Counterfeit Alert

Beware of Counterfeit
Anti Choking Trainers

Unauthorized copies of the Act+Fast trainer are being sold on Amazon, AliExpress, and eBay that are visually identical, but built without the precision engineering that makes the original work correctly. For a training device, that's a safety issue, not just a quality issue.

How to Spot a Fake Buy the Genuine Trainer

Original since 2008

Physician-designed & tested

1-year warranty on all genuine trainers

Only authentic at actfastmed.com

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 with counterfeits isn't just that they're inferior products. It's that they look identical; instructors and students have no way to know they're training with an uncalibrated device that may be teaching the wrong technique.

2008

Invented by Dr. Timothy Adams

Anesthesiologist and first aid educator. Designed to fill a genuine gap in choking rescue training.

2009

Launched at EMS EXPO, Las Vegas

First anti-choking simulation trainer on the market. Covered in EMS1 and JEMS.

2010

Featured on The Dr. Oz Show

National recognition. Adopted by CPR instructors, schools, fire departments, and hospitals.

2010s

Distributed to 70+ countries

Global adoption by first aid training programs, fire services, schools, and restaurants.

Today

Counterfeits flooding online marketplaces

Visually identical copies sold on Amazon, AliExpress, and eBay without authorization, without testing, without warranty.

Why It Matters

A Fake Training Device Isn't Just a Waste of Money

Unlike a counterfeit handbag or phone case, a fake anti-choking trainer affects the quality of emergency skills training. Here's what's actually at risk.

False Technique Feedback

The plug ejection mechanism must be precisely calibrated. A poorly made copy may eject with incorrect force or wrong hand placement, confirming "correct" technique when it isn't. Students leave training with the wrong muscle memory.

Inferior Materials & Durability

Genuine Act+Fast trainers use durable materials built for repeated classroom use. Counterfeit versions degrade quickly; foam plugs don't compress consistently, air bladders lose calibration, and seams fail under regular use.

No Warranty or Support

When a counterfeit fails, and they do, there's no recourse. No warranty, no replacement, no US-based support. Instructors are left with broken equipment and no path to resolution.

Instructor Credibility at Stake

First aid instructors who unknowingly use counterfeit trainers are staking their professional credibility on a device that hasn't been validated. If a student ever needs to perform this skill in a real emergency, the quality of what they practiced matters.

This is not a hypothetical concern. Counterfeit versions of our trainer have been confirmed on Amazon and AliExpress, sold by third-party sellers without authorization. Some are listed using descriptions copied directly from our product pages.

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 & authorized global distributors	Third-party Amazon/AliExpress/eBay sellers
Price range	$139–$149 adult / $99 children's	$40–$80 — discount is the tell
Customer support	US-based team — email & phone	Typically none, or unreachable overseas seller
Inventor	Designed by Dr. Timothy Adams, anesthesiologist	Unknown — direct copy of our design

Unsure about a device you already own? Email us a photo at sales@actfastmed.com and we can help you verify whether it's genuine. We'd rather spend 5 minutes checking than have a training program rely on a counterfeit device.

Spot a Fake

5 Ways to Tell if a Trainer Is Genuine

If you've purchased from a third-party seller, or found what looks like an Act+Fast trainer at an unusually low price, check these five things before using it for training.

Check where you bought it

The only authorized direct sources are actfastmed.com and our listed distributors. If you bought from an Amazon third-party seller, AliExpress, or eBay, it is almost certainly counterfeit. We do not authorize third-party marketplace sales.

Check the price

Our adult trainers retail at $139–$149. Our children's trainer is $99. If you're seeing similar-looking vests for $40–$80, they are not genuine. There is no authorized reseller offering discounts of that magnitude.

Check the packaging & manual

Genuine Act+Fast trainers ship with official branded packaging, a printed user manual, and foam plugs. Counterfeits often have plain or poorly printed packaging, no manual, or a generic one with translation errors.

Test the plug ejection threshold

A genuine trainer will not eject the plug with light or incorrectly placed pressure. If the plug pops out easily or with minimal effort, the device is not calibrated to the correct threshold and will give false positive feedback during training.

Look at the branding & stitching

Genuine trainers have the Act+Fast name and logo clearly printed or embroidered on the vest. Check the seams, because genuine trainers have tight, reinforced stitching. Loose threads, uneven seams, or absent branding are red flags.

Not sure? Send us a photo.

Email us at sales@actfastmed.com with a photo of your device and where you purchased it. We'll tell you whether it's genuine. No obligation, just an honest answer.

Email Us a Photo

Buy Genuine

The Only Way to Be Certain Is to Buy Direct

Purchasing from actfastmed.com or an authorized distributor is the only way to guarantee you're getting the genuine, calibrated, warranted Act+Fast trainer. Don't let your training program or your students rely on a device that hasn't been tested.

Shop Genuine Trainers Find a Distributor

Ships to US & Canada

1-year warranty

US-based support

Physician-designed

	Adult Blue Trainer $139	Adult Red Trainer $149	Children's Yellow Trainer $119
Age Group	Ages 12+	Ages 12+	Ages 5–11
Dimensions	12″ × 8″ × 7″	12″ × 8″ × 7″	12″ × 8″ × 5″
Abdominal Thrust Simulation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Back Slap Pad	Sold separately	Included	Included
Foam Plugs	Included	Included	Included
Best For	Abdominal thrust only protocols	Thrusts + back blows protocols	Schools & pediatric training programs
	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More

Beware of Fakes

Beware of Counterfeit
Anti Choking Trainers

Invented by a Physician. Built to Work.