RSS
Home
Enough to make you choke!
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Dr. Henry J. Heimlich, M.D.
I have a quiz for you. What is the name of the man who was born in 1920, married Arthur Murray’s daughter, and is the second cousin to the actor Anson Williams (played “Potsie” on Happy Days)? Give up? Here is another clue. He is a physician and developed a maneuver that is credited with saving countless lives every year from choking. Now do you know him? Yep. Henry J Heimlich, M.D. Despite controversy in the 1980’s regarding his suggestion in treating HIV patients with malaria, he has been able to maintain a certain level of respect in the medical community for his work with choking patients. To this day however there is a debate as to whether it was truly Heimlich who came up with the maneuver. In 2003, one of Heimlich's colleagues, Dr. Edward Patrick, stated he was the co-developer of the maneuver. The truth may never be known. In the meantime the medical community struggles with what to call the technique and how to administer it. In addition there is a call to remove it from the training for drowning victims as it is felt that CPR and giving breaths has a better outcome. The “jury” is still out on this one.
Dr. Heimlich first published his findings about the maneuver in 1974. From1976-1985, the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association taught rescuers to first perform a series of back blows to remove any airway obstructions during a chocking incident. If back blows failed, then rescuers were taught to proceed with the Heimlich maneuver aka abdominal thrusts. In 1985 the back blows were removed from choking rescue guidelines. It was felt that it could cause the foreign object to become lodged tighter in the airway. From 1986-2005, the Heimlich maneuver was the only recommended treatment for choking in the published guidelines of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Recently the American Heart Association ceased referring to “the Heimlich maneuver” and instead called the procedure “abdominal thrusts”. In addition the guidelines again indicate that back blows may also be effective, reversing their position from 1986. In the spring of 2006, the American Red Cross also “downgraded” the use of the Heimlich maneuver, returning to the pre 1986 guidelines as well.
I had the opportunity to use this procedure on someone once. It was not in the hospital either. It was at a cafeteria in St. Petersburg (Morrison’s). The good news I was able to save this person’s life. The bad news was that I managed to ruin everyone’s appetite in the vicinity of the event. It was successful but not pretty for sure. In addition, I was able to perform a similar procedure on myself last year during a choking episode at home. It was a very scary thing. It was of course successful (as I am not writing this from the grave). In any event, I think that CPR and the Heimlich should be taught in schools. If drivers education and sex education is taught in school, why not this? I have included the links to where you can find classes locally to learn this on your own. CPR and the Heimlich are usually taught together as well as the use of AED defibrillators. These easy to use defibrillators are found in most malls, sporting events and airports now. Still not convinced you want to learn how to do this? I bet the family of Nancy McGhee wished they had learned. She was the woman who choked to death last spring on a piece of steak. Her boyfriend did not know what to do and the 911 dispatcher was not certified in emergency techniques and could not talk him through it. What a tragedy.
Here are the bare bone basics.
1. Ask the choking person to stand if he or she is sitting.
2. Place yourself slightly behind the standing victim.
3. Reassure the victim that you know the Heimlich abdominal thrust maneuver and are going to help.
4. Place your arms around the victim's waist.
5. Make a fist with one hand and place your thumb toward the victim, just above his or her belly button.
6. Grab your fist with your other hand.
7. Deliver five upward squeeze-thrusts into the abdomen.
8. Make each squeeze-thrust strong enough to dislodge a foreign body.
9. Understand that your thrusts make the diaphragm move air out of the victim's lungs, creating a kind of artificial cough.
10. Keep a firm grip on the victim, since he or she can lose consciousness and fall to the ground if the maneuver is not effective.
11. The new (and most current as of 2008) guidelines indicate that once the victim is unconscious then you abandon the abdominal thrusts and begin CPR.
Red Cross Tampa Bay chapter (877) 741-1444
American Heart Association www.cpr-ecc.americanheart.org
Thanks goes out to my son Dylan for suggesting this topic. Way to go!
Healthy Blessings,
Tracy Lynn
Check out the 90 second YouTube video.
Related Articles:
Comments
