Abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver or Heimlich manoeuvre (German pronunciation: [ˈhaɪmlɪç -]), is a first aid procedure used to treat upper airway obstructions (or choking) by foreign objects.

What exactly is the Heimlich maneuver?

What is the Heimlich maneuver? ... The technique is called the Heimlich maneuver, or abdominal thrusts. Abdominal thrusts lift your diaphragm and expel air from your lungs. This causes the foreign object to be expelled from your airway.

What is the Heimlich maneuver and how is it performed?

The Heimlich maneuver uses abdominal thrusts to force objects out of the throat. Underneath the lungs is a muscle called the diaphragm. This muscle contracts to move the lungs, helping them exhale air. In 1972, a doctor from Cincinnati read a story about choking.