The Heimlich maneuver can be performed as an emergency treatment to help someone who is choking. This procedure was first introduced by Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974.
Eating while talking or rushing can cause someone to choke. This condition can make it difficult for the person experiencing it to breathe due to lack of oxygen. If not treated immediately, choking can result in death. By performing the Heimlich maneuver, the air reserves in the lungs can be pushed up so that the foreign object that caused someone to choke can be removed and reopen the airway. Thus, the person’s life can be saved.
How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver needs to be performed on a person who is choking and shows signs such as difficulty breathing or speaking, holding their neck with their hands, and not being able to cough to remove the object stuck in their throat.
Here’s how to do the Heimlich maneuver based on the age and condition of the person who is choking:
Heimlich maneuver for adults and children
To help an adult or child over 1 year old who is choking, you can perform the Heimlich maneuver in the following way:
- Help the person who is choking to stand, then position yourself behind the person. If the person who is choking is a child, kneel behind them.
- Bend the body of the person who is choking.
- Hit his back with the palm of your hand 5 times.
- Place your arms around the choking person’s waist.
- Make a fist with one of your hands and place the other hand over it, then place it over the choking person’s navel.
- Press your fist into his stomach and jerk it upward. Repeat this motion 10 times or until the object blocking his throat comes out.
If the person who is choking passes out after the Heimlich maneuver, lay him or her on his or her back and seek medical help from the nearest hospital immediately. While waiting for medical personnel to arrive, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Heimlich maneuver for pregnant or obese women
The Heimlich maneuver procedure for pregnant or obese women is almost the same as for normal people. The only difference is the position of the hand curling and placing the head. For pregnant or obese people, you should curl and place your fist a little higher, namely around the sternum or breast area.
Heimlich maneuver for babies
To help a choking baby, you can perform the Heimlich maneuver with the following steps:
- Sit and support the baby with your arm, then turn his body over one of your thighs.
- Position the baby’s head lower than his back.
- Hit his back gently with the palm of your hand 5 times.
- If the foreign object blocking the baby’s airway does not come out, position the baby on his back.
- Place 2 of your fingers in the middle of his sternum and press quickly 5 times.
- Repeat this series of actions from the beginning, if the foreign object still does not come out.
Heimlich maneuver for yourself
Not only done for others, the Heimlich maneuver can also be done when you are choking yourself. If you are choking, do the Heimlich maneuver yourself with the following steps:
- Make a fist and place it slightly above your belly button.
- Push your fist into your stomach and move it upwards 10 times or until the object is out of your throat.
- You can also use the back of a chair to press on your stomach.
If the Heimlich maneuver is successful in treating choking, you or the person who is choking still need to get medical help from a doctor. This is important to ensure that no foreign objects are left in the airway. If you still have questions about how to perform the Heimlich maneuver or are still confused about how to do it, you can consult a doctor.
