I learned the Heimlich maneuver for the first time when I was sixteen years old, while working as a nursing assistant. The Heimlich maneuver is one of the techniques taught in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. It involves the administration of abdominal thrusts to a choking victim to expel foreign bodies from the victim’s airway.
The Heimlich maneuver was named after Dr. Henry Heimlich, the surgeon who developed the procedure in 1974. This week, the 96-year-old retired chest surgeon had the opportunity to use his life-saving maneuver to help a choking victim. Although he had demonstrated the maneuver countless times since inventing it in 1974, it was the first time he had actually used it to stop someone from choking.
“The whole thing was very moving to me,” Dr. Heimlich said. “I never thought that I would be saving someone’s life by doing the Heimlich maneuver.” He also said that it made him appreciate how wonderful it has been to save so many lives.
Reference: USA Today, May 27, 2016