I was at a restaurant last night when we noticed a commotion two tables away. Upon closer examination we could see a man doing the Heimlich Maneuver on a limp woman. It was really frightening and seemed to go on for several minutes. Finally I saw him stop and actually thought he might have given up, but it turned out that he finally dislodged the food and saved the woman’s life. It was amazing and all the surrounding customers broke into applause.
Hooray! I teach this to my fifth graders but they will probably be too young to actually use it. Every adult needs to know this simple life-saving maneuver. Add on the new hands-only CPR and we can save lots of people.
Happened to us - a couple next to us was having a romantic dinner (it surely looked like the guy was ready to propose), and the guy began choking. I do not think I would have been able to help this tall 300-lb guy! The waiter who rushed to help and saved him looked like a pro football player. The ambulance was called just in case. The restaurant took care of the check… Some in our party decided that they were not hungry.
Wow BB, that must have been wild.
Years ago when my son was 8 or 9 there was a popular show called Rescue 911 on TV. He wanted to be an EMT so we would watch it together. Often something like the Heimlich Maneuver was featured, along with how to tell if a person was choking, such as asking if the person can breathe at all. One day I had the entire family over for a BBQ and my son came up to me indicating that he was choking. I asked if he could get any air at all and he could, but I did the Heimlich and dislodged the piece of steak.
My mother, who worked in a hospital and was trained, froze, my father, who was a pharmacist and had had first aid training, froze. My BIL who worked security and had training froze. My sister who worked with little kids and had training, froze. I did what I’d learned on TV. I was completely calm until after it was over. I guess my point is that it’s very easy to learn, but you have to REACT. I’ve heard stories of little kids saving grown adults. They’re too young to freeze up, I guess.
Maybe one reason you didn’t feeeze is because it was YOUR kid. Nothing like one of our little biological investments being in danger to make us laser focused!
The thing is that when you’re choking badly and can’t breathe, you also can’t talk. My mom flipped me upside down when she figured out I was choking on a piece of meat while the rest of the family thought my behavior was odd and funny (didn’t realize I was choking). Fortunately, gravity got the lodged piece of meat out and I was able to breathe again, but it was VERY scary!
I tend to remain very calm in emergencies and then get shaky AFTER the crisis has passed. I was the same way with exams. I think it served me better not to get nervous until after things have resolved.
It happened to us as well about 7-8 years ago. Older couple sitting next to us, my back was to them. Heard the wife start calling the husband’s name. Restaurant staff was pretty clueless (this is a well known place but out in the boonies) and almost seemed to want to downplay and not create a scene as far as other guests were concerned. One guy finally attempted Heimlich but it wasn’t working and the customer was very stout and old making it challenging. I was ticked off by the slow response of clueless staff and went asking the main dining room (we were in a smaller room) full of customers if anyone was a medical professional. Unfortunately, no one stepped up. I spent the next 10 minutes comforting the wife while the husband turned blue and waiting for the ambulance to arrive. My H and I took the wife and followed the ambulance in our car, talked to the doctors with her, helped her contact family and stayed with her until her family could arrive 2 hours later. It turns out that he was in a coma on life support with minimal brain function and he died later that week after being removed from life support. It was dramatic but I was glad we were there to comfort his wife through the process as she was, understandably, beside herself. It wasn’t the restaurant staff’s fault that it happened but I was very disappointed by their response. I expected more training from a place of that caliber.
I learned it decades ago. Thank goodness, I’ve never had the need to use it.
I have had a few close calls where I almost needed it done on me. Several years of reflux disease left me with a narrowed esophagus (all of which has since been treated). So there were some choking episodes. I started taking omeprazole, and a while later discovered I had sleep apnea; these things really do go together.
So the choking is gone. But I still take twice as long to eat dinner because I still take smaller bites and chew more thoroughly than everyone else. Choking is very frightening.
ETA
OMG doschicos that sounds awful! How kind of you to take such an interest.
Every time we had CPR training as scout leaders, they also trained is on that. If you are alone, you can try to use the back of a chair (lean sharply forward on it) to save yourself.
This technique was developed to save yourself if you are alone and choking. Try it-- you’ll be surprised how much air you expel.
I was an RN in the ER/CCU/ICU for years and never used the Heimlich. One day I was home with my 5-6 year old placing some items in her closet while she sat in a chair in her room reading a book. The most horrific yet quiet sound came from her and I realized she was choking on a piece of candy. It took three thrusts and I was about to absolutely lose it. It felt like it took an hour.
Everyone should know it but also be very much aware that choking is absolutely silent.
I’m directly aware of a situation where someone got up and left a restaurant table and later was found dead in the bathroom. The conjecture is that the diner was choking, but didn’t want to disturb the table.
The lesson here is that if you think you are choking and want to leave the table, make sure you tap someone competent on the shoulder and get them to come with you. It may be more serious that you assume.
I almost died at the family dinner table 2 years ago. I really really thought I was going to die. At first H thought I was joking. When he realized I was choking and couldn’t breathe, he panicked and would not do anything. Finally, my 16 year old daughter rushed around and did Heimlich. It was the most scared I’ve ever been–both the choking and the absolute lack of response on the part of H.
The next day I called the orthodontist and scheduled an appointment. I had been choking more and more–extremely narrow, high arched palate and narrowing of the airways. I’ve had palate expanders (again, sigh-had them 3x as a teenager) and choking is much better.
It took me months to get brave enough to eat steak again.
Wow scary! Which is better to self Heilich Maneuver; falling on the back of a chair or on the floor as shown in the video from post #10?
I’ve learned it for BLS but never had to do it. Hopefully would get it right if need be.
I also know in theory how to change a tire, but I don’t know if I’d do it correctly in real life.
@dadx …YES!! I can’t remember where or when it was but I remember reading a tragic article about that!
Apparently a BRIDE was at her reception and started choking. She stepped into a side room at the reception venue and since she had slipped out quietly no one noticed she was gone for about 5-10 minutes. They found her dead!!
That has been one of the random “things I need to teach my kid before she goes off to college” factoids I’ve dropped on D in the last year! If you are choking do not go to another room!
I think it might be hard to get enough thrust from falling on the back of the chair. If it’s me, I plan to go for the floor… Also, there may not be a suitable chair around, but the floor is always there.
I too am an RN, never use the heimlich in the work environment.
I did give assistance in a restaurant a few years ago.
I witnessed a person seemingly in distress, folks looking on, no-one offering help.
The woman had left her table and had her hands to her throat-universal choking sign. I asked if she was choking, got the nod and I said I could help.
She was easily 5’8" to my 5’1"; not sure how my brain went there but I knew I couldn’t get the leverage from behind. I went to her side, braced with one leg behind and one in front and placed a sharp uppercut below her diaphragm.
The onlookers were appalled but the food dislodged. It was understanding the mechanics.
^I am trying out both for practice. At the moment falling onto the sofa arm seems to work better. I am not getting enough impact by falling on the floor.