Emergency Management for Airway Obstruction by Foreign Material

Abstract

The Heimlich maneuver (1) has received wide attention in the news media as a technique recommended for relieving choking from airway obstruction by a piece of meat or other foreign material. The author described his maneuver as an abdominal thrust: “Position yourself behind the victim and encircle his waist with your arms. Place the thumb side of your fist against the victim’s abdomen just above the navel and below the rib cage. Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into the victim’s abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat if necessary”