Repeat as necessary until EMT or other trained personnel arrive.

February 22 2010 at 4:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Carney

Pity the developers didn't bother to do any research. Abdominal thrusts are only recommended if other methods have failed - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choking

February 22 2010 at 4:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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