Heimlich's reception is an emergency method that is used to remove foreign objects that have fallen into the respiratory tract. This technique is used in those cases when as a result of getting into the respiratory passage of such objects a person stops breathing. With obstruction of the airways, oxygen starvation from a foreign object can lead to brain damage that will be irreversible, or death will occur within 4 minutes, sometimes even less. The life of a victim of suffocation can save Heimlich’s technique.
In what cases is the technique used
This method is not performed on children under the age of 1 year.
Indications for taking Heimlich:
- lack of ability to speak or cough;
- complexion blue or purple due to lack of oxygen;
- the cough is weak, and breathing is difficult;
- everything described above plus subsequent loss of consciousness.
Statistics
A huge number of people every year, including also infants and older children, end up in the emergency room with strangulation incidents. Children aged 4 years and younger make up 80% of their number. Death due to airway obstruction and related injuries are most common among 4-year-old children. This is due to their anatomy, natural curiosity, a tendency to stick all kinds of foreign objects into their mouths, and the fact that they have not yet developed survival skills.
Choking in younger children usually occurs due to their inhalation of small objects, such as toys, parts from them, coins, which they always try to tighten in their mouths.
How Heimlich's Technique Appeared
In 1974, Henry Heimlich first described the technique of pushing a foreign body that blocks the trachea. The method is quite simple, it can be performed by any trained person. In courses on training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, the standard part is Heimlich's reception.
The theory of the technique for performing the reception is based on the fact that when the abdomen is compressed below the diaphragm and fast abdominal tremors are performed, an artificial cough is involuntarily obtained. The air expelled from the lungs knocks an obstruction from the trachea into the mouth.
Admission Heimlich can be applied to any person, however, when applying the admission to infants, obese people and pregnant women, there are certain points.
Interesting fact
Henry Heimlich for his whole life had only once to apply his technique in practice. Of course, he showed it on mannequins quite often, also on volunteers when the demonstration took place. However, the chance to save the life of a man who was suffocating fell to him only in 2016. He had dinner at a restaurant and noticed that a woman of his age began to choke. Without a second's doubt, he ran up to her and performed his reception, and then sat down and finished dinner as if nothing had happened. The old woman who was saved this way became a local celebrity.
How is Heimlich's reception performed. Execution algorithm
To perform the reception, it is necessary to bypass the victim from behind, while he can both sit and stand. The person who provides assistance should place a hand clenched in a fist on one side and place it in a place above the waist and below the chest, with the thumb to the victim. Next, the waist is grasped with the other hand, it is placed on top of the fist. The person who performs the reception makes a series of quick shocks (five) inwards and upwards. If the object does not begin to move, the tremors must be repeated until the foreign body is pushed out. Since the victim will gradually lose oxygen, the tracheal muscles will relax, and it is likely that the foreign object will be able to be pushed out the second or third time.
Actions in case of loss of consciousness to victims
When the victim is in an unconscious state, the person who provides first aid must lay the victim on the floor, lower his chin, and making sure that the tongue does not block his airways, place his hands between the stomach in the navel and the lower part of the victim’s chest bone, after This can begin to produce 5 quick taps inwards and upwards. After the tremors, the rescuer lifts the victim’s chin, moves his tongue and, with probing movements, removes the foreign object from his mouth, if possible. If it is not possible to clear the airways, you should re-do a series of abdominal tremors as many times as necessary.
If you still managed to remove the foreign object, but the victim still does not breathe, artificial respiration should be performed.
Reception Heimlich for a certain category of persons
The technique for children who are older than one year is the same as for adults, the exception is that the force used should be several times less so as not to damage the ribs, sternum and internal organs of the child.
When performing Heimlich’s reception for stout people, the main difference is where the fists will be placed. In this case, the emphasis is on the chest, and abdominal tremors are not used. The location of the fists in this case is opposite the middle of the sternum, and the direction of the shocks is not up, but down.
When the victim is unconscious, chest blows will resemble the technique used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The peculiarity of the Heimlich administration in pregnant women is the same principle as when administering in obese people.
Performing Admission in Infants
As previously described, this technique is not performed on children under one year of age. Instead, use back kicks and pushes to the chest. A person who provides first aid to a baby, sits down, puts the child face down on his hip, while he should support the child with one hand, and with the other make quick strokes (five times) on the back of the baby, between the shoulder blades. When the strikes are completed, the child is turned face up. Then, with the index or middle finger located in the center of the sternum, they make a series of quick strokes and continue to do this until the child’s trachea is released from the foreign body. If a child loses consciousness, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should immediately begin.
In order to avoid dire consequences, the parents of the child should be trained to receive Heimlich.