Today, while dining at a restaurant I heard a women choking. I immediately ran to her, wrapped my arms around her and started giving her abdominal thrusts. She freed herself and slapped me. Turns out she wasn't choking, she was just laughing. FML
I agree, your life sucks (8048) - you totally deserved it (16927)
On 12/01/2009 at 1:15am - misc - by helper (man) - Costa Rica (Heredia)
You can hear choking.... Obviously you never have.
And you can't just run at someone and put your arms around them. You have to ask them if they are choking (Which is stupid) and tell them who you are.
The OP is a dumbass.
#5 - On 12/01/2009 at 6:43am by saviisneat
Indeed. And doing those thrusts without being sure the woman can't breathe is dangerous and may just make it worse. You have to encourage them to get it out themselves at first. Abdominal thrusts (I hope you refer to Heimlich) should only be used when the person is really about to choke and die from it
"Abdominal thrust" has actually been the preferred name for over a decade now.
#21 - On 12/01/2009 at 8:49am by BeeSkwaird
No, if you can hear anything, the person is not choking. That means there is airflow if any sound can be made.
And yes, you have to ask, but only if they are conscious (giggity)
If you can hear them "choking", you're supposed to urge them to cough. If they really are choking, they aren't going to make any noise. This is also why they teach you in first aid/CPR training that you ALWAYS ask if someone is choking and you ALWAYS ask before you touch them! You can hurt someone doing abdominal thrusts, and they're within their rights to sue you if you do...whether they required the help or not.
#37 - On 12/01/2009 at 12:01pm by haildixie
Yeah, doing abdominal thrusts if they're not truly choking can do serious damage. It can lodge the object into their throat, causing them to start choking for real. Or you could break their ribs, or hurt their fetus if you don't realize they're pregnant, or any number of things. Pay attention in your first aid classes, people.
It's not stupid to ask them if they are choking, clearly this whole event could have been avoided if the OP would have asked. Even if the woman WAS choking, a response does not just been a verbal answer, she could have nodded or grasped at her neck which is the universal sign for choking. You cannot hear true choking. You are a dumbass.
#67 - On 12/01/2009 at 11:28pm by Erniesduck123
you can't hear choking. i choked on a piece of pizza once. i couldn't breathe or cough. and i was home alone. i thought i was going to die, but then i just punched my stomach a bunch and i was fine.
so no, you can't hear it.
#75 - On 12/02/2009 at 4:53pm by chicken_lover
Heimlich is copy righted...abdominal thrusts is a term used by the American Red Cross so they won't have to pay money to use the term. Also, its not stupid to have to ask for consent, your doing an emergency medical procedure, its basic ethics to ask for consent, this entire situation wouldn't have happened if the OP had asked for consent.
Also, if your not trained in assisting a choking victim than don't do it, yell that somebody may be choking, in a crowded restaurant somebody undoubtedly is certified and would have been able to handle the situation in a way that minimizes potential harm to the victim and stops you from having the possibility of legal ramifications. Good Samaritan laws protect people in this sort of situation, but without formal training, certification, and consent you could be charged with assault for doing something like this.
#83 - On 12/05/2009 at 1:31pm by crayfish08
Former lifeguard here:
When you suspect someone is choking, you always identify yourself and ask if they need help first. If they need help, they will point at their throat and nod 'yes'. Grabbing someone from behind without warning may actually cause them to choke.
YDI.
#4 - On 12/01/2009 at 6:34am by artsavage13
it's not actually illegal. the first aid groups and researchers strongly recommend that you do not proceed with this particular action.
#41 - On 12/01/2009 at 12:37pm by postaltubealex
backslaps between shoulder blades
abdominal thrusts should be left for trained professionals, same way tracheotomy is
I thought back slaps generally push the object in deeper. Scary how different first aid is from place to place...
#62 - On 12/01/2009 at 7:44pm by kitkatkelly
The American Red Cross suggests a combination of back blows and abdominal thrusts in a situation such as this, where the victim is conscious and standing. Abdominal thrusts are effective but can be dangerous and its suggested that people that aren't trained refrain from attempting them because of the possibility of injury to the victim.
