Henry J. Heimlich (February 3, 1920 – December 17, 2016) was an American thoracic surgeon best known for introducing the Heimlich maneuver, a method of abdominal thrusts to dislodge airway obstructions. Born in Wilmington, Wilmington Delaware, he spent much of his professional life practicing and promoting emergency techniques from his base in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Origin and adoption of the maneuver

In the 1970s Heimlich described a simple, forceful inward and upward abdominal thrust intended to expel a lodged object from a conscious person's airway. The idea spread rapidly because it could be taught to lay rescuers and applied in nonmedical settings. Over time the maneuver became a staple of first‑aid courses and appears in many emergency response protocols worldwide, often alongside other airway clearance techniques.

How the technique works and common uses

The basic Heimlich maneuver uses standing behind a choking person, placing a fist above the navel and delivering quick upward thrusts to increase thoracic pressure and force air out of the lungs, carrying the obstruction with it. It is primarily recommended for conscious adults and older children who cannot cough, speak or breathe. For infants, pregnant or obese victims, rescuers are taught modified approaches—such as chest thrusts or back blows—reflecting anatomical and safety considerations.

Career, advocacy and public life

Heimlich combined clinical practice with public education, founding organizations to promote first aid training and publishing materials aimed at both professionals and the public. His name became synonymous with emergency response for choking, and the maneuver has been credited with numerous lives saved when applied promptly.

Controversies and legacy

Later in life Heimlich attracted controversy by promoting other medical ideas that were disputed by mainstream researchers; some of his claims and initiatives prompted debate about evidence and ethics. Regardless, the abdominal thrust technique he introduced transformed layperson first aid and remains a prominent, if sometimes revised, element of modern resuscitation guidance. For further reading on his life and work, consult medical histories and established first‑aid organizations that document the development and changing recommendations for airway clearance techniques.

  • Overview of Heimlich maneuver development and public impact.
  • Practical considerations: when and how to use abdominal thrusts versus alternatives.
  • Discussion of later controversies and the enduring place of the maneuver in first aid.