Performing Back Blows to Help Someone Who is Choking
When you find yourself in a situation where someone is choking, it is crucial to act quickly and effectively. One of the initial steps you can take to assist them is by performing back blows. This technique aims to dislodge the obstruction and allow the person to breathe again.
To begin, position yourself behind the individual and make sure they are leaning slightly forward. This posture helps the object move upward when you apply force. Then, using the heel of your hand, which is the area between your palm and wrist, firmly strike between the person’s shoulder blades.
Repeat this action up to five times, being careful not to strike too forcefully. The goal is to create enough pressure to dislodge the blockage without causing harm. After delivering the back blows, assess the situation. If the person is still unable to breathe, proceed to perform abdominal thrusts, which are the next step in assisting a choking individual.
Performing Abdominal Thrusts
Abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver, were initially developed in 1974. Despite the controversy surrounding potential bruising and injury, this technique has been proven to save lives. To execute the maneuver, the rescuer should position their fist below the choking individual’s diaphragm, specifically at the base of their ribcage. Coming from behind, the rescuer should straddle the person and slightly bend them forward before applying an upward thrust with the fist. This action can be repeated intermittently until the blockage is dislodged or combined with repeated back blows.