Introduction
The Heimlich Maneuver is a technique used to save a person from choking. Developed in 1974 by Dr. Henry Heimlich, the technique has been credited with saving thousands of lives. In the Heimlich Maneuver, the rescuer uses a sharp thrust of their hands to push up into the abdomen of the person who is choking in order to push air out of their lungs and dislodge the blockage.
Background
Dr. Henry Heimlich developed the Heimlich Maneuver in 1974 while working as a thoracic surgeon at the Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was originally intended as a life‑saving technique to dislodge food or other objects that had become lodged in someone’s throat. Heimlich saw the need for this technique after seeing a friend nearly choke to death on a piece of meat. After experimenting with the technique on himself, Heimlich was able to successfully demonstrate the technique to other doctors and nurses.
How It Works
When a person begins to choke, the airway becomes blocked, preventing air from entering their lungs. The Heimlich Maneuver is used to push air from the lungs, forcing the blockage out of the throat. The rescuer stands behind the choking person and makes a fist with one hand. They place the thumb side of their fist between the person’s navel and ribs and then quickly thrusts inward and up. This action pushes air from the person’s lungs and out of the mouth, dislodging the blockage. The rescuer then quickly stands and rolls the person onto their side to check for further blockages.
Benefits
The Heimlich Maneuver has been credited with saving thousands of lives since it was first developed. It is a simple technique that anyone can use in an emergency situation. It is estimated that if someone begins to choke, using the Heimlich Maneuver within four minutes can save their life. Additionally, it can also be used to clear the airways of small objects such as coins or even insects.
Conclusion
The Heimlich Maneuver is a life-saving technique that can be used in any emergency situation. Developed by Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974, it has since been credited with saving thousands of lives. The maneuver helps to dislodge an object blocking the airway and it allows for rescue in just four minutes. It is a simple technique and can be used by anyone.
