Get on your knees. The situation is desperate: you can no longer breathe, you must act quickly.
Position yourself in a push-up position, with your hands (or fists) on the ground. Raymond explains that he is supporting himself on his fists due to an old boxing injury in his right hand.
Then let your arms swing completely forward, towards the top of your body, so that they are completely removed from under you.
You then let yourself fall, landing on your chest and stomach.
The sound produced by the expulsion of air during the demonstration is revealing: the amount of air propelled upwards is clearly audible. According to Raymond, this force is sufficient to dislodge almost any foreign object from a person whose airways are obstructed.
He adds two honest reservations: this technique is probably not suitable for a pregnant woman, and no method is 100% effective. But in his opinion, it’s far better than what we’ve been taught so far for this specific situation. A video that could very well save your life.
What if someone else is choking?
A foreign object lodged at the back of the throat can block the airway or cause a muscle spasm. Young children are particularly at risk: they choke on food, but also on small objects they put in their mouths.ENT
Two situations stand out:
Minor obstruction : the victim is still able to speak, cry, cough, or breathe. They should be able to clear the obstruction themselves.
Severe obstruction : the victim is unable to speak, cry, cough, or breathe. Without help, they will eventually lose consciousness.
Adult or child
The objective is twofold: to remove the obstruction and, if necessary, to arrange urgent transport to the hospital.
If the obstruction is slight:
Encourage the person to continue coughing.
Remove any visible foreign objects from the mouth.
If the obstruction is severe:
Give up to five slaps between the shoulder blades.
Check the mouth and remove any visible foreign objects.
If the blockage persists:
Perform up to five abdominal compressions.
Check the mouth again and remove any visible foreign objects.
If nothing happens after three full cycles of back blows and abdominal compressions, immediately call emergency services (15 or 112 in France, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) and continue the maneuvers until help arrives.Health
Here again, the goal is to clear the airway and arrange urgent transport to the hospital if necessary. If the baby is in distress, unable to cry, cough, or breathe:Emergency services
Lay him face down against your forearm, head downwards, supporting his back and head well.
Give up to five slaps on the back with the heel of your hand.
Check its mouth and remove any visible foreign objects.
Never perform blind sweeping with your finger in your mouth.
If the obstruction is still present:
Turn the infant onto their back and perform up to five chest compressions.
Using two fingers, push inwards and upwards (towards the head), on the sternum, one finger’s width below the nipple line.
The goal is to clear the passage as soon as possible, without necessarily going as far as five compressions.
Check your mouth after each set.
If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest compressions, call an ambulance and continue until help arrives.
