How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver

The Heimlich maneuver is a first-aid procedure to treat someone who is choking. This procedure is essential to learn because choking can happen to anyone...anytime...anyplace.

When choking, the blockage will deprive the body of oxygen. People can choke on any number of things, such as food, small objects, vomit, etc. When a person is choking they will usually put their hands around their throat. This is known as the universal distress signal for choking, which is widely understood.

The way the Heimlich maneuver works is by using abdominal thrusts to force air through the airways, forcing the lodged object out of the throat. It is important to perform this procedure once you know for sure the person is actually choking on an object. The longer the person is without air, the higher the risk for either respiratory or cardiac arrest, and for the person to become unconscious.

You can perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself if there is nobody around to help you. To do this you can lean over a chair, or other hard object, and push your abdomen against it. This will force the air through your airways to push the object upward.

The procedure differs slightly for pregnant women and obese people. These victims need to be laid on the floor on their back. To force the air through the airways you will perform chest thrusts as if you were giving CPR.

The steps to help a conscious person who is choking are as follows:

When you see someone who appears to be choking, whether it be because they don't appear to be breathing correctly, have their hands around their throat, or are trying to cough, you will as them if they are choking. Once the person nods that they are indeed choking, you may begin the procedure.

1. You will stand behind the person, facing their back.

2. Put your arms around the person's waist.

3. With one hand, make a fist and position the thumb side just above the person's navel and a little bit below the tip of the sternum.

4. Hold your fist with your other hand and press it into the person's abdomen while giving a quick thrust upward.

5. You should give about five thrusts spaced out a few seconds.

6. Check the victim, adjust the technique if needed.

7. Repeat the thrusts of five until the person coughs up the object, becomes unconscious, or until emergency medical personnel arrives.

Now, if the person becomes unconscious before a trained professional arrives or if the person is already unconscious when you first reach them, this is the procedure you will use:

1. Position yourself over the person's thighs, straddling.

2.In the middle of the person's abdomen, slightly above the navel and a little bit below the sternum, place the heel of your hand with your fingers pointing toward their head.

3. Place your other hand on top the hand already in place and lock your fingers in between the fingers of your other hand and into the palm.

4. You will again do the five thrusts by pressing inward and upward to try to clear the airway of the object.

5. After the five thrusts you should check the person's mouth. Using your index finger, check the insides of the person's cheeks and toward the back of their throat in a hooking fashion. If you feel the object, grab and remove it.

6. If you do not find the object, repeat the steps of the five thrusts until you are relieved by a professional. Also, you will give two rescue breaths in between the cycles of thrusts and doing the finger sweeps.

Seeing somebody who is choking can cause quite a panic. The most important thing to do is to stay calm and focused while performing the Heimlich maneuver.