new_otters_raftYSK What to do if someone’s choking: Evidence says begin with back blows
AFK BRB Chocolate (CA version)I had a surreal experience once. I was at a busy, casual restaurant at a booth, sitting across from my wife. There was a lady eating alone at a booth a little way behind my wife, and I noticed she looked kind of distressed - looking around like she was trying to catch a waiter - but she seemed to be getting more panicked looking and her face didn’t look right. I got up and went over and said “Are you chocking?” and she looked at me with big eyes and nodded. I asked if she wanted me to try and help and she said yes and stood up. I never learned how to do the Heimlich except from TV shows, but seemed worth a try, so I did what I remembered, and she coughed up a piece of chicken. She looked really embarrassed and said “Thank you.” I said I was glad to help and went back to my seat. No one in the place noticed a thing except for my wife.
I have the exact opposite experience. I was waiting tables at place with a stage and 500 seats, lights are out, I notice a woman is choking and I went for the heimlich, successfully dislodged something as the house lights were brought on and 500 people are staring at us.
Oh, wow. What did people do, applaud?
Right after the comedian said “well that was fucking crazy”
I could not have gotten out of that room fast enough
What did the person you helped say?
Nothing at all. Likely in shock or embarrassed or something. Her daughter thanked me quite a bit and I asked if I could grab her a water or something, I grabbed her a water, still nothing, they left after the water
Funny enough a coworker told me “you’re not supposed to do the heimlich anymore”
Which is funny because in both your story and mine it worked.
Yeah, it’s effective, definitely more risk of damage apparently. Was kind of violent when i did it, larger shorter lady so I had to like pick her up in order to effectively pull in the right spot, I know there was probably bruising and whatnot.
I’ll end up starting with the back if I ever end up doing it again, but ol reliable will be there if I need it.
To be honest, I didn’t even think of anything else. I’d never done the Heimlich, wasn’t trained, it just seemed like the thing to try.