Contents:
- Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: A quick guide to the Heimlich maneuver
- How do I know if someone is choking?
- What is a Heimlich maneuver?
- How do you do the Heimlich maneuver to help choking people?
- Do Heimlich maneuvers in babies
- Do the Heimlich maneuver on yourself
Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: A quick guide to the Heimlich maneuver
Eating in a hurry can make you choke. Moreover, eating while talking or laughing out loud. In most cases, food caught can be easily removed by coughing. But if you see someone choking and having trouble getting it out, quickly give help as soon as possible. Although trivial, your help is very important because choking can cut oxygen supply into the brain and can endanger life. The following guide helps people who choke on a technique called the Heimlich maneuver.
How do I know if someone is choking?
Generally, people who are choking will grip the throat with both hands. If the case is mild, the person who is choking can still speak (though difficult), cry, cough, or breathe.
But if the person does not visit can remove objects that are stuck in his airway, the supply of oxygen to the lungs will be hampered. After 4-6 minutes without enough oxygen, brain damage can begin to occur.
Therefore, pay attention to other alarms, such as:
- Not able to speak or speak.
- Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing sounds.
- Cannot cough when asked to cough.
- Skin, lips, and nails that are blue or blackish.
- Lost consciousness.
Immediately do the Heimlich maneuver on that person. Heimlich maneuvers can save lives if done correctly.
What is a Heimlich maneuver?
Heimlich maneuver is the term first aid and emergency to help people who choke by pressing their stomach firmly. This movement will produce great pressure on the abdomen and chest of the person so that objects caught in the airway can be released out.
You can do the Heimlich maneuver for people of all ages who are choking, including babies and pregnant women.
How do you do the Heimlich maneuver to help choking people?
Before doing this maneuver, make sure the person is still conscious. Then, follow these steps:
1. Stand behind the person, and wrap your hands around his waist like a hug position. If the person is in a standing position, place one of your feet between his legs so that you can support the person if he faints.
2. Fist one of your hands, making sure your thumb goes into the fist. Place your fist slightly above the person's navel but below the breastbone. Position the outside of the thumb facing the person's stomach. Hold your fist tightly with the other hand. See the picture below:
3. With your fist, squeeze hard into your stomach hard and fast, pointing up. You may need more energy for large people and less energy for small children or adults. See the picture below:
You may need to repeat the procedure several times before the object is released. But if you have done it repeatedly and nothing has happened, immediately call for medical assistance.
The way to do the Heimlich maneuver on the person lying is the same. It's just that at first position your body kneeling astride its body. Make the same fist and push your fist into his stomach and point up, like the steps above.
If he loses consciousness, lay the person down and try to free his airway with your finger in a sweeping motion. If you cannot release the object, do CPR. If the object causing the choking has come out but the person loses consciousness, then do artificial breathing through CPR.
If the choking person is pregnant, the way to help is a little different. For pregnant women, your fist should be placed slightly upward, which is around the base of the breastbone. The next step is the same as number 2-3 in the guide above.
Do Heimlich maneuvers in babies
If a choking child is under 1 year, follow these steps:
- Sit down, then support the baby's body with your arms and lie on your thighs with a leaning forward position so that the position of the head will be lower than his chest.
- Hold the baby from the front firmly using one of your palms to keep your head from wilting against your thighs.
- Give 5 gentle blows between the shoulder blades of the child's shoulder with the heel of your hand. See the picture below:
- If it doesn't work, turn your baby's position on his back and lean his head on your arms and thighs so that the baby's head is lower than his body.
- Place 2 fingers on the center of the breastbone and do 5 times the quick pressure on the chest.
Repeat the soft punch on the back and push on the chest until the object comes out and the baby can breathe or cough on its own.
Do the Heimlich maneuver on yourself
If you choke and there is no one around you, you can follow these steps:
- Make a fist and place it slightly above the navel, the thumb facing inward.
- Hold your fist tightly with the other hand and push it in and up simultaneously.
- Do 5 times the stomach push, and repeat until the object comes out and you can breathe or cough by itself.
