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The Heimlich method was adopted by the Red Cross in 1985 after an American Heart Association conference at which Day presented findings that backed the idea that blows drive food deeper into the windpipe.

"The paper itself states that it was funded by the Dysphasia Foundation and the Dysphasia Foundation changed its name shortly after the paper was published to The Heimlich Institute," said Heimlich's son, Peter.

Peter Heimlich said his father "bought" the study during which researchers measured air pressure at the mouths of volunteers receiving either back blows or abdominal thrusts.

His father, said Peter Heimlich, referred to back blows as "death blows," but had no science to back up those claims and used "brass-knuckle media tactics" to rid references to them in literature.

"He went on a 10-year campaign to discredit the competition, which was back blows and chest thrusts," said Peter Heimlich.

Peter Heimlich also maintains that the American Red Cross is dragging its feet in getting the information out about the new protocol.

King disagrees. At the local and national level, she said, efforts are being made to let people know.

"I know I have done several media releases," said King. "Our chapters are going out to their local communities. Anyone who is trained now you are taught the new skills. So, they are in all of the new Red Cross programs. We've got materials, posters and wallet cards."