You can administer the heimlich maneuver to yourself by bending over a chair if needed.
The Heimlich maneuver uses abdominal thrusts to force objects out of the throat. Underneath the lungs is a muscle called the diaphragm. This muscle contracts to move the lungs, helping them exhale air. Show
In 1972, a doctor from Cincinnati read a story about choking. At the time, choking was the sixth leading cause of accidental death. These statistics inspired the doctor to devise a simple way to prevent these deaths from happening. The procedure became known as the Heimlich maneuver. The Heimlich maneuver works by creating an artificial cough. By pushing on the diaphragm, the maneuver forces air out of the lungs and up through the throat, forcing a trapped object out. There are four ways to perform the Heimlich maneuver, depending on the age and needs of the choking person. The underlying action with each approach is the same: using the muscles of the diaphragm to force the object out of the throat. Conscious adult or childIf the adult or child over the age of 1 is conscious but cannot speak, cough, or breathe, perform the Heimlich maneuver immediately, following these steps:
Unconscious adult or childIf the child or adult is unconscious or cannot sit or stand, perform these steps:
Performing Heimlich on yourselfIf you choke while alone, or when there is no one to help, do the following:
Infants under 1 yearIn infants under 1 year of age, follow these steps:
Image credit: Author unknown, 2014 Henry Heimlich, a thoracic surgeon, read about the epidemic of choking deaths in restaurants. He discovered that the American Red Cross recommended slapping choking victims on the back. But there was not much evidence to support this strategy. He began testing various strategies on an anesthetised dog. Heimlich believed that blows to the back did not work because they forced the object further down the airway. He also found that chest presses were of no use either because the ribs prevented the lungs from expelling enough air. Heimlich discovered that by pressing on the diaphragm in an upward direction, the lungs could push enough air out to expel the object. This simple procedure became the Heimlich maneuver and within a few years, organizations such as the Red Cross began recommending it as the best strategy for saving the lives of people who were choking. Is the Heimlich maneuver better than other strategies?Although the Heimlich maneuver has replaced back blows and thrusts to the chests in most situations, some emergency responders still use these strategies when Heimlich fails. It remains unclear whether Heimlich is the better choice, or just the more popular, and perhaps easier, one. A 1976 study that compared Heimlich-style abdominal thrusts to chest thrusts, for example, found that chest thrusts were more effective. The sample size was very small, however, comprising just six men. With a larger sample size, researchers might have got different results, so the study should not be viewed as conclusive proof that chest thrusts are better. Share on PinterestThe Heimlich maneuver should not be performed on someone who is not choking.It is not possible carry out the Heimlich maneuver on someone who is not choking. However, because the technique involves pushing on the diaphragm, it is possible for a person to familiarize themselves with the procedure by locating their diaphragm and feeling for a thick band of muscle just underneath the rib cage. Pushing forcefully on this muscle should produce a jarring sensation that pushes air out of the lungs. This can bolster confidence in the event of an actual choking episode. If a person can cough, talk, gag, or breathe, they are not choking. Wait for them to cough the item out. Only begin the Heimlich maneuver if the person is unable to dislodge the object and cannot breathe. The Heimlich maneuver does not save drowning victims, and will not save people from other emergencies, such as cardiac arrest or a seizure. Sometimes the Heimlich maneuver fails, either because the item is too deeply lodged in the throat or because a person does not do the maneuver correctly. For this reason, always call 911 immediately when someone is choking. If two people are available, one should call 911 while the other performs the Heimlich maneuver. This maximizes the chance of survival even when Heimlich does not work. Can you perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself look it up ); what do you need in order to do this?Can you perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself?. Make a fist with one hand, and clasp your other hand tightly around it.. Place the thumb side of your fist just below your ribcage and about two inches above your belly button (navel).. Sharply and quickly thrust your hands inward and upward five times.. When giving the Heimlich maneuver you are positioned?Position one clenched fist above the navel and below the rib cage. Grasp your fist with your other hand. Pull the clenched fist sharply and directly backward and upward under the rib cage 6 to 10 times quickly.
Can you do the Heimlich sitting down?The Sitting Position: Basically, this maneuver is identical to the standing one except that the victim is in a chair while you stand or kneel behind it. The Supine Position: Should the victim be unconscious and cannot be lifted, use this technique: Roll the victim on his or her back.
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