# Choking and being alone **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941 "2003-08-04T17:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furnishesq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/977dab/32.png) [@furnishesq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furnishesq)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/1 "2003-08-04T17:40:51Z")
This past week I had the unpleasant and unfortunate experience of choking on a piece steak while on vacation. As I was turning blue a family member rushed in and gave me the Hemlich manuever – which solved this scary situation. I hope I never expereince something like that again. It got me thinking. . . What can you do if you are by yourself and start choking? You can’t give yourself the Hemlich manuever. So what do you do? Sit around and wait to aphixiate? If nothing can be done – it is wise to eat alone? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/2 "2003-08-04T17:44:10Z")
> [@](#): > > To perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself: > > 1. Position your own fist slightly above your navel. > > 2. Grasp your fist with your other hand and thrust upward into your abdomen until the object is expelled, or lean over the back of a chair to produce this effect. Or pick up a chair and aim it at that spot slightly above the navel, thrust with some force, but not too hard. A chair with a rounded back works well if you are lucky enough to be near one; this writer was. > **[LIVESTRONG.COM - Simple Healthy Living](https://www.livestrong.com/)** > > LIVESTRONG.COM offers diet, nutrition and fitness tips for a healthier lifestyle. Achieve your health goals with LIVESTRONG.COM's practical food and fitness tools, expert resources and an engaged community. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/3 "2003-08-04T17:51:05Z")
I read somewhere (can’t recall where, unfortunately) that you can simulate the Heimlich by ramming your chest/diaphragm into like a table top or a chair back or something substantial like that. There was an episode of some show where a woman did something like that, but it could have just been faked. As I understand the point of Heimlich it is to force the food back out with muscular force rather than air. So the nearest surface where your own body weight against that portion of your body where the food got lodged would be worth a try. It would scare you enough that running around would almost come naturally so you’d need to be in control long enough to think of how to deal with the situation. Not a time to get panicky. Easy to say; hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/4 "2003-08-04T21:29:11Z")
A very frightening experience for you. My mother-in-law choked to death on a Snickers bar while alone in her house. A sad end for anyone. Good advice above, plus one other: small bites and chew well. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/5 "2003-08-04T21:37:28Z")
[How to self-Heimlich with a chair or table](http://atoz.iqhealth.com/HealthAnswers/encyclopedia/HTMLfiles/671.html). We had to practice this in my first aid class. Gave me a big bruise. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/6 "2003-08-05T06:48:56Z")
Chew your food better and worry about something else! ---
**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/7 "2003-08-05T07:01:43Z")
I always assumed that I would stand up and then throw myself onto the floor on my back. I imagine this force might be enough to dislodge an obstruction but who knows… ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/8 "2003-08-05T12:54:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SkyBum \* > \*\*I always assumed that I would stand up and then throw myself onto the floor on my back. I imagine this force might be enough to dislodge an obstruction but who knows… \*\* That sounds like it could quite possibly make the situation worse by driving the offending matter further down where it shouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/9 "2003-08-05T13:12:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Turek \* > \*\*That sounds like it could quite possibly make the situation worse by driving the offending matter further down where it shouldn’t be. \*\* Good point **Turek** , good thing I havn’t choked on anything in the last couple of years, I might of done myself in. Guess I’ll have to come up with a plan B. ---
**Author:** ![furnishesq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/977dab/32.png) [@furnishesq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furnishesq)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/10 "2003-08-07T01:48:18Z")
You would have to remain exceptionally calm to give yourself the hemlich maneuver – I doubt anyone could do this if they are starved for oxygen. . . ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choking-and-being-alone/192941/11 "2003-08-07T04:28:01Z")
People have done it, so it clearly is possible. Remember, if you can make some noise you are getting some oxygen. It may feel like you are suffocating, but in actuality you are probably getting enough oxygen to operate for a while. Plenty of time to self-Heimlich.