In fact, its suggested that unless the victim is unable to make any air movement such as talking, coughing, or crying, that nothing should be done as its better to allow the victim to try and work the object out on their own as some amount of air is still getting through.
Btw, Im a respiratory therapist, Ive assisted two choking individuals, and ended up performing an emergency tracheotomy on one of them (I was a paramedic at this time), Ive also intubated several patients to remove blockages in hospitals. It would surprise people the amount of people who choke on food while in weakened conditions in a hospital setting.
#84 - On 12/05/2009 at 1:40pm by crayfish08
You're supposed to ask them if they are choking before you act.
#10 - On 12/01/2009 at 7:18am by Person1233
I think this is more a FML for the woman than you. It's like, "Today I was laughing and having a good time at a restaurant when a strange man suddenly grabbed me and started pumping my abdomen. He thought I was choking. FML"
#12 - On 12/01/2009 at 7:38am by NorfolkDude
One of the FIRST things they teach you in first aid is to ask them if they're choking, and tell them that you're going to help them. You're lucky you're not facing assault charges.
Remember your CPR course where they said always to tell someone that you're trained in first aid and you're about to help them before you do anything? This is why. So while I admire your willingness to help, you did skip a step that's there for a reason.
I’m not sure that this was a benevolent act. Wasn’t the OP just openly trying to point out that the lady was laughing like a walrus?
If you can hear a person making noises that means their airway is not obstructed and the heimlich will not do anything. When you do the abdominal thrusts the air will just keep passing by the object and you will just get in trouble for grabbing on a person.
#16 - On 12/01/2009 at 8:05am by islandnerd
No OP was trying to help. Would you do that just to prove some random lady is laughing like a walrus. Now he could get in a lot of trouble.
#17 - On 12/01/2009 at 8:13am by redshortsx
YDI.
Anyone who knows how to properly carry out these things KNOWS the first thing you need to do is ask the person if they need help. The Heimlich maneuver can cause rib breakage, and since you obviously have no training in first aid you could have caused this woman some serious pain.
We love to laugh HA HA HA HA, loud and long and clearrrrrrrr. So Mary Poppins does have a lesson.
#23 - On 12/01/2009 at 9:10am by sdcrazy1018
ydi. you should have waited for the universal sign of choking.
#24 - On 12/01/2009 at 9:17am by xoxcinderellaxox
actually if someone really is chocking ie no air getting in or out you wont be able to hear them "chock". Thats really serious. Because the airway is totally cut off. If you hear someone coughing or gagging then they are still getting air in and out it's bad but not as bad if they werent making any sound at all. And that's why we have the universal chock signal: hands crossed while wrapped around the throat.
#25 - On 12/01/2009 at 9:41am by liquidbunny
so? It doesnt mean you should wait for it to get serious and not help her untill it does
#30 - On 12/01/2009 at 10:11am by polico_wolf
That's exactly what it means. if they can still get air, the Heimlich maneuver will do nothing to help them.
Yeah but it also doesn't mean you do the Heimlich manuever when they are something partially lodged. You try to get them to move it themselves or if you have to stick your finger in there if you can see the item. Hell sometimes the gag reflex and resulting vomit will remove them item (really not recommended - using your finger usually is when they pass out and you can see the item). Plus doing the Heimlich can hurt them/make it worse if they aren't fully restricted. You could force the object to lodge and really make them choke.
oh and sorry for my misspellings before anyone calls me out on them
#26 - On 12/01/2009 at 9:45am by liquidbunny
You are always supposed to ask them if they're choking and if they need help. Second, you need to ask if they're pregnant because grabbing them the wrong way could do serious damage. YDI.
If you can "hear" choking then DO NOTHING! Hemlich is for when the person can't breath. Pro Tip: that means they make no noise at all.
#35 - On 12/01/2009 at 10:53am by ObadiahtheSlim
Haha my laughter sometimes sounds like choking, I think it's funny which just makes me choke-laugh even more !
