The Heimlich maneuver is a first aid movement that frees the airways when a small object blocks them. It was first described in 1974 by American physician and university professor Henry J.
When and how is this rescue movement carried out?
The Heimlich maneuver: in what cases can it be performed?
When a person inhales a foreign object, a sudden cough and difficulty breathing appear. They are generally of short duration, either because the body has been expelled by coughing, or because it has descended into the airways where it remains blocked. In this particular case, the Heimlich maneuver is useless because the person recovers on their own.
What do you do when your airways are completely blocked?
If the airways are completely blocked by a foreign body, the person will suffocate:
- - He does not speak or cough.
- -He has great difficulty breathing.
- -Blue lips and fingernails.
- - Sweat.
- -Insomnia and rapid heartbeat.
A case of suffocation of a child:
Choking in children under the age of two can be observed by the following signs:
- - No cough
- - Invisible respiratory movements
- - pallor;
- - blue lips
- - Stagnation or loss of tone, restlessness.
The Heimlich maneuver should be applied in cases of choking in adults and children over the age of two. In infants and children under 2 years of age, the Movenson maneuver should be performed.
What do you do in case of suffocation?
If you find that a person is choking, you must act quickly and follow the necessary steps:
Immediately practice lifesaving emergency moves (you have little time to act):
- the person does not lie down;
Give him a maximum of 5 slaps on the back (back slap technique), between the shoulder blades. stop if the foreign body is expelled or if the person begins to cough;
If this first technique fails (the person's condition does not improve), use the Heimlich maneuver;
While waiting for help, leave the person in the position they take automatically. You often sit and lean forward. Above all, don't try to prolong it.
In any case, hospitalization is often necessary, either to ensure that the foreign body is completely expelled, or to remove it.
Heimlich maneuver for adults and children over the age of two in case of suffocation
If an adult or child over 2 years old chokes on a foreign object, give him 5 consecutive slaps on the back. Here is the technique, according to the health insurance website:
- Stand next to the person and slightly behind him;
- Give a maximum of 5 slaps between the shoulder blades. Each slap aims to induce a coughing motion to expel the body;
- After each series of five slaps, check to see if the foreign body has been rejected. If it is successfully rejected, the person begins to breathe again and cough. So it is pointless to give him another slap in the back.
- If this technique fails, the Heimlich maneuver should be performed alternately with slaps:
- Stand behind the person, wrap their arms around their waist, and tilt their chest slightly forward.
- Form a fist with one hand, placing it between the navel and the lower end of the sternum, well in the middle of the abdomen.
- Grasp this fist with the other hand and push it sharply upward, as if you were lifting the person.
- Repeat the movement until the foreign body is removed.
The Heimlich maneuver should not be performed if the victim has not inhaled a foreign object.
Movinson maneuver for children under the age of two in case of suffocation
The Heimlich maneuver is not suitable for children under the age of two. In the event of suffocation, after the failure of the five blows, the Movenson maneuver should be performed as follows:
Sat down;
put one hand on the baby's stomach and chest and lay face down on your bent thigh (his head is facing down, past your knee);
Using the flat of the other hand, make a firm, dry blow between his shoulder blades.
If the foreign body does not come out, repeat this process several times in a row.
Hospitalization is often necessary, either to extract the foreign body or to ensure that it is completely expelled.
The infant should be kept seated while being transported to the hospital.
What if the person does not suffer from choking?
It is possible for a person to inhale a foreign object without being suffocated. progress:
- breathing difficulties
- Cough ;
- Noisy breathing
- Simple cough without difficulty breathing.
- When she succeeded in expelling the foreign body, he had no symptoms.
- In this case, there is no need to intervene. Do not take any action until the person has resumed normal breathing:
- * Do not put your fingers in his mouth.
- * Do not pat him on the back.
- * If he is a child, do not hang him by his feet.
Any maneuver can be dangerous because it risks dislodging the foreign body, which can further obstruct the airways. It is important to keep the person sitting or standing. Upon arrival at the hospital, an evaluation (X-ray, bronchoscopy, etc.) will be performed and the foreign body will be removed.
How to avoid wrong ways and suffocation?
To avoid misdirection and reduce choking hazards, do not give children small items with detachable parts that can be swallowed.
Check and follow age and safety recommendations on all toy labels. Do not give him small foods such as peanuts, pistachios, almonds, etc.
In general, it is important to eat while sitting quietly to chop and chew the food well before swallowing.