How to Teach Children to Perform the Heimlich

Choking is one of the most common life-threatening occurrences in the United States, with more then 4,000 people experiencing choking every year. If you know how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver, teach it to your children, so they can help in case of an emergency.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Teach Your Children to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver

1. Set up a basic first-aid and emergency plan in your home, and drill your children periodically on what to do in case of an emergency.

2. Explain choking to your children. Include causes, high-risk foods and symptoms of choking.

3. Tell your children about the Heimlich Maneuver: what it is, how it works and when to use it.

4. Teach your children to first assess the situation by asking the victim, "Are you choking?"

5. Remind your children about the rules for calling 911: calmly explain the problem, tell the dispatcher where you are and don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you it's OK.

6. Perform the Heimlich Maneuver step-by-step for your children, using your partner or an adult friend as the choking victim.

7. Repeat the Heimlich Maneuver using your children as the choking victims. Do this example for as many children as you have, since each child should have the opportunity to act as the choking victim.

8. Allow your children to practice the Heimlich Maneuver on each other or on you. Stress the importance of using gentle thrusts in practice to avoid injuries.

9. Teach smaller children to use the modified Heimlich Maneuver for children if they are unable to reach around an adult's body. In this technique, the victim lies on the floor and the child kneels over him.

10. Instruct your children to stay with the choking victim until help arrives.

Tips & Warnings

• Teaching your children to perform the Heimlich Maneuver and general first aid may make them more careful while playing, reducing the risks of an accident or injury.

• Teach your children how to call 911 before moving to the Heimlich. Make sure they know they know your address, and teach them to stay on the line until the emergency dispatcher tells them to hang up.

• Leave children under the age of 12 with adult supervision to minimize the risks of an emergency.

• Avoid frightening your children when teaching them to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. If you see any signs of fear or panic, lighten the mood or drop the topic altogether to prevent your child from developing a choking phobia.