#54 - On 12/01/2009 at 5:32pm by onyxindigo
if she laughed, so there were other people with her right? You should ask first.
#38 - On 12/01/2009 at 12:23pm by realdex
If you were never trained in the Heimlich, then you probably didn't follow procedure considering how simple it is. [this is part of CPR training from the Red Cross].
Step 1: Figure out of they're choking.. if you say you did this step then you are lying, because this step includes asking the choking victim: "Are you choking?"...
Step 2: Heimlich.
When you're choking, some air might come out in small bursts, but no air is getting back IN. When I was younger my mom would be able to tell I was choking without looking because she's hear a distressed sound. I can't exactly describe it for lack of perfect memory, but there usually is a sound that can be made with air coming out.
#40 - On 12/01/2009 at 12:30pm by piles_of_fail
You're lucky you didn't get sued. Don't try to do first aid if you have no clue what you're doing.
#46 - On 12/01/2009 at 2:45pm by MoobyTheCow
I call fake 2 FMLs in a row from the same place in Costa Rica and one is coincidentally a man and the other a woman. People like you ruin fml whore bag.
Wow.. imo its people like you who ruin fml. im sick of reading comments "ZOMG same place FAKEE" or "somthing like that is close to anouther fml... must be fake!" ever thought that maybe two people in Costa Ricka had a bad day and put it on fml?
How is one being a man and the other a woman coincidental???
#50 - On 12/01/2009 at 4:19pm by ScaryyMary
and that, my friend, is why the first step to the Heimlich maneuver is to ASK THEM IF THEY NEED HELP
:l
#51 - On 12/01/2009 at 4:36pm by originalusername
If you've ever learned about emergency response, you should know that the rule is to, first and foremost, identify yourself and ask if the person is choking or requires assistance. If you haven't learned about emergency response, you should not even be attempting something like that maneuver. It could be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.
I don't understand why everyone is assuming that everyone knows and easily remembers CPR.. Is it like compulsory in America ? In Australia basically no one knows First Aid unless they do a specific course that is pretty expensive, and I definitely don't remember what I learnt at school. I think this dude was just trying to help, he didn't know any better.
#55 - On 12/01/2009 at 5:35pm by onyxindigo
From what I can tell, every American student learns basic emergency health procedures in middle school and CPR and the Heimlich in high school. My clearest memory of 9th grade health was having to ask the mannequin, "Are you choking?! Do you need help?!" which is the first thing you do before attempting the Heimlich. I can understand the OP was trying to help, but omigoodness he was wrong.
#56 - On 12/01/2009 at 5:55pm by NoteMyGrin
What NoteMyGrin said. Moreover, if he's never been trained, he shouldn't be doing the Heimlich anyway. There are some vital organs around there you could damage by doing it wrong.
"A woman", not "A women". Women is plural.
Seriously, is it so hard?
#58 - On 12/01/2009 at 7:07pm by pieisyourdrug
...it's the Badass High School Grammar Queen of the Day! Correcting grammar in unnecessary situations (like on Fmylife.com) in between Homeroom and Precalc! Staying inside all day looking for insignificant grammar mistakes while other kids his age have healthy and fulfilling lives!
#60 - On 12/01/2009 at 7:38pm by expen_dable
If the victim is concious and choking, most likely they will be coughing trying to dislodge the object. If the event that the object blocks the airway, many victims grab at their own neck. If you identify yourself and the victim is unable to respond, you have implied consent. Under Good Samaritan laws you cannot have charges pressed against you. If you are the only trained person availible, you have a duty to respond. In this circumstance the woman was problably luaghing to hard to reply, and her hand was placed over her chest due to the heavy exhaling. She CANNOT press charges, and you did nothing wrong. Next time you see a person choking, walk past the and say: "My bad, I thought you were luaghing."
Yes she can press charges, it's assault unless you have PERMISSION if they're conscious... and under the Good Samaritan law you can still get sued, but as long as you acted under the law and your personal standard of care, you will most likely be cleared of the charges. You can only act to the standard of your certification, for example, I'm an EMT-B, under the law i'm allowed to do certain things for patients, however I'm not allowed to do things a paramedic could do and a person who's only CPR certified can't do things that I can.
