I always find it very gratifying to stumble on something that I have never sought to find out the how or why, but found it by chance unexpectedly. Not until today did I find out the technic that could save someone from choking. Of course I have known the manoeuvre, but not the denomination 'Heimlich' technic or movement.
Henry Heimlich created it, honoured with his name, in 1974 (I didn't know about this date either). It's about a series of abdominal pressure to retract an object that's causing a person to choke with serious danger for his life. Such situation generally arises when food gets stuck in the throat, or when young children accidentally swallow an object which is lodged in the throat.
The technique, however, had received serious criticism, for causing severe bruises, including provoking fractures when it's done with too much force, which is usually difficult to judge or to be exact. The U.S. Red Cross recommended to first try retrieving the object by finger, and in case this fails, slap a few times on the upper part of the sufferer's back. Only as final resort the technique of 'Heimlich'.
Good to know. But worrying for me as I know for sure that I would not be able to do any of that - physically impossible, even emotionally - I would likely faint first!
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