Random Thoughts- 14
In 1974 Dr. Henry Heimlich first described an
emergency technique for expelling foreign material blocking the
trachea. This technique, now called the Heimlich maneuver or abdominal
thrusts, is simple enough that it can be performed immediately by
anyone trained in the maneuver. The Heimlich maneuver is a standard
part of all first aid courses.
The theory behind the Heimlich maneuver is that by compressing the
abdomen below the level of the diaphragm, air is forced under pressure
out of the lungs dislodging the obstruction in the trachea and bringing
the foreign material back up into the mouth.
Strangely sometimes we hardly do the things we study in text books. Maybe it's because we don't get a chance to do it.
I studied the theory part of this 20 years ago, but never had the chance to do it until today (6/4/08)
when a chinese boy aged 3 was rushed into our clinic at around 4 pm.
The child had swallowed a coin and was choking. The father who brought
the child was panicking and I was seized by the urgency of the
situation. I asked for an ambulance to be called, then remembered the
maneuver described above and just went on to try it. Plop..came out the
coin from the windpipe of the child after I gave a couple of abdominal
thrusts. All glory to God. A few more minutes would have been
detrimental for the child.
God has given us many talents and sometimes we may not use it for
many years because of certain circumstances in our life, but if we are
willing to be channels for the Lord to perform through us, He will use
us at the right time.
