How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver

By eHow Health Editor

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Choking because of an obstructed airway is a leading cause of accidental death. If a choking person is not coughing or is unable to speak, that's your cue to perform the Heimlich maneuver immediately. Here are a few steps to help save a choking victim.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

  • First Aid Kits
  • First Aid Books
  • First Aid Classes

Step1
Ask the choking person to stand if he or she is sitting.
Step2
Place yourself slightly behind the standing victim.
Step3
Reassure the victim that you know the Heimlich maneuver and are going to help.
Step4
Place your arms around the victim's waist.
Step5
Make a fist with one hand and place your thumb toward the victim, just above his or her belly button.
Step6
Grab your fist with your other hand.
Step7
Deliver five upward squeeze-thrusts into the abdomen.
Step8
Make each squeeze-thrust strong enough to dislodge a foreign body.
Step9
Understand that your thrusts make the diaphragm move air out of the victim's lungs, creating a kind of artificial cough.
Step10
Keep a firm grip on the victim, since he or she can lose consciousness and fall to the ground if the Heimlich maneuver is not effective.
Step11
Repeat the Heimlich maneuver until the foreign body is expelled.

Tips & Warnings

  • If a victim is coughing strongly or able to talk, let the person try to expel the foreign body using his or her own efforts.
  • If the choking victim displays a weak or ineffective cough, this indicates that air exchange is minimal and that you should start the Heimlich maneuver.
  • Teach your family the universal choking sign--clutching the throat. Encourage everyone you know to become familiar with this sign and use it when choking.
  • To avoid breaking bones, never place your hands on the victim's breastbone or lower rib cage when performing the Heimlich maneuver.
  • If choking persists, call 911 immediately. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments

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pksnn said

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on 6/9/2008 Should I not be actually trained by a paramedic or first aid trainer? How do I assume I know the procedure merely by reading what is given in your narrative?

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on 3/14/2008 If someone really wants to know how to do the heimlich maneuver, classes are your best bet to get practice and learn the exact way to do it. This way your not learning while someones choking, they may not have time for you to figure it out correctly.

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on 3/14/2008 If someone really wants to learn the heimlich maneuver, you should really take classes to learn it 100% correctly. Also it's probably better to look up a known medical web site to learn this type of information. But taking classes is the best way to go.

SayuriTe said

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on 3/3/2008 The way I was taught, the landmark is two finger widths above the belly button.

SayuriTe said

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on 3/3/2008 I was taught that the landmark is two finger widths above the belly button.

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eHow Article:  How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver

eHow Health Editor

eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

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