At a restaurant, a customer chokes on a piece of food. You put your arms around the person's waist and use your fists to push up on the person's abdomen, an action called the Heimlich maneuver.
b. Why does it cause the person to expel the food item from the airway?

Verified step by step guidance

1. The Heimlich maneuver works based on the principles of pressure and gas laws, specifically Boyle's Law, which states that the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional at constant temperature. This means that if the volume of a gas decreases, its pressure increases.
2. When you perform the Heimlich maneuver, you apply a sudden upward force on the person's abdomen. This force compresses the diaphragm, which in turn reduces the volume of the thoracic cavity (the chest area).
3. As the volume of the thoracic cavity decreases, the pressure inside the lungs increases significantly. This is because the air inside the lungs is compressed into a smaller space, leading to a rapid rise in pressure.
4. The increased pressure in the lungs forces air to move upward through the trachea (windpipe) with great force. This rapid expulsion of air creates a strong airflow directed outward.
5. The strong outward airflow dislodges the obstructing food item from the airway, allowing the person to breathe again. This is why the Heimlich maneuver is effective in clearing airway obstructions.

Key Concepts

Heimlich Maneuver

The Heimlich maneuver is a first aid technique used to treat choking. It involves a series of abdominal thrusts aimed at creating pressure in the abdomen, which can force an object lodged in the airway out. This technique is crucial in emergency situations to restore airflow and prevent asphyxiation.

Airway Obstruction

Airway obstruction occurs when an object blocks the flow of air into the lungs, preventing normal breathing. In the case of choking, food or other items can become lodged in the trachea, leading to a lack of oxygen. Understanding how obstructions occur helps in recognizing the urgency of performing the Heimlich maneuver.

Pressure Dynamics

The Heimlich maneuver relies on the principles of pressure dynamics, where increasing pressure in the abdominal cavity can expel an object from the airway. By pushing upward on the abdomen, the maneuver creates a rapid increase in pressure that can dislodge the obstruction, allowing the person to breathe again.