Only purchase from an authorised distributor.
Act Fast Ireland is the exclusive authorised distributor for Ireland and Europe
The Original
Invented by a Physician. Built to Work.
Dr. Timothy Adams, an anesthesiologist, created the Act+Fast Anti-Choking Trainer in 2008 after realizing there was no safe way to practice the Heimlich maneuver on a real person. He designed the vest from the ground up — the air bladder, the foam plug ejection mechanism, the vest construction — to provide accurate, repeatable feedback when the correct technique is performed.
It was introduced at EMS EXPO in 2009 as the first device of its kind in the world. It was featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, and The Doctors. Instructors in 70+ countries have since built their choking rescue curriculum around it.
And then the copies arrived.
The Problem
The Act+Fast Trainer Has Been Copied. The Copies Are Dangerous.
The Act+Fast Anti-Choking Trainer is the world's original, patented anti-choking training vest — in continuous professional use since 2008. Its global success has made it a target for counterfeiters who produce cheaper imitations that mimic the appearance without meeting the standards.
These fake trainers are being sold online and, in some cases, through unauthorised resellers. They are cheaper than the genuine article for a reason: they are made with inferior materials, are not CE marked, have not been validated against any first aid protocol, and may simulate entirely the wrong technique.
A first aider trained on a counterfeit vest may apply incorrect hand placement, incorrect force, or an incorrect sequence in a real emergency — at the moment when getting it right is the difference between life and death.
The stakes are too high to risk a fake.
In a real choking emergency, your team will perform exactly what they practised. If they trained on a counterfeit vest, they may be practising the wrong thing.
Genuine Act+Fast
✓ CE Marked
✓ ARC & AHA Validated
✓ Professional grade quality
✓ Correct protocol every time
✓ Full Manufacturer Support
VS
Counterfeit Trainer
• Not CE marked
• No protocol validation
• Poor Quality materials
• May teach wrong technique
• No manufacturer support
Side by Side
Genuine Act+Fast vs. Counterfeit
The differences aren't visible at a glance. They're in the engineering, materials, and support behind the product.
Feature | ✓ Genuine Act+Fast | ✗ Counterfeit |
|---|---|---|
Air bladder calibration | ✓ Precision-tested — ejects only with correct force & placement | ✗ Unknown — not independently tested or validated |
Foam plug material | ✓ Consistent density — repeatable ejection across hundreds of uses | ✗ Inconsistent — ejection results vary or are too easy to trigger |
Vest construction | ✓ Durable, reinforced seams built for classroom use | ✗ Cheaper fabric prone to wear and seam failure |
Warranty | ✓ 1-year full warranty — repair or replacement at no charge | ✗ None — no recourse when the device fails |
User manual | ✓ Full printed instruction set included | ✗ Generic, poorly translated, or missing entirely |
Protocol compatibility | ✓ Validated for Red Cross, Heart & Stroke, St. John Ambulance | ✗ No protocol validation — unknown training standard |
Where it's sold | ✓ actfastmed.com & authorised global distributors | ✗ Third-party Amazon/AliExpress/eBay sellers |
Price range | ✓ €129–€149 adult / €89 children's (Ireland pricing) | ✗ €35–€75 — the discount is the tell |
Customer support | ✓ Dedicated support team — email & phone | ✗ Typically none, or unreachable overseas seller |
Inventor | ✓ Designed by Dr. Timothy Adams, anaesthesiologist | ✗ Unknown — direct copy of our design |
Act Fast Ireland distributor | ✓ actfast.ie — official Irish distributor since 2008 | ✗ Not available through any authorised Irish channel |
Protect Yourself
How to Spot a Counterfeit Trainer
Before you purchase any anti-choking trainer, check for these warning signs. If any of these apply, do not buy.
01
No CE Marking
Every genuine Act+Fast Trainer is CE marked — it is a legal requirement for safety equipment sold in Europe. If the product has no CE mark, or the mark looks printed rather than moulded, it is not genuine. Do not accept a verbal assurance — check the physical product and documentation.
02
Suspiciously Low Price
Genuine Act+Fast Trainers are professionally manufactured to exacting standards. If a price appears significantly cheaper than what Act Fast Ireland quotes, it is almost certainly a counterfeit. Quality first aid training equipment has a real cost — a price that seems too good to be true is a major red flag.
03
Unknown Seller or Source
Only purchase Act+Fast Trainers from authorised distributors. Act Fast Medical publishes its authorised distributor list — Act Fast Ireland is the exclusive authorised distributor for Ireland and Europe. If you cannot confirm the seller is authorised, do not buy from them.
04
No Official Documentation
Genuine trainers are supplied with a printed user manual, CE marking documentation, and a quick reference protocol card. If your trainer arrived with no documentation, or with documentation that looks informal or machine-translated, it has not come through authorised channels.
05
Poor Build Quality
The genuine Act+Fast Trainer is built to withstand years of repeated professional use. Counterfeit versions typically feel lightweight, use inferior fabrics, and have poorly finished pads and stitching. If the product feels cheap, it probably is — and it will not perform correctly.
06
Wrong Protocol or Pad Position
The abdominal thrust pad on a genuine trainer is anatomically positioned based on medically validated guidelines. On a counterfeit, the pad may be in the wrong position — which means every training session is teaching your team to place their hands in the wrong place on a real choking casualty.
Official Distributor
Act Fast Ireland Is Your Authorised Irish & European Source.
Act Fast Ireland, operated by SafetyTec, is appointed by Act Fast Medical as the exclusive authorised distributor for Ireland and the European market. If Act Fast Medical receives a European enquiry for a new distributor or customer, they direct it to us.
When you purchase through Act Fast Ireland, you are guaranteed a genuine, CE-marked Act+Fast Trainer — sourced directly from the manufacturer, supplied with full documentation, and backed by our dedicated customer support.
Don't take chances with training equipment that will be used in real emergencies. Buy genuine. Buy authorised.
Adult Red Trainer
The world's original anti-choking training vest. Simulates the full Heimlich manoeuvre with abdominal thrust feedback and a rear back-slap pad. Essential for workplace first aid, healthcare, hospitality, and community training programmes.
✓ Full protocol — abdominal thrust + back slap
✓ One size fits most adults (ages 12+)
✓ Durable, reusable, CE marked
Children's Yellow Trainer
Scaled for child-sized manikins and paediatric first aid training. Designed for schools, childcare providers, and paediatric healthcare settings across Ireland. Enables realistic practice of the child choking response protocol.
✓ Paediatric proportions for ages 5–11
✓ Schools, SNAs, and childcare ready
✓ CE marked · Full documentation included
Trusted & Used By Organisations Across Ireland
Not Sure
Already Have a Trainer You're Unsure About?
If you purchased an anti-choking trainer from an online marketplace, an unknown supplier, or at an unusually low price, contact us. We can help you assess whether your trainer is genuine — and replace it with a certified product if it is not. Get in touch here.