Julia Altshuler said...

> sf wrote:
>>
>> You need the Heimlich if you *can't* do something like swallow or
>> breathe. It happened to me once. I had something stuck in my throat,
>> I could breathe in, but couldn't exhale. It was scary, but I lived to
>> tell the tale.
>
>
> Thanks. I was going to elaborate. This is one of those situations
> where a little knowledge can be dangerous. People get the idea that
> giving the Heimlich maneuvre is as simple as punching someone in the
> stomach. Knowing when it's appropriate is at least as important as
> doing it right.
>
>
> If a person is coughing, they don't need the Heimlich. That means air
> is going out. If air is going out, air is going in. The person is
> breathing. They need time and space, the chance to cough, maybe water,
> but they should be fine. Stay near in case they do need emergency care,
> but that's it.
>
>
> The Heimlich is based on an obstruction in the throat. The idea is to
> punch the air which is in the lungs anyway out with enough force to
> remove the obstruction. Someone with a full obstruction can't breathe,
> can't talk. They'll usually look distressed and motion to their throat.
> That's when you calmly walk behind them, put your arms around, find
> the place where the ribs join, and make the quick jab upward movement.
>
>
> Another example of the little knowledge problem is when people get the
> idea to deliver mouth-to-mouth. If there's an obstruction, air isn't
> going in or out. Trying to blow air in runs the risk of pushing the
> obstruction down further. Bad idea.
>
>
> --Lia


Lia,

I took a two-day CPR class at the local hospital and they in addition
taught us the Heimlich maneuver. That was many years ago. I should retake
the class and get my "Good Samaritan" card back. Iirc, you have to retake
the class annually.

Andy