José Manuel Felices, doctor: "If you choke when you're alone and can't cough, you're in grave danger: This is what you should do."

Medical specialist José Manuel Felices, through his social media accounts, revealed what a person should do in the event of a choking, as the first few seconds are vital to saving a life.

Many people tend to choke on food. If they are with someone, the person can call a doctor and try various maneuvers, such as the Heimlich, while they take the person to the emergency room. But when they are alone, the situation can become distressing.

“If we can cough, we'll try to do it as hard as possible. If we can't cough, our airway is blocked and we're in grave danger ,” he argued.

José Manuel explained that people shouldn't waste time sending WhatsApp messages, much less going to the neighbor's house, as the first few seconds are crucial.

Therefore, it is important to call the emergency number so that doctors can give you instructions on what to do. One of the first steps is to leave your front door open until help arrives .

While waiting for help, Felices recommends to his followers that if this ever happens to them, they should try to perform the Heimlich maneuver on themselves .

“We locate the boneless area below the sternum, make a fist, place our hand on top, and push inward and upward in a J shape. If you need more force, lean against a firm edge and push upward ,” he explained.

Although many people may experience moments of anguish when they realize they can't breathe and don't know what to do, the important thing is always to stay calm and perform the Heimlich maneuver as many times as necessary.

Also, you should not put your hand down your throat, as this can make things worse, as you will most likely push out whatever is stuck.

@doctorfelices Learn how to save your life if you choke while you're alone 🥵 🧐 You may have many doubts about what to do, do I call my parents? Do I look for the neighbor? We solve it in this video in less than 1 minute! 👌🏼 We explain what you need so that your decisions are the most efficient to save your life ⏱️ We hope you never have to face it, but having the information would help you a lot, share it with whoever you want to know! ❤️ #firstaid #choking #emergencies #health #safety ♬ original sound - Doctor Felices

His followers were surprised, as many were unaware of this tactic, which is vital not only to save his own life, but also that of a family member who might suffer the same fate.

"Thank you for giving us so many guidelines and using such clear language," "I hope I never have to use it," and "These videos should go viral because they save lives" were some of the messages from internet users.

DIGITAL REACH EDITORIAL