NBCSN Nationally Certified School Nurse Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-In-One Study Guide for Success!

The primary action in performing the Heimlich maneuver involves thrusting upward on the abdomen. When a person is choking, food or an object can block the airway, making it difficult to breathe. The Heimlich maneuver is designed to create an artificial cough by applying pressure to the diaphragm through upward thrusts under the ribcage. This pressure forces air from the lungs, which can help expel the obstruction from the airway.

This technique is critical because it allows the person to clear their airway and restore normal breathing. Awareness of how to correctly perform this maneuver can be life-saving, as it is a widely accepted first aid procedure for choking victims. Other methods, like pressing on the chest or turning the patient on their side, are not suitable for addressing choking in an adult or child who is conscious and can respond. Additionally, merely pulling someone back would not provide the necessary pressure required to dislodge an object from the airway effectively. Thus, the upward thrust on the abdomen is essential for the successful application of the Heimlich maneuver.