Heimlich maneuver

noun

Heim·​lich maneuver ˈhīm-lik- How to pronounce Heimlich maneuver (audio)
: the manual application of sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen of a choking victim to force a foreign object from the trachea

Examples of Heimlich maneuver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web While having dinner before the game, Romain started choking on a piece of steak and Tarek performed the Heimlich maneuver on him. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 North Texas police officer uses Heimlich maneuver to save choking woman → Man followed, robbed, ran over Arlington restaurant owner, police allege → Death ruled suicide for pilot who crashed plane from flight school 🚨Get free alerts when news breaks. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2024 Tutorials will cover how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, do CPR, identify the first signs of a heart attack, and other emergency healthcare topics. Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 10 Jan. 2024 Chris Slay, 37, would learn later how the hosts had tried to save Matt with the Heimlich maneuver. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2023 Wolf saved Field by using the Heimlich maneuver after having seen Field demonstrate it on TV. Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 July 2023 During yesterday’s vote, Republican committee members walking out and later argued the subpoenas were invalid. GOP lunch: Sen. Rand Paul performed the Heimlich maneuver on fellow Republican Sen. Joni Ernst during a lunch at the Capitol. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2023 Simply administer the Heimlich maneuver and, if needed, CPR. Ian Bardenstein, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2023 Acting quickly, Baker, who is CPR trained, grabbed Bell from behind and took him off the bus, performing the Heimlich maneuver. Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Heimlich maneuver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Henry J. Heimlich born1920 American surgeon

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Heimlich maneuver was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near Heimlich maneuver

Cite this Entry

“Heimlich maneuver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Heimlich%20maneuver. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Heimlich maneuver

noun
Heim·​lich maneuver ˈhīm-lik- How to pronounce Heimlich maneuver (audio)
: a method for forcing an object out the airway of a choking person that involves standing behind the person with arms wrapped about the person's waist and applying sudden upward pressure with the fist to the area directly above the navel
Etymology

named after Henry J. Heimlich, an American surgeon born in 1920

Medical Definition

Heimlich maneuver

noun
Heim·​lich maneuver
ˈhīm-lik-
: the manual application of sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen of a choking victim to force a foreign object from the trachea

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