The Heimlich Maneuver

W h a t do you do during an emergency on the job? How do you handle first

aid? The following workplace document might be posted on a company bul-
letin board or in the medical office or placed in the server of a company’s Web
site. It also might appear in restaurants.

FOCUS: WORKPLACE DOCUMENT

The following document explains how to deal with one type of emergency.
As with many workplace documents, it includes graphics that will help you
follow the text:
• Boldface text calls out important information.
• A numbered list gives step-by-step instructions.
• A bulleted list presents specialized instructions.
• An illustration accompanies the text, demonstrating what to do.

TERMS TO KNOW
Boldface—a heavier, darker type.
Cross-reference—words, usually in parentheses, telling you to look at an
illustration or at a different section of the text.
Graphics—visual materials that enhance the text, such as art, photos,
drawings, and diagrams.
Figure—an illustration or diagram.
Format—the design of a document.
Header—a label or heading that begins a section of a document.
Point-by-point sequence—a sequence that states each point as a separate
item, in no particular order.
Step-by-step sequence—a sequence that tells what to do first, second,
third, and so on.

Reading
Standard 2.1
Analyze the
structure and
format of
functional
workplace
documents,
including the
graphics and
headers, and
explain how
authors use the
features to
achieve their
purposes.

382 Part 2 Consumer, Workplace, and Public Documents

The Heimlich Maneuver
Choking can be caused by food, drink, gum, or objects acciden-
Read the first paragraph.
tally inhaled through the nose or mouth that block the airway to Underline the sentence
that explains the pur-
the lungs. If air is unable to reach the lungs, death may result. pose for performing the
The Heimlich maneuver is one of the most effective ways to help Heimlich maneuver.

a choking person. (See diagram.)

1 Make sure the victim is choking. The victim will not

be able to talk but will probably communicate through
signs and actions, such as grabbing his or her throat.
Push upward
Get someone to call 911. into the chest
2 Stand behind the victim and put your arms around
his or her abdomen.
The Heimlich Maneuver
3 Make a fist at the bottom of the victim’s breastbone.
4 Push your fist upward into the victim’s chest in a quick
motion, putting pressure on the lungs. This will push air out
of the lungs and into the windpipe, forcing the object to dis- The first five steps are
arranged in step-by-step
lodge from the throat. sequence. What should you
5 Repeat the procedure. It may take many tries before you dis- do before beginning the
maneuver?
lodge the object.
• If the victim is pregnant or obese, pressure should be
directed to the chest instead of the abdomen.
• If the victim is unconscious, turn him or her onto the back.
Put your hand against the victim’s middle abdomen. Place
your other hand on top, and push upward with a sharp
thrust. Try to remove the obstruction with your fingers. If the
What is the purpose of the
victim stops breathing, begin artificial respiration. illustration?
• If the victim is a child, put the heel of your hand above the
navel and well below the rib cage. Cover it with the other
hand and push down with a sharp upward movement. The
child should be on his or her back.
• If the victim is a baby, straddle the infant over your arm with
its head lower than the torso. Hold the baby’s jaw in your The bulleted steps are
arranged in point-by-point
hand to support the head. Give four back blows between the sequence. Read these steps.
shoulder blades to dislodge the foreign object. Underline the special situa-
tions these steps refer to.
“Heimlich Maneuver” from The Big Book of Life's Instructions, edited by Sheree Bykofsky and Paul Fargis.
Copyright © 1995 by The Stonesong Press, Inc. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.

The Heimlich Maneuver 383

Standards Review

The Heimlich Maneuver

Complete the sample test item below. The box at the right explains why three of these
choices are not correct.

Sample Test Item Explanation of the Correct Answer

The purpose of a cross-reference is to— The correct answer is A.

A refer you to a different section of a Labels show the parts of illustrations,
document not cross-references, so B is incorrect.
B show the different parts of an Information is highlighted by things such
illustration as color, typeface, and size, so C is incor-
C highlight important information rect. Usually numbers or letters show the
order of steps, so D is incorrect.
D show the order of steps

DIRECTIONS: Circle the letter of the best response to each item.

1. The cross-reference to the illustration 3. You can find important information

in this document appears in— in the bulleted list quickly because—
A boldface A it is numbered
B italics B it is printed in boldface
C parentheses C it is in parentheses
D capitals D it is underlined

Reading 2. The first five steps of the maneuver are 4. The graphic in this chart is placed—
Standard 2.1
Analyze the in step-by-step sequence because— F at the most attractive point
structure and
format of F the steps may all be done at once G near the steps it refers to
functional
workplace G the steps must be done in the H at the end of the steps
documents,
including the order listed
J in the middle of the steps
graphics and
headers, and H the steps can be done in any
explain how order
authors use the
features to J the victim may be unable to count
achieve their
purposes.

384 Part 2 Consumer, Workplace, and Public Documents