Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Preparing for the Heimlich Trick
• Part 2 of 2: Performing the Heimlich trick on yourself

Choking occurs when a foreign body (such as food) gets stuck in a person's trachea, thereby blocking normal breathing. Choking in just a few minutes can lead to brain damage or death. The Heimlich trick is the most common method of helping a choking person. If there is no one around to help you, save yourself. By following simple instructions, you will learn how to perform the Heimlich trick on yourself.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Preparing for the Heimlich Trick

1. 1 Try to cough up the foreign body. If you think you have something stuck in your throat, try to cough it up. If you manage to cough hard enough to remove the foreign body, then the need to use the Heimlich trick will disappear immediately. However, if you are unable to push the foreign body out with a cough and you are experiencing real suffocation, you need to act quickly.
   • You need to have time to remove the foreign body before you lose consciousness.
   • Continue coughing while doing the Heimlich trick.
2. 2 Make a fist. To prepare for the Heimlich trick on yourself, you first need to position your arms correctly. Make a fist in your dominant hand. Place your fist on your stomach just above your belly button but below your ribs.
   • Your hand should be in the most suitable place to push the foreign body out, which will reduce the risk of accidentally injuring your ribs.
   • This fist position is identical to the traditional Heimlich technique.
3. 3 Hold your fist with your other hand. With your fist in the right place, use your other hand as a lever. Open the palm of your other hand and wrap it around your fist on your stomach. Make sure your fist is in the center of your hand.
   • This position of the hands will allow you to press harder when performing the Heimlich technique.

Part 2 of 2: Performing the Heimlich trick on yourself

1. 1 Swipe in and up with your fist. To get the foreign object out, you need to press your fist and hand into the diaphragm or stomach. Use a quick J-shaped movement inward and then upward. Repeat this movement several times.
   • This method should solve the problem very quickly. If not, try adding more strength with a stable object.
2. 2 Add more strength with a stable object. Find a stable object in the immediate vicinity that is about your waist height that you can lean over. A chair, table or counter is suitable for this purpose. With your arms still in front of you, bend over a chair, table, counter, or other solid object. Keep a fist between the chair and stomach and press firmly against the supporting object.
   • This will significantly increase the force applied to the diaphragm to push out tightly trapped foreign bodies.
3. 3 Try again. You may not be able to dislodge the foreign body on the first try. Press down on the stable object again until the body is removed. After that, breathing should return to normal.
   • Despite the horror of the situation, try to remain calm. Panic will only speed up your heartbeat and the need for air, making the situation worse.
   • Once the foreign body has been removed, sit down and breathe.
   • If your throat is bothering you or it just hurts, make an appointment with your doctor.
   • If you are unable to push the foreign body out, call an ambulance immediately.