Learn To Do the Heimlich Maneuver
Take a deep breath...
There's never a warning before a person gets an object caught in their throat and starts choking--it's a surprise to the victim and bystanders alike. And make no mistake: choking is a life-threatening situation, and requires some quick thinking and acting by the bystander (who's now a lifesaver). As with any emergency situation, prior preparation on your part will enable you to think clearly and take the right course of action. Fortunately, there are effective techniques to deal with this emergency.
The Heimlich maneuver is the most effective way to remove something stuck in an adult's or older child's throat. (Note: another technique is used for small child and infants.) It isn't difficult, it doesn't require great strength or intelligence, and you could save a person's life with it. Since you'll also learn two techniques that you can perform on yourself, the life you save may be your own.
Although the Heimlich maneuver is simple and effective, it can be painful for and even injurious to the victim. It's something to be reserved for genuine emergencies, and should be performed only when the situation meets the following guidelines:
The person cannot talk, cough or breathe. (If the person is coughing, they're not choking, so don't perform it.)
The person nods yes to the question, "Are you choking?"
The person is unconscious and your attempts to breathe for them are blocked.
You'll also need to consider the age of the victim. Performing the Heimlich maneuver on small children or infants can do more harm than good, so follow the guidelines for the different age groups. And a final consideration: people come in all shapes and sizes. The force applied to a person's abdomen must be sufficient to dislodge an object, but it's appropriate to adjust the strength of the thrust depending on the body type. Use a bit less force with a skinny ten-year-old than with a heavyset forty-year-old. Also a women that is pregrent, doing the Heimlich maneuver above the still un born baby.
Since the Heimlich manuever can be traumatic for the victim, you can't practice the full manuever on another person to prepare for the real event. But you can and should practice the handholds, the stance, and finding the proper location to thrust. Practicing these will prevent you from panicking in an emergency. But remember, never perform the full technique except on a choking victim.
Heimlich Institute
