Learn how to do the Heimlich manoeuvre

People choke when a piece of food or another foreign object becomes lodged in the upper airway and blocks the flow of air.

Most adults who choke do so on a piece of food that has not been chewed enough or which has been cut into pieces that are too big to swallow, while children and babies, generally choke on things they put in their mouths.

The airway may be completely or partly obstructed, but in both cases this is an emergency that requires immediate action.

What to do when someone is choking

• If the airway is partly obstructed, the person will still be able to breathe, cry and cough. This is a less serious situation, when the person can cough to free the airway and expel the object or food.

Keep coughing to move the blockage up, learning forward so that it does not go back down and obstruct the airway completely.

You can also try to get the object out with your fingers.

Once the obstruction is out, the victim should try to slow down her breathing. Once she has calmed down, she should have a drink of water.

• If the trachea is completely obstructed, you need to act quickly and take immediate, decisive action, because if she is choking she cannot shout, cry, cough or even breathe.

In this case, do the Heimlich manoeuvre:

1. Reassure the victim so she will allow you to help her.
2. Position yourself behind her and, if you can, get her to stand up.
3. Wrap your arms around her at the bottom of the diaphragm. Place your fist just above her bellybutton and grasp it with the other hand.
4. Pull back and up firmly with quick, strong and upward movements. Repeat as many times as necessary to dislodge the obstruction and once it is out, check that the person is breathing again.

If she is pregnant or very overweight, position your hands higher, over the breastbone, and press inwards rather than upwards.

In the case of a baby, hold her face down over your forearm or thigh. Put your fingers in her mouth in case you can reach the object obstructing the trachea. Use the heel of one hand to give up to five back slaps between the baby’s shoulder blades while compressing her chest with the other hand. As well as coughing up the object, the baby is also likely to vomit some of her stomach contents.

In any risky situation, call the emergency services. If things turn out well, you won’t need their help, but if the manoeuvre doesn’t work, calling them may save a life.

This post is also available in: Spanish