The Heimlich maneuver for rescuing choking victims is published in the journal Emergency Medicine.

The Heimlich maneuver is an emergency procedure used to treat upper airway obstructions (or choking) by foreign objects. Here’s a detailed overview:
Background:

Developed By: Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974.
Purpose: To expel a foreign object lodged in the airway, preventing suffocation.

Procedure:

For Conscious Adults and Children Over One Year:
Stand Behind the Person: Place yourself slightly behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
Make a Fist: Place your fist just above the person’s navel, thumb side in.
Grasp Your Fist: With your other hand, grasp your fist.
Perform Abdominal Thrusts: Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust as if trying to lift the person. Repeat until the object is expelled or the person becomes unconscious.

For Unconscious Adults and Children Over One Year:
Lay the Person Down: Lay them on their back on a firm surface.
Straddle the Person’s Hips: Kneel astride their hips.
Place Hands Correctly: Place one hand on top of the other, and position them above the navel and below the ribcage.
Perform Thrusts: Press into the abdomen with quick upward thrusts. Repeat until the object is expelled or emergency help arrives.

For Infants (Under One Year):
Hold the Infant: Place the infant face down on your forearm, with the head lower than the body, and support the head and neck with your hand.
Give Back Blows: Administer five back blows between the infant’s shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
Flip the Infant: Turn the infant face-up, keeping the head lower than the body.
Perform Chest Thrusts: Use two fingers to give five quick chest thrusts over the lower half of the breastbone (sternum).

Important Notes:

Do Not Use on Pregnant Women: For pregnant women or obese individuals, chest thrusts are recommended instead of abdominal thrusts.
Seek Medical Help: Always seek medical attention after the Heimlich maneuver is performed, as the person might have internal injuries or complications.
Training Recommended: While the maneuver can be performed by bystanders, proper training can increase its effectiveness and safety.

Effectiveness:

The Heimlich maneuver has saved countless lives by effectively dislodging objects blocking the airway, making it a critical skill in emergency first aid.

Would you like more information on a specific aspect of the Heimlich maneuver?