Why is it no longer the Heimlich maneuver?

The Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) isn't entirely gone, but major health organizations now recommend combining it with back blows because scientific evidence never proved it superior and it carries risks like rib fractures, plus Dr. Heimlich's own controversial promotions (like for drowning) caused distrust, leading to the official term becoming "abdominal thrusts" for clarity, though it's the combination of techniques that's emphasized for choking rescue.

Why is the Heimlich maneuver not called that anymore?

The Heimlich maneuver isn't called that exclusively anymore because major health organizations like the American Red Cross and American Heart Association updated guidelines in 2006 to use more descriptive terms like "abdominal thrusts," recommending a "five-and-five" approach (five back blows then five thrusts) for conscious victims, noting a lack of controlled studies proving it superior to back blows and concerns about injuries, with the term's removal partly due to Dr. Heimlich's controversial claims about back blows and drowning. The name change reflects evolving first-aid practices, focusing on clearer, evidence-based, and safer techniques, though the term "Heimlich" is still widely recognized.
 

Why don't we do the Heimlich maneuver?

Don't try to do the Heimlich manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts). This can break ribs and damage internal organs. Don't pick up a choking child and turn them upside down. Don't hit their back while they are upright.

Do they still recommend the Heimlich maneuver?

Yes, the Heimlich maneuver (now often called abdominal thrusts) is still a recommended and vital first-aid technique for conscious adults and children who are choking, usually performed in a cycle with back blows (five back blows, then five abdominal thrusts) until the object is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious, at which point CPR is needed. While the name "Heimlich maneuver" is still used, major organizations like the American Red Cross and American Heart Association now use "abdominal thrusts" and emphasize alternating with back blows for adults and children, with specific techniques for infants (back blows and chest thrusts).
 

Why did the Heimlich family sue?

For the past several years Peter Heimlich has clashed with Phil and Henry Heimlich over the latter's assertions that the Heimlich Maneuver should be used to assist choking and drowning victims, which Peter has described as “medical fraud.”

The best way to save a choking victim is no longer 'the Heimlich'

What is the controversy with Heimlich?

The Heimlich maneuver's controversy stems from Dr. Henry Heimlich's aggressive promotion of its use for other conditions like drowning and asthma, conflicting with established medical guidelines, and his unethical "malariotherapy" experiments infecting HIV patients with malaria to boost immunity. Key points include disputes with the Red Cross over drowning treatment, his son's claims of stolen credit, and fraud allegations regarding self-claimed rescues, all casting a shadow on his legacy despite the maneuver's life-saving success for choking.
 

Why did Heimlich get renamed?

The Heimlich maneuver was renamed "abdominal thrusts" (or part of the "five-and-five" method with back blows) by organizations like the American Red Cross in 2006 to reflect new guidelines that combined it with back blows and to distance the technique from controversial, scientifically unsupported uses promoted by Dr. Heimlich, like for drowning victims, leading to less confusion and clearer instructions.
 

What has replaced Heimlich?

1) When the American Red Cross introduced back blows to its official guidelines on treating choking, Dr Heimlich disagreed that back blows should be used and asked that his name be removed from the guidelines. Leading to the renaming of the Heimlich manouvre as an Abdominal thrust.

What to do if an obese person is choking?

Position one clenched fist above the navel (belly button) and below the rib cage. Grasp your fist with your other hand. Pull the clenched fist sharply and directly backward and upward under the rib cage 5 times quickly. If the person is obese or in late pregnancy, give chest thrusts.

Can you break ribs during Heimlich?

Yes, the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts) can break ribs, as well as cause other internal injuries, but it's a life-saving technique recommended for severe choking when the person can't breathe, cough, or talk, because the risk of death from choking is far greater than the risk of injury from the maneuver. Applying firm, upward thrusts to compress the diaphragm to dislodge the object can sometimes cause rib fractures or organ damage, but it's crucial to provide help if someone is truly choking.
 

Is the Heimlich maneuver canceled?

The 2005 drowning rescue guidelines of the American Heart Association did not include citations of Heimlich's work, and warned against the use of the Heimlich manoeuvre for drowning rescue as unproven and dangerous, due to its risk of vomiting leading to aspiration.

