*Since my 10-21-07 post on the Heimlich Maneuver, several people have asked about the possibility of using it on yourself if you are alone and do in fact get a piece of food stuck in your throat and then start choking on it, and after researching the matter a little further I have found that it is possible to use the Heimlich Maneuver on yourself, especially as a last resort, by using the back of a chair or some other piece of furniture, if you are indoors, or by using a railing or something similar, if you are outdoors, to replace a potential rescuers hand motions on your stomach, which you can then repeat until the food is then dislodged and your breathing returns to normal.
Note: In addition to helping yourself to clear up your choking problem, it should be noted that by using the Heimlich Maneuver on yourself you also create the possibility of causing yourself some serious internal injuries, especially if you do it incorrectly.
2 comments:
Your information is outdated.
Last year the American Red Cross replaced the Heimlich maneuver as the first treatment for choking rescue. They know recommend doing a series of backblows followed by abdominal thrusts, which is what they now call the procedure. The Red Cross doesn't use the name "Heimlich maneuver" anymore. From this 11/15/07 Red Cross press relase:
To help someone who is choking, remember "FIVE-and-FIVE Can Keep Them Alive." First, ask the person if they are able to breathe and if you can help. Once you know the person is unable to cough, speak or breathe, have someone call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number, lean the person forward and give FIVE sharp back blows with the heel of your hand. If the obstruction isn't dislodged, give the person FIVE quick, upward abdominal thrusts. If you are alone, you can perform abdominal thrusts on yourself, just as you would on someone else. Thrusts can also be administered by pressing your abdomen firmly against an object such as the back of a chair.
Thanks for the update, which I will use as the basis for a another posting in the very near future.
Post a Comment