Why YSK:
Despite choking being an emergency, until recently there has been limited high-quality evidence to guide bystanders on the most effective way to help. Techniques like abdominal thrusts (formerly known as the Heimlich maneuver), back blows and chest compressions or thrusts have existed since the mid-1900s but, until recently, recommendations were largely based on case reports rather than rigorous scientific data. This evidence gap is dangerous.
Bystander response is the primary driver of a choking person’s outcome, so ensuring people know the safest and most effective way to care for a choking person can save lives.
Please see the article for the full piece, it’s not long.
Article authors:
- Cody Dunne - Emergency Medicine Physician and PhD Candidate, University of Calgary
- Andrew McRae - Associate Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary
- Khara Sauro - Associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary
If you need more motivation to open the article, here is an interesting fact:
New research suggests back blows cleared choking obstructions in 72 per cent of cases, superior to both abdominal thrusts (59 per cent) and chest thrusts (27 per cent).
I had a surreal experience once. I was at a busy, casual restaurant at a booth, sitting across from my wife. There was a lady eating alone at a booth a little way behind my wife, and I noticed she looked kind of distressed - looking around like she was trying to catch a waiter - but she seemed to be getting more panicked looking and her face didn’t look right. I got up and went over and said “Are you chocking?” and she looked at me with big eyes and nodded. I asked if she wanted me to try and help and she said yes and stood up. I never learned how to do the Heimlich except from TV shows, but seemed worth a try, so I did what I remembered, and she coughed up a piece of chicken. She looked really embarrassed and said “Thank you.” I said I was glad to help and went back to my seat. No one in the place noticed a thing except for my wife.
holy shit! pretty calm, glad it was chill, but you totally saved their life!!
Funny, when I sat back down, my wife just calmly said, “Did you just save that woman’s life?” It was weird, we just went back to eating and never really talked about it again except when someone would mention the Heimlich and my wife would tell the story.
That was too awkwardly casual of everyone. I would’ve at least given you a high five!
We’re such weird creatures. That woman was choking to death and she was too shy to ask for help and too embarrassed after to say much of anything.
The more eyes the better and this seems to be the recommendation:
If an adult or child can still cough, cry or speak clearly, then they are still able to clear the obstruction themselves. Get them to lean forward while encouraging them to cough forcefully.
If the person goes quiet, cannot speak or cry, or can only weakly cough, you want to start with five strong back blows first. With the person bent forward at their hips, deliver firm glancing blows between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand up to five times.
If the obstruction does not clear, switch to abdominal thrusts. Continue alternating five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is cleared or the person becomes unconscious.
I’m still looking for what to do if I’m alone and something happens.
The article also uses the text “In the updated guidelines, our Canadian study was cited to inform this critical change, and was the only study directly comparing different choking techniques.” to link here:
https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines/adult-basic-life-support
But I see no mention of any of these directions there. If someone does, let me know where I’m scanning over.
Edit: Failing at adding an underline to signal the actual link while having the URL readable.
Edit: Added the preceding “then they are still able to clear the obstruction themselves” paragraph that I’d mostly scanned over when reading the article
I’m still looking for what to do if I’m alone and something happens.
thankfully all i do is blow backs. everytime i see someone i make sure to blow their back. im just back blowing nonstop. i saw your mother at the market last week and blew her back.
Not all heroes wear capes!
I’m just over here saving my wife’s life on the regular.
