Why YSK:
Despite choking being an emergency, until recently there has been limited high-quality evidence to guide bystanders on the most effective way to help. Techniques like abdominal thrusts (formerly known as the Heimlich maneuver), back blows and chest compressions or thrusts have existed since the mid-1900s but, until recently, recommendations were largely based on case reports rather than rigorous scientific data. This evidence gap is dangerous.
Bystander response is the primary driver of a choking person’s outcome, so ensuring people know the safest and most effective way to care for a choking person can save lives.
Please see the article for the full piece, it’s not long.
Article authors:
- Cody Dunne - Emergency Medicine Physician and PhD Candidate, University of Calgary
- Andrew McRae - Associate Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary
- Khara Sauro - Associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary
If you need more motivation to open the article, here is an interesting fact:
New research suggests back blows cleared choking obstructions in 72 per cent of cases, superior to both abdominal thrusts (59 per cent) and chest thrusts (27 per cent).
the extra information is pretty important too… afaik most remediation for choking should be avoided early on because it’s actually fairly likely the person can clear the obstruction themselves, but if you time a thrust with their breath it can be very bad, and actually cause them to suck the object further in when they gasp for air
not a doctor or anyone with medical training, but i heard it at some point and it kinda makes sense
I agree with your callout on specific info. Disagree with the sentiment because the article is long and I missed that info in the first pass because most of the article talks about the research (and doesn’t seem to link accurately). I’ll add the preceding paragraph that you mentioned. Thanks