Calif. Paramedic Invents Laughter Device to Aid Sick Kids

March 20--When he's not working as a paramedic, Steve Islava invents devices that prevent physical and emotional injuries.

Twenty-five years ago he created a handbook of crucial Spanish phrases for English-speaking EMTs and firefighters after delivering a Spanish speaker's baby. Then came an easy-to-use ladder made to escape a fire-engulfed home. And there was also an inflatable splint.

But with his latest creation, a neon orange toy intended to salve emotional wounds, the Newport Beach man plans to use a portion of the sales to raise money for the National Children's Cancer Society.

Laffy Laffalot is a plastic, cartoonish glob about the size of a football with 20 types of laughter that emit from his speaker belly, four buttons for recording and a helium voice option.

"I've invented a lot of things, but this is my thing I really want to give back," Islava said.

Originally intended for children in hospitals who may not hear much laughter, Islava hopes to bring the sound of joy to even more children through the Get on the Shelf contest.

With the contest he's competing with more than 4,000 other products to be featured on Walmart.com and possibly in someWal-Martstores, according to company spokesman Ravi Jariwala.

Currently in the lead are spring-loaded insoles, an acne system, a head rest for a child's car seat and gourmet fudge, among others, but Islava is hoping to get enough votes before the April 3 deadline to make it into the top 10 and later onto Wal-Mart's shelves.

Islava sees a move to Wal-Mart's website as a chance to raise money for the National Children's Cancer Society, Tustin-based Miracles for Kids and Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Last Christmas he and Orange County Professional Firefighters Assn. IAFF Local 3631 donated 300 of the toys to children in the hospital.

Three dollars of every $19.95 Laffy sale is donated to the National Children's Cancer Society.

So far, about 10,000 Laffys have made their way into the hands of children nationwide and reached as far as Ireland, England and an orphanage in Haiti, according to Islava.

Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief David Phillips said Islava is constantly coming up with ideas.

"His mind never stops working," Phillips said.

Even now, as he's pushing for Laffy to reach as many children as possible, Islava is creating a device that would help seniors regulate medication dosages, with the aim of preventing them from skipping or doubling up of medicines.

"All my inventions have been to help," he said.

lauren.williams@latimes.com

Twitter: @lawilliams30

Copyright 2012 - Daily Pilot, Costa Mesa, Calif.