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Abdominal thrusts

Choking - Heimlich maneuver

Choking is when someone is having a very hard time breathing because food, a toy, or other object is blocking the throat or windpipe (airway).

A choking person's airway may be blocked so that not enough oxygen reaches the lungs. Without oxygen, brain damage can occur in as little as 4 to 6 minutes. Rapid first aid for choking can save a person's life.

Abdominal thrusts is an emergency technique to help clear someone's airway.

  • The procedure is done on someone who is choking and also conscious.
  • Most experts do not recommend abdominal thrusts for infants less than 1 year old.
  • You can also perform the maneuver on yourself.

First Aid

First ask, "Are you choking? Can you speak?" DO NOT perform first aid if the person is coughing forcefully and is able to speak. A strong cough can often dislodge the object.

If the person is choking, perform abdominal thrusts as follows:

  1. If the person is sitting or standing, position yourself behind the person and reach your arms around their waist. For a child, you may have to kneel.
  2. Place your fist, thumb side in, just above the person's navel (belly button).
  3. Grasp the fist tightly with your other hand.
  4. Make quick, upward and inward thrusts with your fist.
  5. If the person is lying on their back, straddle the person facing the head. Push your grasped fist upward and inward in a movement similar to the one above.

You may need to repeat the procedure several times before the object is dislodged. If repeated attempts do not free the airway, call 911 or the local emergency number.

If the person loses consciousness, start CPR.

If you are not comfortable performing abdominal thrusts, you can perform back blows instead on a person who is choking.

Open References

References

American Red Cross. First Aid/CPR/AED Participant's Manual. 2nd ed. Dallas, TX: American Red Cross; 2016. www.pdfdrive.com/american-red-cross-first-aidcpraed-d128296673.html. Accessed February 20, 2023.

Goodloe JM, Soulek J. Foreign bodies. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 51.

Kleinman ME, Goldberger ZD, Rea T, et al. 2017 American Heart Association focused update on adult basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality: an update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. Circulation. 2018;137(1):e7-e13. PMID: 29114008 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29114008/.

  • Heimlich maneuver on adult

    Heimlich maneuver on adult - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on adult

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on infant

    Heimlich maneuver on infant - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on infant

    illustration

  • Choking

    Choking - illustration

    Choking is the hindrance of breathing due to an obstruction of the throat or windpipe. The Heimlich maneuver should be conducted to try to dislodge the object.

    Choking

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on an adult

    Heimlich maneuver on an adult - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on an adult

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on infant

    Heimlich maneuver on infant - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on infant

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on infant

    Heimlich maneuver on infant - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on infant

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on adult

    Heimlich maneuver on adult - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on adult

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on infant

    Heimlich maneuver on infant - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on infant

    illustration

  • Choking

    Choking - illustration

    Choking is the hindrance of breathing due to an obstruction of the throat or windpipe. The Heimlich maneuver should be conducted to try to dislodge the object.

    Choking

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on an adult

    Heimlich maneuver on an adult - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on an adult

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on conscious child

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on infant

    Heimlich maneuver on infant - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on infant

    illustration

  • Heimlich maneuver on infant

    Heimlich maneuver on infant - illustration

    Choking is fairly common. Choking deaths occur most commonly in children less than 3 years old and in senior citizens, but can occur at any age. The Heimlich maneuver has been valuable in saving lives and can be administered by anyone who has learned the technique.

    Heimlich maneuver on infant

    illustration

 

Review Date: 1/2/2023

Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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