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Witness History: The Heimlich Manoeuvre

Documentaries

The Heimlich Manoeuvre

26/03/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Heimlich Manoeuvre

How the life-saving method to stop choking was developed

How Dr Henry Heimlich invented a life-saving manoeuvre, which stopped people dying from choking around the world. It was just one of Dr Heimlich's medical innovations.

Since its adoption as a first aid method, the Heimlich Manoeuvre has saved untold numbers of lives around the world. 

Developed by American physician Dr Henry Heimlich as a way to save choking victims from dying, his manoeuvre would become famous just weeks after it was written about in a medical journal. 

But as well as his namesake manoeuvre, Heimlich was responsible for several other medical innovations throughout his life.

Ashley Byrne hears from Janet Heimlich, one of Dr Heimlich's children.

A Made In Manchester/Workerbee co-production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Dr Henry Heimlich demonstrates the Heimlich manoeuvre on host Johnny Carson in 1979. Credit: Gene Arias/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

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