Wilderness Medical Society snowmass 2005 Page 187
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consciousness does not need be evacuated unless respiratory distress continues, or
hypotension, bilateral crackles and/or other signs of distress develop.
B. Should the Heimlich maneuver be used to clear the airway of a near-drowning victim?
The American Heart Association unequivocally recommends an immediate start of CPR
without the Heimlich maneuver in the case of a near-drowned victim. Only utilize the
Heimlich maneuver if foreign matter is suspected of obstructing the airway or when
attempts to ventilate the patient fail due to a blocked airway.
