Choking is a common emergency situation. A person may begin to choke after having a piece of food become lodged in their airway, or they may be unable
to breathe because of an allergic reaction or another health issue. If you're with someone who's choking, the most important thing you can do is act quickly. The Heimlich maneuver is an advanced technique that has saved countless lives, but it only works if performed correctly and in time! Here are some tips on how to perform the Heimlich maneuver:
The Heimlich Maneuver is an advanced technique that has saved countless lives.
The Heimlich Maneuver is an advanced technique that has saved countless lives. A person performing the Heimlich Maneuver can save someone from choking by putting their arms around them and giving them abdominal thrusts, which will dislodge whatever is stuck in the victim's throat.
It's important to know how to perform this life-saving technique because you never know when someone might need your help--and even if you don't have any medical training, it doesn't take much effort on your part!
Anyone can learn how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver --even if they aren't trained in CPR or first aid. If a person is choking on food or other small objects that can be dislodged with pressure applied directly under their rib cage (the "abdominal thrust"), then all they need is someone else who knows what they're doing--and hopefully, this guide will help!
If you're with someone who's choking, the most important thing you can do is act quickly.
If you're with someone who's choking, the most important thing you can do is act quickly. If they are alone, yell for help and then follow these steps:
- Stand behind them and wrap your arms around their waist.
- Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the belly button (1). Keep your other hand open and on top of your fist (2).
- Give up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades (3). Then perform 5 abdominal thrusts: Place both hands over their lower ribs just below the bottom edge of each breastbone or sternum; lean backward while keeping pressure on both sides at all times; then pull inward sharply while pushing up under maximum force until they start coughing forcefully
Make sure you have an open space to work in.
Make sure you have an open space to work in. You want to be able to move freely and not be in a crowded space or one where you could hit someone else with your arms as they're flailing around. If the victim has passed out, call 911 immediately! That's the most important thing!
If possible, turn them onto their side so that they are facing away from you and lying on their back (the "recovery position"). If this isn't possible for any reason--may be because another person is helping or whatever--then just do chest thrusts instead of back blows until help arrives or until they start breathing again on their own again
Stand behind him and wrap your arms around him, locking your hands together.
A good grip is essential for performing the Heimlich maneuver. Place your hands on the person's waist, with one hand over the other. Make sure that both of your wrists are locked together and that they're not going to slip out during this procedure.
If possible, have your patient lean over a chair or table so that he or she can support himself while you perform the technique; otherwise, hold him upright while supporting his chest with one arm around his back (your elbow tucked in close). If you're using this technique on an infant under 1 year old (or even younger), hold them with their head down on your lower forearm so they don't choke further as air rushes into their lungs through compression of their abdomen by your fist--and make sure not to press too hard!
Make a fist and place it below his ribcage, just above his belly button.
- Make a fist and place it below his ribcage, just above his belly button.
- Stand behind him and wrap your arms around him, locking your hands together.
- Check the victim's mouth for a blockage. If one is present, grab it with your fingers and pull it out of their throat--or do this with both hands if there's room for them in between the victim's teeth! If no blockage is visible but you still suspect that something is blocking their airway (e.g., food), try giving rescue breaths again before calling 911 or seeking other help from bystanders who may have seen what happened to cause this situation in the first place--you want everyone safe before anything else happens!
Forcefully thrust your fist up into his diaphragm five times to dislodge the object blocking his airway.
You should be behind the person, making sure that you are positioned between his legs. Make a fist and place it below his ribcage, just above the belly button. Forcefully thrust your fist up into his diaphragm five times to dislodge the object blocking his airway. If this doesn't work, call 911 immediately while continuing with CPR if necessary. If he is able to speak or breathe normally after you have removed the obstruction from his throat, then perform first aid by calling an ambulance right away!
If the blockage doesn't dislodge after two minutes of performing CPR
If the blockage doesn't dislodge after two minutes of performing CPR on an adult or one minute on an infant, call 911 immediately and continue giving rescue breaths until help arrives. Do not give up! Be persistent and always seek medical attention after choking.
If you are able to dislodge the object yourself, perform abdominal thrusts until you feel that breath has returned to normal (usually about 30 seconds). Make sure that the person does not cough or vomit before beginning this process so as not to risk re-blocking their airway again.
Choking is one of the most common causes of sudden death
The Heimlich maneuver is a technique for dislodging food or other objects from the throat of someone who is choking. It should only be performed by those with proper training, but knowing how to perform it could save someone's life if you find yourself in an emergency situation where someone needs assistance.
- The Heimlich Maneuver: How to Perform It?
- What If Someone Is Choking?
- What If Someone Has Stopped Breathing?
If you're at home when this happens, call 911 immediately and then begin administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). This involves performing chest compressions on your friend while simultaneously blowing into his mouth with short breaths until he begins breathing again on his own or emergency personnel arrive on the scene.
If you know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, it can be a life-saving skill. If you're ever in a situation where someone is choking, act quickly and follow these steps: