How to correctly perform the Heimlich maneuver?

Several people die from choking on objects that obstruct their airways. This causes suffocation. Choking is the fourth leading cause of sudden death in the United States. A simple technique of heimlich maneuvering can help in removing the trapped object from your airway. The Heimlich maneuver is a first-aid method for choking that you can use on children and adults. Abdominal thrusts are another name for the Heimlich maneuver, as they involve thrusting in the abdominal area. This is a valuable life-saving method; however, you should only use it on conscious people who cannot breathe on their own. Learn more about how you do the heimlich maneuver in this blog.

What is the Heimlich maneuver?

This first aid method for choking helps when a person cannot breathe due to obstruction caused by a foreign item. This includes food, toys, or any other item blocking the windpipe. Abdominal thrusts is another name that the Heimlich maneuver is popular for. You can use it in several ways, both for adults and children.

How does the Heimlich maneuver work?

Now that we know what a heimlich maneuver is, let us understand how this works. The inventor of this mechanism, Dr. Henry Heimlich, discovered that the remaining air in a person’s lungs is helpful in freeing a foreign object. Quick and upward thrusts can help in achieving this. The Heimlich maneuver was not well accepted initially among the medical community. It was the backslap method that remained popular as a first-aid choking treatment.

However, with time, the Heimlich maneuver became popular.

How to perform a Heimlich maneuver?

The steps below are different for individuals with distinct health conditions.

If you want to perform a heimlich maneuver on someone other than a pregnant woman or an infant, follow these steps. Know how to do the heimlich maneuver :

1. See whether you need to perform abdominal thrusts or not. If a person who appears to be choking is coughing or conscious, they may easily remove the objects on their own. Give first aid if the person is:
   • Not coughing
   • Unable to speak or breathe
   • Needs help and signals by holding their hands around their throat.
2. If there is a bystander, call 911 and seek emergency help. If you are not the only one present, start first-aid treatment.
3. Help the person to stand up.
4. Stand behind the person.
5. Lean the person forward and give five blows to their back using the heel of your hand.
6. Put your arms around their waists.
7. Now make a fist and place it above the navel.
8. Grab your fist with the other hand. Push it inward and upward simultaneously. Repeat this five times.
9. Keep doing this until you throw the object and the person can finally breathe normally without any difficulty.

Alternatively, if the person cannot stand up, push your fist inward and upward in the same way as you would if they were standing.

Read more: What To Do When Someone Is Choking On Water?

How to perform a heimlich maneuver on a pregnant woman?

Choking is an obstruction, and hence you must treat it quickly and efficiently. Here are the steps to know how to do the heimlich maneuver on pregnant women:

• Ask if the person is choking.
• If yes, then give back blows. Give at least five blows between the shoulder blades. Use the heel of your hand to perform this.
• If the pregnant lady is still choking, give her three chest thrusts. Chest thrusts for a conscious adult are like abdominal thrusts. The only difference is that it does not involve the placement of the hands. Stand behind and place your hand against the center of the chest. Join your hands and give thrusts into the chest.
• If they are still choking, give back blows again. Repeat the second and third steps until you can successfully remove the object. If they are still choking, call emergency services right away. You must also call them if they lose consciousness.

Can you perform the heimlich maneuver on children and toddlers?

You can perform the Heimlich maneuver on children and toddlers. If the child is younger than 5 years old and weighs less than 20 kilograms, you need to change the method. Kneel behind the child to match their level. Then, use less forceful thrusts than the Heimlich maneuver requires.

How to perform a heimlich maneuver on an infant?

If an infant is unable to breathe, follow these steps:

• Sit down and hold the infant face down on your forearm. Ensure that this rests on your thigh.
• Give five back blows gently using the tee of your hand.
• If this does not work, place the infant face-up and rest it on your forearm and thigh. This will keep the head lower than the trunk.
• Place two fingers at the center of the breastbone. Give five chest compressions quickly.
• Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts. Keep performing until the object does not come out successfully. Ensure that the infant can breathe and cough normally again.

How to perform a Heimlich maneuver on a conscious adult?

Your approach will differ while performing a heimlich maneuver on a conscious and unconscious person.

During choking, rescuers must take action if they see any signs of severe airway obstructions.

• Ask the rescuer if they are choking. If they say yes, provide immediate help.
• If the person can speak, cough, and breathe, then do not interfere.
• However, if the person is unable to speak or breathe, give an abdominal thrust immediately.
• Stand behind the person and reach around their waist. Put your fists together and place them above the navel and below the rib cage. Grasp them together and pull the clenched fist sharply under the rib cage about 6–10 times.
• Continue giving chest thrusts until you can relieve the obstruction or advanced life support is available.

How to perform the Heimlich maneuver on an unconscious adult?

• Position the person on his or her back. Keep the arms on the side.
• Reach out for help. Call the local emergency number.
• Use your finger to try and remove a foreign object, if possible. Remove an object you can see.
• Try to listen to their breathing and patiently watch their chest rise and fall.
• If the person is not breathing, start rescue breathing. If you do not succeed in this, give 6–10 abdominal thrusts or the Heimlich maneuver.
• Kneel over the person. Place the heel of your hand on the abdomen of the person. Next, place the other hand on top of the first. Press into the abdomen using upward and quick thrusts.
• Repeat sequence. Perform a finger sweep. Try performing rescue breathing, and do Heimlich maneuvers until you are successful.
• Continue these steps until you can successfully remove the obstruction. When successful. Have the person examined by a physician at the earliest.

How to perform the Heimlich maneuver when you are alone and choking?

Do you often panic, thinking about what you will do when you are alone and choking?

Don’t worry. Find easy steps here below:

• Do not panic. Take slow, deep breaths.
• Call the local emergency number immediately. Do not worry if you are not able to speak. The dispatcher will understand the urgency of the emergency.
• If a chair is available, try leaning back. Press hard on your abdomen and chest to remove the object. Use your fists to give abdominal thrusts.
• Place one clenched fist above the navel and below the rib cage. Grasp your fist with the other hand. Pull the fist in a sharp manner and directly backward and upward under the rib cage. Perform this at least 6–10 times.
• If you are pregnant, give chest thrusts.
• Continue uninterrupted until you remove the obstruction. In either case, you must reach out to a physician as soon as possible.

What should you know about choking?

Choking occurs when an object, such as food or liquid, blocks the throat. This causes choking. Children often choke due to eating too fast or breathing in fumes.

A person who’s choking may often cough until they get rid of the object. In certain cases, it can even get stuck in the throat and cut off the air supply. An affected person may cross their hands over their throat to let you know that they are choking.

What causes choking?

Children usually choke from placing objects in their mouths. This is usually done out of curiosity. Common objects that children choke on include the following:

• Candy
• Popcorn
• Hot dogs
• Chewing gum
• Whole grapes
• Large pieces of vegetables

On the other hand, adults usually choke while swallowing food without chewing properly. You can also choke if you laugh or talk while drinking or eating.

Read More: The Importance of Time in an Emergency: Why Every Second Counts?

Are there any risks of the heimlich maneuver?

No, there are no such risks involved, provided you perform the method correctly. Healthcare providers consider the process a safe and quick way to save lives. You do not need to have any medical knowledge or training to perform this. However, you need to use the correct mechanism, as otherwise it can be harmful.

If you are not able to remove the foreign object after a few trials, do not panic. You must seek emergency help at the earliest to prevent complications such as broken ribs.

How can you prevent your child from choking?

To prevent your child from choking, here are a few steps to follow:

• Keep children away from small objects and other hazards.
• Cut the food into small pieces.
• Be very careful while giving food items such as grapes or nuts.
• Do not give them candies that are hard to eat.
• Supervise your child while they are eating.

Conclusion

It is crucial to note that when someone cannot breathe because of a blockage in the upper airway, every second counts. Heimlich maneuver can help you save a life. You do not need to be a trained individual. However, it is a good idea to know the steps well. You may even need it for yourself someday. The Heimlich maneuver is a life-saving rescue technique. Remember to follow the steps as mentioned above. Use it only on people who cannot beat and are still conscious. The methods vary for adults, infants, and pregnant women. Know how you do the heimlich maneuver and assist during emergencies.