Heimlich family maneuvers

Opinion

October 19, 2007

W. Terry Smith The Daily Southerner Fri Oct 19, 2007, 10:14 AM EDT

Did you notice?

Those American Red Cross "Steps for Choking Emergencies" posters that the Tarboro Golden K Club members have distributed around town to every eatery, nursing home and school cafeteria are ... different.

You will not see any mention of the Heimlich Maneuver on the colorful posters illustrated with photos demonstrating the proper techniques.

You should know that the Red Cross and the American Heart Association have distanced themselves from the famous maneuver developed by Dr. Henry Heimlich of Cincinnati, “the world’s most famous doctor.”

That's news to me because I have seen it work. You see it work, and you do not forget.

We have been doing the wrong thing for the last 20 years?

"In 2005, both organizations returned to the use of back blows and abdominal thrusts to remove an obstruction from a conscious victim’s airway," said Lynwood Roberson, North Carolina's northeastern regional executive with the Twin Rivers Chapter in Rocky Mount. "The new guidelines eliminate the phrase 'Heimlich Maneuver' and now use the more accurate and explanatory phrase 'abdominal thrusts.' "

Roberson also provided some history:

"From 1976-1985 the American Red Cross and American Heart Association taught lay responders to perform a series of back blows to remove an airway obstruction. If the back blows failed, they were taught to then use the Heimlich Maneuver.

"In 1986, back blows were dropped from the choking save method and from 1986-2005, both organizations recommended using the Heimlich as the only method to assist a choking person."

For what's its worth. The Heimlich Maneuver is not dangerous, and it is effective. But in a choking situation, the medical experts want you to first try five backslaps first, right between the shoulder blades.

If that does not work, as the posters show, try the "abdominal thrusts" (which look like the Heimlich Maneuver to me).

Five-and-Five is supposed to be easier to remember.

If the victim become unconscious, you resort to trying rescue breaths and chest compressions.

Certainly, the Golden K men should be thanked for seeing the informative posters were delivered to the places that should have them.

We ran a story about their effort a few days ago. The ink was not dry before we got a phone call from Heimlich – the doctor’s youngest son, Peter, 53.

Peter has spent the last five years trying “to debunk the myths surrounding his father’s medical inventions.”

He and his wife Karen are writing a book, “Outmaneuvered,” about his father’s career and their efforts to bring issues to the public’s attention. They have a Web site, of course.

Peter charges his father with experimenting on humans, among other things.

He claims his father, now 87, promotes the Heimlich Maneuver for near-drowning victims, asthma and cystic fibrosis.

I do not know about Peter’s claims that his dad is a charlatan. I do not know the family dynamics

I do know the Heimlich Maneuver (“abdominal thrusts”) works.

And I know signing up for a Red Cross first aid/CPR course is always a good idea. The next one is Oct. 27. Call 977-1720.

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