5 ms·

Heimlich means well, but the popularity of his maneuver is due more to his relentless promotional skills, and not to sound research. If someone is choking, it'

Heimlich means well, but the popularity of his maneuver is due more to his relentless promotional skills, and not to sound research. If someone is choking, it's best to slap them hard on the back a few times. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/01.05.05/heimlich-0501.html http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/01.05.05/heimlich-05...

readams 10y ago
That article says nothing about the Heimlich maneuver for choking. Only that you shouldn't use it on a drowning victim. Most sources seem to recommend the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims, possibly in conjunction with blows to the back between the shoulder blades, but only in cases of complete airway obstruction.
anotherevan 10y ago
Last time I did my first aide certificate here in Australia (late 90s), if the back slapping is unsuccessful, the preferred technique was to lay them down on their side, place your hands under their armpit, flat over their ribs and try short, sharp compressions, squeezing the lungs. Because the Heimlich technique is so well known, I remember the instructor citing the above as superior because it was less likely to break ribs or do other internal damage. Caveat: This is in the case of complete obstruction and/or unconsciousness. If it is a partial obstruction, and you can keep the person calm enough to breathe enough, call an ambulance. All first aide is about keeping the person alive long enough for the professionals to take over, not being a hero that solves the problem yourself. Looked up St John's and it looks like the technique has changed since then: [1] This actually sounds harder for effective compressions though, and requires more strength. [1] http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/docs/posters/ehs_choking_a3.pdf http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/docs/posters/ehs_choking_a...
- jazoom 10y ago
  I'm a doctor in Australia. The current recommendation is 5 blows to the back between the scapulae followed by 5 pushes on the sternum. Alternate until they either can breathe again or pass out. Heimlich doesn't feature, but I can't say I wouldn't try it if nothing else was working.
  - anotherevan 10y ago
    > Alternate until they either can breathe again or pass out. What do you do once they pass out? Yes, I agree doing the Heimlich would be better than doing nothing. Just that other there seems to be other techniques that are better than Heimlich. I'll defer to your judgement though.

readams 10y ago

That article says nothing about the Heimlich maneuver for choking. Only that you shouldn't use it on a drowning victim. Most sources seem to recommend the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims, possibly in conjunction with blows to the back between the shoulder blades, but only in cases of complete airway obstruction.

anotherevan 10y ago

Last time I did my first aide certificate here in Australia (late 90s), if the back slapping is unsuccessful, the preferred technique was to lay them down on their side, place your hands under their armpit, flat over their ribs and try short, sharp compressions, squeezing the lungs. Because the Heimlich technique is so well known, I remember the instructor citing the above as superior because it was less likely to break ribs or do other internal damage. Caveat: This is in the case of complete obstruction and/or unconsciousness. If it is a partial obstruction, and you can keep the person calm enough to breathe enough, call an ambulance. All first aide is about keeping the person alive long enough for the professionals to take over, not being a hero that solves the problem yourself. Looked up St John's and it looks like the technique has changed since then: [1] This actually sounds harder for effective compressions though, and requires more strength. [1] http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/docs/posters/ehs_choking_a3.pdf http://www.stjohnambulance.com.au/docs/posters/ehs_choking_a...

jazoom 10y ago
I'm a doctor in Australia. The current recommendation is 5 blows to the back between the scapulae followed by 5 pushes on the sternum. Alternate until they either can breathe again or pass out. Heimlich doesn't feature, but I can't say I wouldn't try it if nothing else was working.
- anotherevan 10y ago
  > Alternate until they either can breathe again or pass out. What do you do once they pass out? Yes, I agree doing the Heimlich would be better than doing nothing. Just that other there seems to be other techniques that are better than Heimlich. I'll defer to your judgement though.