What is the appropriate way to perform the Heimlich maneuver on an adult?

The Heimlich maneuver, also known as abdominal thrusts, is a critical emergency procedure used to relieve choking in an adult. The appropriate technique involves standing behind the individual and wrapping your arms around their waist. This position allows for maximum control and stability while you assist the person.

By making a fist and placing it just above the navel, you create a leverage point for delivering forceful thrusts. Thrusting inward and upward can effectively increase abdominal pressure, which helps expel the object blocking the airway. This method directs pressure toward the diaphragm and leverages the strength of the abdominal muscles in a way that is most effective for dislodging the obstruction.

Positions that involve pushing down on the chest, laying the person down and performing chest compressions, or shaking the individual are not recommended for treating choking in adults, as they do not provide the same effectiveness in creating the necessary thrusts to relieve airway obstruction.