A one-step procedure for helping stop choking (Mechanical obstruction of the flow of air from the environment into the lungs; choking, choked, strangling, strangulation, throttling, suffocating, constricted windpipe, blocked airway, airway closed, asphyxia, throat obstructed).
Choking prevents breathing, and can be partial or complete, with partial choking allowing some, although inadequate, flow of air into the lungs. Prolonged or complete choking results in asphyxia which leads to anoxia and is potentially fatal. Oxygen stored in the blood and lungs can keep a person alive for several minutes after breathing stops.
Choking can be caused by: A. Physical obstruction of the airway by a foreign body; B. Respiratory diseases that involve obstruction of the airway; C. Compression of the laryngopharynx, larynx or vertebrate trachea in strangulation; D. Laryngospasm, a temporary closing of the vocal cords, which simulates the feeling of choking.
Obstruction of the airway can occur at the level of the pharynx or the trachea. Foods that can adapt their shape to that of the pharynx (such as bananas, marshmallows, or gelatinous candies) can be a danger not just for children but for persons of any age. Choking due to a foreign object resulted in 162,000 deaths (2.5 per 100,000) in 2013, compared to 140,000 deaths (2.9 per 100,000) in 1990. This TKM application has shown to be highly effective for all types of choking.
Procedure: Place the thumbs or finger-pads firmly but gently onto both upper inside area of the thighs as demonstrated/illustrated.
Procedure on someone else: Place your left hand on their right upper thigh with your thumb on the inside of the thigh and place your right hand on their left upper thigh with the thumb on the inside of the thigh.
If for yourself, just hold left to left and right to right. The location is on the inner side of the thigh, about three quarters of the way from the knee toward the groin. Press lightly and gently until choking stops.