#81 - On 12/04/2009 at 8:50pm by divingdiva820
You always ASK the person if they are choking, and if can they breathe. If they can't, and it's a stranger, ask them if they want you to help. They will show you with hand/head movements whether they need your help or not. The other posters are correct, who said that if a person is truly choking, no sound comes out. I saved my sister once just that way. Otherwise, you're risking hurting someone and having a lawsuit slapped on your over-eager azz.
"It doesnt mean you should wait for it to get serious and not help her untill it does"
Are you kidding? By doing abdominal thrusts when it's not necessary, you'll put the person in MORE danger, by causing whatever's in their mouth to become fully lodged in their throat. People need to take first aid/CPR classes instead of just pretending they know what they're talking about. You'll end up killing someone.
the heimlich manouvre shouldn't be used at all - it can be very dangerous, instead, 4 firm blows between the shoulder blades should be administered, but of course only after you've asked do they need help and they have nodded to you. if it's a child, you put them over your knee first.
This is an urban legend. My boyfriend is an EMT and he says that it very specifically says not to use that method because it's almost 50/50 which direction it causes the object to go (i.e., further down the throat which is bad, or up and out). Every manual that emergency medical professionals use say to first encourage the victim to cough, and if that doesn't work, to use abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich).
I'm an EMT, and that's bullshit...on adults and children if the airway is completely obstructed you use the hemlich to the object out... only if the patient is an infant, you use five back blows followed by five chest compressions with two fingers, then if the patient goes unconscious, you proceed with standard CPR, 2 breaths for every 30 compressions with adults and children and 2 breaths for every 15 for babies younger than 1 year. If the airway isn't completely obstructed (ie. the patient can cough or speak) encourage them to cough it up until the object comes out or until the airway becomes completely obstructed
#80 - On 12/04/2009 at 8:44pm by divingdiva820
how was "she's choaking" the first thong that popped into your head. I think you've been watching too many hero movies
are you serious? i doubt it.. if you are talk about being melodramatic, you need to get out more!
#74 - On 12/02/2009 at 11:55am by mylifecanbeshit
Just a word to the wise:
1. If you can hear coughing or choking they are getting air. DO NOT attempt to dislodge the object - they will cough it up by themselves. If you try, you may joggle it enough so that it actually sticks.
2. If they cannot get any air in or out and are truely choking it will be silent. First, get them to lean forward. Deal a sharp blow with the base of your hand to between the shoulder blades. Try this a few times. If it doesn't work, THEN try the heimlich maneuvre but not before. The heimlich maneuvre is a last resort action because it can and often seriously damages internal organs in that area eg. the pancreas. If the object is removed and you used the heimlich maneuvre, CALL AN AMBULANCE ANYWAY. The person should IMMEDIATELY go to the hospital because they could be bleeding internally. If they heimlich maneuvre doesn't work keep trying both options until they fall unconcious. At that point, their airways will hopefully relax so they may be able to get the object out. Either way, start doing CPR (once you're unconcious and not breathing you are pretty much definately going to go into cardiac arrest).
#76 - On 12/03/2009 at 2:39am by Pwibble
Apparently you've never actually heard someone choke or have been choked before. It doesn't sound like a laughter. At all.
#77 - On 12/03/2009 at 3:32am by thingamajiga
You're kidding right? There's this little thing called consent...if you touch someone, even it's to help them, without their permission, they can sue you for assault. Dumbass.
#79 - On 12/04/2009 at 8:39pm by divingdiva820
i completely admire your enthusiasm to help an individual in need' haha on the flip side, its pretty amazing youve mistaken this womens laugh for a 'choke'. two thumbs up man you made my day.
#82 - On 12/05/2009 at 1:20pm by oOMr_JonesOo
Today, while dining in a restaurant, some weirdo wrapped his arms around my torso and started humping me.
I was an emt. when you come upon an unconscious person or one in distress, ask "are you ok?" ask it exactly like that, as some people don't speak English, but even foreigners understand the word "okay."
