How To Perform the Heimlich Maneuver (Abdominal Thrusts)

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Abdominal thrusts—also known as the Heimlich maneuver—can be used to expel a foreign object lodged in a choking victim's windpipe.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Someone to call 911
Firm resolve

Warning: Never practice the Heimlich maneuver on an infant under a year old or on a person who is not choking. You could cause serious injury.

Step 1: Confirm choking

Confirm the victim is choking. If they are coughing, they are not choking -- yet -- so encourage them to continue. Signs of choking include the universal hand sign of clutching one's hands to the throat; the inability to cough or speak; labored or noisy breathing; bluish skin, lips, and nails; and loss of consciousness.

Tip: Don't slap a coughing person on the back -- it doesn't help and can make them start to choke.

Step 2: Call 911

Once you determine the person is choking, act quickly but calmly. First, send someone to call 911.

Step 3: Help the victim stand

Help the victim stand, if they're not already on their feet, and stand behind them with your chest to their back.

Step 4: Wrap your arms around the victim

Wrap your arms around the victim's torso, making a fist with your dominant hand, and center it against the victim's upper abdomen, thumb inward, above the navel and below the rib cage. With your other hand, cover your fist for support.

Tip: If you cannot reach your arms around their abdomen or if the victim is pregnant, compress their chest between the breasts at the breastbone. Make firm, backward thrusts.

Step 5: Thrust inward and upward

Quickly thrust inward and slightly upward with your fist, as if you're trying to lift the victim off their feet, causing air to rush out of their lungs.

Tip: Don't squeeze the rib cage as you thrust upward. Otherwise you could break a bone.

Step 6: Repeat

Repeat the thrusts until the object dislodges, or the victim loses consciousness.

Step 7: Wait for medical help

If the object does not come free and the victim loses consciousness, proceed with CPR until EMTs arrive.

Step 8: Save yourself

To perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself, lean your upper abdomen over a hard horizontal surface (such as a railing or the back of a chair) and use it to deliver strong, upward thrusts.

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[dcallstar51]

My friend was choking on a water bottle cap last night and everyone was arguing over where to put your hand while he was standing there trying to breathe..

[scottfromireland2]

Muse Tube- You perform CPR on an unresponsive & non breathing patient who was choking for two reasons.

- Performing CPR will actually help dislodge the item as the compressions force air out of the throat.

- If the person is unresponsive & not breathing then there are in serious trouble and will require CPR to keep there brain oxygenated. untill you can recussiate them with a defib.

 AND DO A COURSE BEFORE COMMENTING

[xArchAngeL01x]

that's not how you do cpr..

[darinsargent25]

Geez. Strange comments with this video again.

[MrSexymander]

whoah i thought i was the only one.

[wcresponder]

they do not need to stand, technique can be applied while seated. the technique as shown for self tchoking shown by this model would have little effect as she was rocking over the counter not impacting the edge into the abdomin.

Time to update this video with 2010 techniques from heart and stroke.

[MrJelhi]

1:50 You call that CPR? Pfft.

[LordHannigan]

Chest Valve is used in Three Kings.

[Peacegirl82323]

this saved my life

[MadsEhlers]

medfraud.info/2006ChokingUpdat­eArticles.html

The idea that backthusts or slaps to the back are dangerous are wrong.

It's malknowledge spred out by dr. Heimlich, who according to his son is a fraud and con-man. For more info, read link.

[dinahmanatee]

@Alex, Ditto.