How to Save Someone Who is Choking

Dr. Alexander Myasnikov points out that "anyone can choke, from a small child to an elderly person. What matters in this situation is how to help oneself or another person." According to him, there is a very common belief that one should slap the person on the back to remove the object from the respiratory system. However, this does not always lead to saving them and may pose a risk to their life, as slapping could push the foreign object deeper into the respiratory tract. Myasnikov explains that if a piece of food enters the respiratory system, the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) should be used, which involves the following: "The rescuer should stand behind the choking person and wrap their arms horizontally around the waist, just below the chest, directing their thumbs inward. Pressure should then be applied below the sternum with two fingers, pushing forcefully inward and upward several times until the foreign object is expelled from the airway or until specialized medical assistance arrives. The choking person can also assist themselves using this method." However, if the person finds it difficult to cough, an ambulance should be called immediately before it is too late.