Heading back to school is a great time to remind kids about safety and what to do in the event of an emergency. For instance, what if your child notices a classmate choking? They may want to use the Heimlich Maneuver or blows to the back; they’re two techniques that can save a life.
Heimlich Maneuver for Choking
To do the Heimlich, stand behind a choking victim and wrapping your arms around him or her. Make a fist, place it just above the navel and below the ribs, and then thrust in and upward. It works by forcing air left in the lungs to propel an object out of the windpipe. Sometimes the object shoots across the room.
The Heimlich technique was developed by Dr. Henry Heimlich in 1974. Since its inception, it has saved the lives of thousands of choking victims. (Fun fact: Those include Cher, Justin Timberlake and President Ronald Reagan.) According to the Mayo Clinic, the American Heart Association recommends the Heimlich, or abdominal thrusts.
Back Blows for Choking
The Heimlich isn’t the only response technique for choking, though. The American Red Cross recommends using back blows in response to a choking event. To perform this method on a child, kneel behind the individual and put one arm across their chest for support. Bend the person over at the waist so that the upper body is parallel with the ground. Deliver five separate back blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
Though there’s still some debate over which technique works best, you may want to teach your children about both methods so they know about ways to stay safe and help others in the event of an emergency.
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