Panel recommendations (1985 American Heart Association panel on Foreign Body Airway Obstruction):

Two major considerations directed the panel discussions:

(I) Is there one method of treatment that can be accepted as being at least as effective and as safe as any other being taught and used presently? (2) If so, is it likely that incorporation of only this one method of treatment would benefit training programs in terms of simplification of teaching, learning, and retention?

The most persuasive data presented for review were those of Day and associates cited above. Coupled with continuing clinical experience in the treatment of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO), these data led the panel to conclude that adoption of the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrust) as the treatment of choice provided a rational affirmative reply to the two major questions posed to the panel.

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For more information on the 1982 Day study: http://medfraud.info/IOM-AHA-ARC_Day...