Emergencies can strike at any time, but when you’re home alone without a way to get help, fear can set in. Out of the many scenarios that fit this description, choking may not have crossed your mind.
We know there are instructions for how to do the Heimlich maneuver on others and yourself, and you can watch tutorials for saving a baby from choking. But when your survival instincts kick in, would you know what to do?
Paramedic and firefighter Jeff Rehman shared a video on YouTube that teaches a technique to save yourself from choking. Inspired by his time as a boxer, the move involves doing a belly flop on a flat surface to dislodge the food (or object) from the windpipe.
The first step is to get into a kneeling position and place your hands in front of you as if you’re doing planks. Spread your arms out in front of you, bracing your body for a drop. Rehman notes that obviously pregnant women should not attempt to use this method, nor is it 100% foolproof.
Click on the video to see the final step, and watch it a few more times to get it down. If you’re wondering why this works, it all has to do with the air your body is storing.
