Letter to the editor, 6-8-04, Atlanta Journal & Constitution:

Use Heimlich to clear water-filled lungs

Your feature urges people to take a CPR course ("10 tips for a safe summer," Living, June 1). That's not a bad idea in general, but it's the wrong way to resuscitate a near-drowning victim. Numerous studies have proved that using the Heimlich maneuver to clear water-filled lungs is significantly more effective than CPR. Both the Red Cross and American Heart Association now advocate using the Heimlich maneuver.

The simple reality is that with CPR, the act of blowing air into water-filled lungs is useless unless the lungs are first cleared of water.

GEORGE R. BLAKE, Atlanta

Blake neglects to identify himself is a longtime trustee of the Heimlich Institute of Cincinnati: http://medfraud.info/2002_HI_Trustees.pdf

Blake is a former longtime editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/01/07/fin_tristate_business.html

One might expect a former newspaper executive would be aware of publishing protocols and to state his professional affiliation in a letter to the editor.

This 6-11-04 response to Blake's letter presented a more accurate representation of the medical facts:

Heimlich dangerous in cases of drowning

According to current American Heart Association recommendations on life-support techniques, the Heimlich maneuver is not a recommended procedure for drowning victims, despite the advice of a recent letter writer ("Use Heimlich to clear water-filled lungs," June 8).

The Heimlich maneuver is a valuable skill for removing foreign bodies from the airway of choking victims, but it should not be used for near-drowning because it delays lifesaving breathing support and is potentially traumatic.

Capt. DOUG MORRIS

Morris, of Fayetteville, is a firefighter and paramedic with the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services

 

 

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