A Emergency choke It can get really scary, really fast.
Whether it's you or someone else, knowing how to clear a blockage while remaining calm can be the difference between life and death.
The Heimlich maneuver is a first aid method recommended by most health organizations, which uses abdominal compressions to remove obstructions from the body. A person's trachea.
Boy, 8 years old, saves his friend from suffocation with the Heimlich maneuver: watch the video
Mass General Brigham, a health care system in Boston, Massachusetts, shared on its website step-by-step instructions on how to perform a Heimlich effectively, provided by emergency medicine physician Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos, MD.
Experts advise that before starting to take Hemelich, make sure that the person is not breathing, speaking, or coughing. (Istock)
1. Call 911
In any choking emergency, General Brigham suggests first calling 911 to report that someone may need the help of a medical professional.
If there is another person present, one of them should call 911 while the other begins performing the heimlich.
2. Evaluate the situation
The Heimlich maneuver should not be performed on someone who is still able to speak, breathe or cough, according to Macias-Konstantopoulos.
In this case, encourage the person who shows these signs Continue coughing To shift the object.
If none of these signs are present, or if the person is showing a general sign of choking, begin by delivering up to five sharp blows to the person's back with the heel of your hand between their shoulder blades.
If a person shows the general sign of choking, shown here, it's best to start giving Heimlich, experts say. (Istock)
3. Start the Heimlich process
If a person is still choking after several back blows, experts recommend starting the Heimlich maneuver.
Macias Constantopoulos' instructions are to first stand behind the choking person, or kneel if necessary He's a baby.
Wrap your arms around their torso from behind. Make a fist with one hand and hold it with the other hand.
Place your hands between the person's navel and rib cage.
Place your fist above your belly button and under your rib cage when taking Hemelich, as directed by your doctor. (Istock)
Next, push in an inward and upward motion on the diaphragm. This will force the air out of the lungs and remove the obstruction. The doctor recommends repeating these abdominal pressures for up to five times.
If choking persists, return to five back blows followed by five abdominal compressions until the airway is cleared or Help has arrived.
For people who may be pregnant or obese, the Heimlich maneuver can be performed with five chest compressions on the breastbone, or middle of the chest, rather than the abdomen.
What to do when a child chokes
Brigham Mass cautioned that the Heimlich maneuver should not be used on children younger than 12 months.
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Alternatively, if a child under 1 year old is choking, hold him face down along your arm or thigh, keeping his head low above his butt.
The health care system advised hitting the child on the back forcefully, but not hard enough to injure him, up to five times.
Recommended Heimlich maneuvers vary between adults and children. (Istock)
Once the blockage is cleared, examine the baby's mouth and remove any visible objects with your finger.
If back blows don't work, try chest thrusts by holding the baby face up in the same direction.
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Keep their heads low from their bodies and support the baby's neck and head with your hand, says Macias-Konstantopoulos.
Place two or three fingers on the baby's breastbone, or in the middle of his chest, and press sharply one inch down and up up to five times.
If you are choking and are alone, the same Heimlich technique can be performed on yourself. (Istock)
The doctor advised that children in particular are at high risk of suffocation Parents and guardians Use caution when eating foods such as popcorn, nuts, grapes, hot dogs, and hard candy.
She recommended “cutting baby food into small pieces before they eat it.”
“Keep choking hazards out of reach of children, monitor your child closely while they eat and supervise playtime.”
What to do if you are choking
If you're choking while alone, the same Heimlich technique can be performed on yourself, according to General Brigham.
Place your fists directly above your belly button and pull them in and up into your diaphragm.
Instead, try leaning against a solid surface, such as the back of a chair or countertop, and push yourself into the same area of your abdomen to create a similar force to your lungs.
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If you're unable to talk, many states allow texting to 911, the health care system noted.
“Type the numbers ‘9-1-1’ in the ‘To’ or ‘Recipient’ field,” Macias Konstantopoulos asked. “Text your location and the nature of your emergency immediately.”
