Acute respiratory foreign body blockage is very common in daily life and can be divided into partial blockage and complete blockage. Partial blockage may be caused by food, foreign objects, phlegm, blood clots, etc. accidentally entering the respiratory tract. Although there is some gas circulation in partial blockage, it may still develop into complete blockage. Complete blockage will completely interrupt the patient's oxygen supply and severely impede their breathing. If effective emergency treatment measures cannot be taken, the patient will quickly lose their life and die unexpectedly. Especially for infants, young children, and elderly people with swallowing problems, it is more common. Therefore, whether it is partial or complete blockage, patients are at a certain risk of life, and emergency rescue measures must be taken immediately to eliminate foreign objects in the respiratory tract. The Heimlich emergency method is the most effective self rescue method for acute respiratory foreign body blockage in the world today. This method was invented by American doctor Mr. Heimlich in 1974, also known as the Heimlich maneuver. The Heimlich emergency method has saved countless patients and is affectionately known as the "Embrace of Life".
The usage scenario of Heimlich emergency method
Heimlich emergency method is not universally available, and reasonable judgment should be made based on the patient's situation. In a certain scenario, the first step is to correctly identify the patient's symptom type, consider whether it is acute respiratory foreign body blockage, and then implement targeted Heimlich emergency treatment after determining that it is an acute respiratory foreign body blockage patient.
When the patient is able to cough vigorously, but there are some wheezing sounds when the cough stops, and the patient also feels a certain amount of foreign body obstruction, it is judged that it may be partial obstruction. At this time, Heimlich's emergency method can be implemented. When a patient is unable to speak and cough, shows severe facial pain, and makes a "V" gesture by pinching their neck with their hand, this is a typical symptom of suffocation pain. It can be determined that the patient has completely blocked the respiratory tract with a foreign body, and the Heimlich maneuver should be immediately performed. If a patient experiences difficulty breathing due to accidentally inhaling food while eating, the Heimlich emergency method should be immediately implemented. If a comatose patient is unable to receive effective ventilation even after opening their airway, and the patient's complexion, lips are blue and purple, and there are signs of loss of consciousness, it can also be determined that there is a foreign body obstruction in the respiratory tract. The Heimlich emergency method should be used immediately for first aid.
The specific operation of Heimlich's first aid method
The rescuer should first stand behind the patient, pay attention to the posture of using the front leg bow and the back leg to stand steadily, place their arched front leg between the patient's legs, and lean the patient against the front leg, keeping both the patient and the rescuer leaning forward. Then, the rescuer embraces the patient's abdomen, holds a fist with one hand, and places the thumb on the patient's abdomen (about 2CM below the xiphoid process and above the navel); Grasp the hand that has just clenched the fist with the other hand and quickly and impactfully press the abdomen towards the upper and inner parts of the patient, repeatedly until all foreign objects are completely removed.
For infants using the Heimlich maneuver, the first step is to hold the baby's head with one hand so that both the head and face are facing downwards, while using the base of the other palm to continuously tap 5 times at the midpoint of the scapula line. Next, flip the baby over with its face facing upwards, maintaining a low head and high feet posture, and observe for any foreign objects flowing out; After ensuring that there are no foreign objects, press 5 times on the midpoint of the line connecting the baby's two nipples. Repeat the above two steps until the impurities are removed.
Attention should be paid to the use of Heimlich's first aid method for the elderly population. Due to the poor elasticity and flexibility of the chest and abdominal tissues in the elderly population, it is easy to cause internal organ rupture, tearing, bleeding, rib fractures and other injuries. Therefore, when respiratory obstruction occurs, other methods should be used to remove foreign objects. If other methods do not work and the patient's condition is critical, this method can be used. If the patient can still stand, the rescuer can stand behind the patient, wrap their hands around their waist from under their armpits, and hold the patient in a forward position from behind. Make a fist with one hand and place it between the patient's chest and ribs. Hold the fist tightly with the other hand and use both hands to quickly press inward and upward on the patient's upper abdomen. Pay attention to the strength and repeat the process, using the rapid thrust generated by the diaphragm to expel the blockage. If the patient is already unconscious, let the patient lie flat with their neck straight, then kneel on both sides of their hips, cross their hands, place the base of their palms on their abdomen (above the navel), and quickly push forward with force. With the help of the pressure inside the abdomen, quickly increase the air pressure in the respiratory tract and flush out the blocked food through the airflow. Open the old man's chin again, and if any foreign objects have been expelled, they should be immediately removed and cleared.
For patients with obesity and acute respiratory foreign body blockage in late pregnancy, the rescuer's original posture remains unchanged, only changing to place the tiger mouth of the left hand against the lower end of the patient's sternum, being careful not to deviate from the sternum to avoid rib fractures. For patients with unclear consciousness, the rescuer can first place the patient in a supine position, then ride on the patient's thigh, or place the palms of both hands on both sides of the patient, overlapping them above the patient's navel, and suddenly apply pressure to the base of the palms forward and downward, repeating the process. If the patient has experienced cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed according to the routine steps until medical personnel arrive.
Precautions for Heimlich Emergency Method
Although Heimlich method is a simple and effective first aid method, it is also important to pay attention to some situations and avoid unexpected situations to the greatest extent possible.
If the patient can cough up foreign objects spontaneously, it is best not to undergo Heimlich emergency treatment. For some special populations, such as infants, pregnant women, obese individuals, etc., corresponding first aid measures need to be taken.
If there is improper operation by the rescuer, such as excessive force or inaccurate positioning, or if the patient has certain diseases or osteoporosis in the elderly, it may lead to unexpected situations such as fractures and organ ruptures. Therefore, before using the Heimlich first aid method, it is important to ensure proficiency in the operation, mastery of the essentials of the movements, and reasonable control of one's strength for different groups of people.
After the patient is out of danger, they should not be careless. They should pay attention to a light diet in daily life and avoid eating spicy and stimulating foods; Chew thoroughly and avoid consuming large chunks of food.