What to do if you're choking alone?

If you're choking alone, stay calm, call 911 immediately (even if you can't speak), and then perform the self-Heimlich maneuver by thrusting your fist inward and upward above your belly button, or by leaning over a firm object like a chair back or counter edge to apply pressure, repeating until the object comes out. Don't reach down your throat, and if you can still cough or make noise, cough forcefully first.
 

Is the Heimlich maneuver illegal?

In most jurisdictions, you will not be liable for damages if you provide emergency aid to an injured person in good faith. For example, a restaurant patron witnesses a child choking at a table nearby. The concerned patron rushes to perform the Heimlich maneuver. The patron's quick thinking saves the child's life.

What is the new Heimlich maneuver?

The "new" Heimlich maneuver, as updated by the American Heart Association (AHA) in late 2025, involves alternating five back blows with five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) for conscious adults and children, a change from just abdominal thrusts, as this combination improves success rates and reduces injury risk; for infants, it's five back blows and five chest thrusts, while obese/pregnant individuals use chest thrusts. The FDA also emphasizes sticking to these established protocols, which are effective and save time. 

How did people stop choking before Heimlich?

I discovered that since 1933, the American Red Cross had been teaching people to save choking persons by slapping them on the back.

What should you never do when someone is choking?

Never finger sweep if you can't see the object. You risk pushing the blockage deeper into the airway. This is very risky with young children. Begin CPR if the person still doesn't respond.

When should you NOT use Heimlich?

The Heimlich maneuver should not be performed on someone who can still talk, breathe, or cough. Here's what you can do: Encourage further coughing to dislodge any obstruction or cause of choking. Determine if the person can talk, cough, or breathe.

What foods are most likely to cause choking?

Candy (especially hard or sticky candy), cough drops, gum, lollipops, marshmallows, caramels, hard candies, and jelly beans. Whole grapes, raw vegetables, raw peas, fruits, fruits with skins, seeds, carrots, celery, and cherries. Dried fruits, sunflower seeds, all nuts, including peanuts.

What is the new tool for choking?

The LifeVac has a one-way valve that safely and effectively removes obstructing objects from the victims' airways. During an emergency, simply place the LifeVac over the victim's nose and mouth, push down on the plunger, then pull the LifeVac up and off the victim.

Can we still call it the Heimlich maneuver?

Yes, it is commonly called the Heimlich maneuver (or Heimlich maneuver in the UK), but medical organizations now often prefer the term abdominal thrusts or choking rescue procedure because it describes the action, and guidelines have evolved to include back blows first, often alternating with thrusts (the "five-and-five" approach), notes Penn State University. Developed by Dr. Henry Heimlich, it's a first-aid technique to clear a blocked airway by using upward thrusts on the abdomen to force air out of the lungs and dislodge the object, reports Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 

Is it possible to choke on water?

Yes, you absolutely can choke on water, which happens when liquid accidentally goes down your windpipe (trachea) instead of your esophagus, causing coughing, gasping, breathlessness, or even a complete airway blockage, leading to serious issues like aspiration pneumonia or drowning if severe. It's often caused by drinking too fast, laughing while sipping, physical activity, or underlying swallowing issues (dysphagia) in young children or the elderly. 

Why can't you say Heimlich?

It's not called the Heimlich maneuver exclusively anymore because major health organizations like the American Heart Association and American Red Cross changed guidelines in 2006, renaming it "abdominal thrusts" and recommending a "five-and-five" approach (five back blows then five abdominal thrusts) for conscious victims, as studies showed back blows and thrusts are similarly effective and the Heimlich could cause injury, plus Dr. Heimlich's promotion of it for drowning was deemed dangerous.
 

Can you perform Heimlich on yourself?

If you are alone and you are choking, you can try to dislodge the thing in your throat or windpipe by performing the Heimlich maneuver on yourself. Self-administered abdominal thrusts is also a clear signal to rescuers that a person is choking.

What are the risks of the Heimlich maneuver?

For this reason, the Heimlich maneuver should never be performed unless it is necessary. Reported complications of the Heimlich maneuver include damage to internal organs, such as rupture or laceration of abdominal or thoracic viscera [301–305].