A friend of mine last week did not see in a public place that her 2-yr-old had found and accidentally swallowed a quarter. When she and the others with her saw the child choking, none of them knew the Heimlich formally but they did all the right things. They saw nothing in her mouth. They turned her facing down at a 45 degree angle. My friend hit in and up at her baby's solar plexus and out popped the quarter. Thank G-d.
Even a Heimlich improperly done is better than leaving the poor person to die.