• January 23, 2025

Heimlich Maneuver Procedure

Heimlich Maneuver Procedure (for choking):

1. Assess the Situation:
• Ask the person, “Are you choking?”
• If they can cough or speak, encourage them to keep coughing.
• If they cannot speak, cough, or breathe, act quickly.

2. Position Yourself:
• Stand behind the person.
• Wrap your arms around their waist.
• Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the navel (belly button) but below the ribcage.
• Grasp your fist with your other hand.

3. Perform Abdominal Thrusts:
• Give quick, inward and upward thrusts:
• Use enough force to dislodge the object.
• Repeat until the object is expelled or the person can breathe.
• Perform up to 5 thrusts at a time, then check if the object is cleared.

4. If the Person Becomes Unconscious:
• Lower them carefully to the ground.
• Begin CPR if there’s no breathing.
• Look inside the mouth for the object after each set of chest compressions.
• If you see the object, try to remove it carefully without pushing it deeper.

Special Cases:

Pregnant or Obese Person:
• Position hands higher on the chest, at the base of the breastbone (sternum).
• Use chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.

Infants (Under 1 Year):
1. Lay the infant face-down on your forearm.
2. Support the head and neck.
3. Give 5 back blows between the shoulder blades.
4. If unsuccessful, turn the infant face-up and give 5 chest thrusts using two fingers.
5. Repeat until the object is expelled or help arrives.

5. Seek Medical Help:
• Even if the object is expelled, get the person checked by a medical professional to ensure no internal injury.