What Alternatives Exist For Choking Situations In Nature?

Abdominal Thrusts for Adults

Abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver, can be lifesaving when performed correctly. To perform abdominal thrusts, stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist. Place one hand on top of the other with your thumbs side by side in the upper abdomen, just below the ribcage. Grasp your hands firmly and push upward and inward to create pressure on the diaphragm. Repeat this motion until the object is dislodged. For a person who is conscious, 5-10 abdominal thrusts should be enough to dislodge the object. For a person who is unconscious, continue abdominal thrusts for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Chest Thrusts for Infants

Chest thrusts are used to dislodge objects from an infant’s airway. To perform chest thrusts, sit down with the infant facing upwards on your forearm, with their head lower than their chest. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the infant’s chest, just above the nipple line. Use your other hand to support the infant’s head and neck. Push downward on the chest with the heel of your hand to a depth of about 1/4 inch, then release. Repeat this motion 30 times or until the object is dislodged.

Back Blows

Back blows can be used to dislodge objects from the airway when abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts are not effective. To perform back blows, stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist or chest. Use the heel of your hand to give five quick back blows between the shoulder blades, with each blow being about 1-2 inches deep. After the back blows, check to see if the object is dislodged. If not, repeat the abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts.