How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver on an Unconscious Adult

If a person begins to choke and his or her airway becomes blocked, the Heimlich maneuver can save the victim's life, even if he or she is unconscious.

Things You'll Need

• First Aid Books
• Telephones
• First Aid Kits
• First Aid Classes

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Instructions

• 1

  Shout very loudly so that someone can hear you. Ask whomever comes to help to dial 911.

• 2

  Lay the choking victim prone, with his or her back against the floor. Straddle the choking victim's body directly above the knees.

• 3

  Place the heel of one hand on top of your other hand. Intertwine the fingers of your top hand with the fingers of your bottom hand.

• 4

  Keep your bottom hand (the one pressing against the victim) open, palm-side against the victim.

• 5

  Position your hands in the middle of the victim's torso, between the belly button and breastbone.

• 6

  Administer a series of five firm upward thrusts. Do not thrust straight downward or you may cause injury to the aorta.

• 7

  Open the airway by grasping the victim's tongue and lower jaw, and look inside the mouth for any sign of a dislodged foreign body. See something? Use your index finger to sweep it out.

• 8

  Listen for breathing. Watch for the chest to rise and fall. Look carefully, as the victim's breaths may be shallow.

• 9

  Pinch the nostrils closed and place your mouth over the victim's mouth.

• 10

  Breathe into the mouth and watch to see if chest rises and falls. If it doesn't, the airway is still blocked.

• 11

  Repeat the abdominal thrusts if you can't hear breathing or see chest movement.