Where There Is No Doctor 2011 79
WHEN SOMETHING GETS STUCK IN THE THROAT
When food or something else
sticks in a person’s throat and he
cannot breathe, quickly do this:
♦ Stand behind him and
wrap your arms around
his waist,
♦ put your fist against his
belly above the navel and
CHOKING
below the ribs,
♦ and press into his belly with a sudden strong
upward jerk.
This forces the air from his lungs and should free
his throat. Repeat several times if necessary.
If the person is a lot bigger than you, or is already
unconscious, quickly do this:
♦ Lay him on his back.
♦ Tilt his head to one side.
♦ Sit over him like this, with the heel of your
lower hand on his belly between his navel
and ribs. (For fat persons, pregnant women,
persons in wheelchairs, or small children,
place hands on the chest, not the belly.)
♦ Make a quick, strong upward
push.
♦ Repeat several times if
necessary.
♦ If he still cannot breathe, try
mouth-to-mouth breathing
(see next page).
DROWNING
A person who has stopped breathing has only 4 minutes to live! You must
act fast!
Start mouth-to-mouth breathing at once (see next page)—if possible, even
before the drowning person is out of the water, as soon as it is shallow enough to
stand.
If you cannot blow air into his lungs, when
you reach the shore, quickly put him on his side
with his head lower than his feet and push his
belly as described above. Then continue
mouth-to-mouth breathing at once.
ALWAYS START MOUTH-TO-MOUTH
BREATHING AT ONCE before trying to get
water out of the drowning person’s chest.