June 1st is National Heimlich Maneuver Day
June is National Safety Month and what better way to begin than with this life-saving technique?
As we embrace the summer season with its picnics, grill-outs, and food truck dining, it’s crucial to remember the practicality of the Heimlich maneuver in potentially life-threatening situations.
A little history about the maneuver: It was invented right here in Cincinnati in 1974 by Dr. Henry Heimlich. He discovered that the remaining air in a person’s lungs could be used to dislodge a foreign object from their esophagus using quick upward thrusts under their rib cage. His maneuver didn’t catch on immediately with the medical community. The back slap method remained the go-to as the most popular first-aid choking treatment for another ten years. Eventually, the Heimlich maneuver caught on for use in conscious adults. Healthcare providers still recommend backslaps for infants, and they recommend CPR for unconscious adults and infants.
The following is a link to the Mayo Clinic’s site providing details of the maneuver. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637
As someone who values the safety of our loved ones, I encourage you all to refresh your knowledge of this life-saving technique. Let’s take a moment to familiarize ourselves with it now, as it could be the difference between life and death in an emergency. Even for ourselves.
I hope you all have a safe and fun summer.
Very best regards,
David