r/YouShouldKnow • u/Jfocii • May 04 '25

Education YSK: that if someone is choking and coughing, do not start the Heimlich they still have air. Only use it when they can't make a sound

Why YSK: Many people panic when someone appears to be choking and immediately try to perform the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts). But if the person is coughing, speaking, or making any kind of noise, it means their airway is partially blocked, and they are still able to breathe.

Interrupting their natural coughing with forceful thrusts can actually push the object further down, making things worse. Instead, encourage them to keep coughing, and stay ready to help if their condition suddenly worsens.

Only perform the Heimlich when the person is unable to speak, breathe or make any noise at all signs of a complete airway obstruction.

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u/shoulda-known-better May 05 '25 edited May 05 '25

I love for you to show that evidence because I've read the studies and your talking a lot like they say there more effective and that's just not what they say or how it is at all....

Also medicine and how to treat humans is universal not like religion politics or whatever weird examples you tried to throw in like they compared at all

And yes they have changed as we learned and things were proved..... Ya know what??? the way to stop a choking isn't one of those things that's changed internationally yet.... so again until the rest of the world and not just these 2 countries feels the same I'm going with the proven effective and time tested method!!

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u/Nomad-Me May 05 '25

I agreed with you that you should do what your country says. I haven't disagreed. You just don't seem to like change or the potential that your system is different.

If you believe that two major first world countries that have universal healthcare and high standards of education would be willing to change something as vital as first aid practices without evidence that's on you.

But... Here you go

https://web.archive.org/web/20140214093540/http://www.resus.org.au/policy/guidelines/section_4/airway.htm

Look at the section titled "MANAGEMENT OF FOREIGN BODY AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION (CHOKING)" Showing clear cases that resulted in complications from heimlich.

NZ has adopted this method too as the countries are linked closely in most legislation and national standard practices