Henry Heimlich

Henry Judah Heimlich (February 3, 1920 – December 17, 2016) was an American thoracic surgeon and medical researcher. He is widely known for developing the Heimlich maneuver, a technique of abdominal thrusts for stopping choking, which has been credited with saving many lives.

Early Life and Education

Henry Heimlich was born in Wilmington, Delaware, to Mary (née Epstein) and Philip Heimlich. He attended Cornell University for his undergraduate studies and later received his M.D. from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1943. After graduating, Heimlich served in the United States Navy during World War II, where he worked as a surgeon.

Career

After the war, Heimlich embarked on a career in medicine, focusing on thoracic surgery. In the 1950s, he developed a technique for replacing the esophagus using stomach tissue, which was considered a significant advancement in surgical procedures at the time.

In 1974, Heimlich introduced what would become his most famous contribution to medicine and public health: the Heimlich maneuver. This technique was designed to help victims of choking by applying sudden pressure on the abdomen, just below the ribcage, to force objects out of the windpipe. The maneuver quickly gained acceptance and was adopted by health organizations worldwide as the standard response to choking.

Throughout his career, Heimlich was involved in other medical innovations and controversial treatments, including a malariotherapy for treating cancer and Lyme disease, which was met with skepticism and criticism from the medical community.

Legacy

Henry Heimlich's contributions to medicine, especially the Heimlich maneuver, have had a lasting impact on emergency medicine and public health. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, and he has been featured in various media outlets for his life-saving technique.

Despite controversies surrounding some of his later work, Heimlich's legacy is primarily defined by the widespread adoption of the maneuver that bears his name, which has undoubtedly saved countless lives around the world.

Death

Henry Heimlich passed away on December 17, 2016, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 96. His death was attributed to complications from a massive heart attack he had suffered earlier in the week.

See Also

• First aid
• Choking
• Emergency medicine