Saving lives: The Heimlich maneuver

The death of a Class 6 student at a private school in Secunderabad has shocked parents across the city. Viren Jain allegedly choked to death while trying to eat three puris simultaneously during lunch break.

The tragic loss of such a young life makes us introspect and attempt to learn preventive measures.

All over the world, the Heimlich maneuver is recommended as a first aid technique to treat a choking person. Though the exact causes for Viren’s death remain unclear, learning this maneuver can go a long way in helping anyone who is choking.

However, before performing this maneuver, there is a need to ascertain a couple of things. “We need to first check if the person is really choking, and also if he has history of lung or heart ailments,” says Dr Jagadeesh Kumar V, senior physician and diabetologist, Internal Medicine at Kims Hospital.

What is choking

When a person chokes, they cannot inhale or exhale air, which is why it is not possible to cough an object out during a choking episode. “Choking is immense difficulty in taking breath suddenly, usually with no history of cardiac or lung problems This acute difficulty in breathing happens suddenly without any exertion only during eating or engulfing or swallowing. In such scenarios, the subject will not be able to speak, except ask for help with signs or waving,” says Dr Jagadeesh Kumar V.

Importance of chewing properly

“Prevention is better than cure. It is necessary to teach children how to chew properly and swallow. Anything solid shouldn’t be swallowed without chewing thoroughly. Choking is preventable most of the times. Treatment with Heimlich maneuver comes into picture as a rescue exercise,” adds Dr Jagadeesh.

How to help a choking person

Dr. Sujeeth Kumar, senior laparoscopic and robotic surgeon at Apollo Hospitals says:

If a choking person can cough forcefully, let the person keep coughing. Stand on the side and just behind a choking adult. For a child, kneel down behind.

Place your arm across the person’s chest to support the person’s body. Bend the person over at the waist to face the ground. Strike five separate times between the person’s shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

If back blows don’t remove the stuck object, give five abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver.

For giving abdominal thrusts, stand behind the person,wrap your arms around the waist. Bend the person forward slightly. Make a fist with one hand. Put it just above the person’s navel.Grasp the fist with the other hand. Press into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust — as if trying to lift the person up. This should clear the blockage.

In the early 1970s, Henry J. Heimlich, MD, developed a first aid technique for choking, known as the Heimlich maneuver.

The first of June is National Heimlich Manoeuvre Day, a day to celebrate Henry Heimlich's namesake method for treating choking casualties.