Heimlich manoeuvre

British  

/ ˈhaɪmlɪk /

noun

1. Also called: abdominal thrust.  a technique in first aid to dislodge a foreign body in a person's windpipe by applying sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen

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Etymology

Origin of Heimlich manoeuvre

C20: named after Henry J. Heimlich (born 1920), American surgeon

Example Sentences

Zero line-breaks is a stat that will stick in the throat until the rugby equivalent of the Heimlich manoeuvre is performed on this Scotland team.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

She praised her hair and make-up artist Jane Green for being ready, willing and able to dislodge the blockage by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

"In older children, it's much more like adults - we use abdominal thrusts or what people would often have referred to as the Heimlich manoeuvre," Dr Ruddle said.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2025

The story that garnered the biggest response from our readers this week was the Who, What, Why: How easy is it to do the Heimlich manoeuvre?

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2014

I handed Madeleine's doctor's business card to anyone who looked after her, and offered to go over CPR training, or demonstrate the Heimlich manoeuvre on Big Bird.

From The Guardian • Jul. 20, 2013