In daily life, serious consequences or even fatal incidents caused by foreign bodies stuck in the throat often occur. The patient cannot breathe after the airway is blocked, and the patient is manifested as cyanosis, choking, and inability to pronounce. The patient will even suffer from cardiac and respiratory arrest. Do you know what to do when this danger occurs?

In 1974, American doctor Heimlich successfully rescued a patient who was suffocating because of food blocking his airway. Since then, this method has been widely used all over the world, saving the lives of countless patients. The method for "the embrace of life" is also known as the Heimlich maneuver.

The Heimlich maneuver is to use the residual gas in the lungs to form airflow to flush out foreign bodies. It is a very effective first aid technique for suffocation caused by foreign body obstruction in the airway. It is also suitable for drowning and suffocated patients. Let's learn about Heimlich. First aid can save lives at critical moments.

1. Heimlich manoeuvre for infant first aid

The rescuer takes a sitting position or kneels on one knee, puts the baby prone, rides on one arm, supports the baby's head and jaw with his hands, the head is lower than the torso, and taps the patient's back and shoulder blades with the palm of his hand, every second. Once, slap five times.

Turn the patient into a supine position, and use the index finger and middle finger to rapidly impact the lower part of the connection line between the two breasts five times, and repeat the above actions until the foreign body is discharged.

2. Heimlich Maneuver for first aid in adults

When the patient is awake

For awake patients, the upright abdominal thrusting method is used. The patient stands, hands are crossed on the collarbone, the body is slightly forward, and the mouth is open.

The rescuer stands behind the patient in a lunge, wraps the patient's waist with both arms, holds a hollow fist with one hand, and presses the side of the thumb against the center of the patient's abdomen, below the xiphoid process and two transverse fingers above the navel, and grasps the fist with the other hand , quickly squeeze the patient's abdomen inward and upward, and repeat the above maneuvers until the foreign body is discharged

When the patient is unconscious or unable to stand

For those who are unconscious or unable to stand, the supine abdominal thrusting method is used.

Place the palm of the lower hand on the abdomen of the patient under the thorax and above the navel, and quickly impact the abdomen with the palm of the hand downwards and forward until the foreign body is discharged. The first aid for children is the same as that for adults.

3. Heimlich manoeuvre for first aid in pregnant women

The patient stands, lightly supports the abdomen with both hands, the rescuer stands behind the patient, surrounds the patient's chest with both arms, holds a hollow fist with one hand, and sticks it in the middle of the line connecting the two breasts, and holds the fist with the other hand, and presses the chest vertically inward until Airway obstruction is relieved.

Fourth, Heimlich first aid for self-rescue

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, lean forward, make a fist with one hand, grab the fist with the other hand, and quickly impact the abdomen until the foreign body is discharged, or use the rounded corners and the back of the chair to quickly punch the abdomen until the foreign body is discharged.

Remind everyone that although the Heimlich maneuver can save lives at critical moments, it is not a panacea. The precautions are as follows:

1. It is only suitable for the inhalation of foreign bodies into the airway, and cannot be used for emergency treatment of esophageal foreign bodies.

2. Once the foreign body cannot be expelled by the Heimlich maneuver, and the patient's choking and breathing difficulties persist, they should immediately be sent to the hospital for emergency rescue or dial 120 for help.

3. It may cause certain harm to patients, especially for the elderly, because of the poor elasticity and compliance of the chest and abdomen tissues, compression may cause rib fractures, rupture and bleeding of organs in the thoracic cavity or abdominal cavity. Therefore, airway foreign body obstruction occurs. When other methods are used to expel the foreign body, the Heimlich maneuver should be considered only when other methods are ineffective and the patient is in critical condition.