Subject: author inquiry

From: "Peter M. Heimlich" <pmh@medfraud.info>

Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 11:42:11 -0400
To: gatesg@redcross-esc.org
CC: JantzM@usa.redcross.org, hsetter@boothmidmichigan.com, david_markenson@nymc.edu

Gena Gates
Executive Director
American Red Cross East Shoreline Chapter
228 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708

Dear Ms. Gates:

Thanks for your time during our brief call this morning in which you confirmed that your chapter presented
this award as reported in Heroes Among Us: Training mixed with instict (sic) when Heather Irish
encountered a drowning man by Holly Setter, Bay City Times, May 12, 2011.

I'd appreciate your help with some quick questions that pertain to a book I'm writing. From Ms. Setter's
article:

This year’s recipient of the Teamwork Hero award from the Red Cross “Heroes Among Us”
recognition program, (Heather) Irish put her medical training to good use and saved a man
who would have drowned without aid....Irish pulled him above water and began administering
the Heimlich maneuver to clear his airway. Just as he finished vomiting water, Irish said he
went into a grand mal seizure. “He would have died if he hadn’t gotten help, there is no doubt,”
she said. “It was a mix of training and instinct - if I had gone purely on training, I wouldn’t have
thought to use the Heimlich while still in the swamp.”

1) Based on this description, it's unclear whether or not Ms. Irish was taught to apply the Heimlich
maneuver (a/k/a abdominal thrusts) to clear water from the airway of a near-drowning victim in a Red
Cross training class, perhaps via your chapter. Can you clarify?

2) Based on the presentation of the award, my understanding is that your chapter endorses the use of the
Heimlich maneuver for near-drowning rescue. Is that accurate?

3) When Ms. Setter was reporting her article, did any representatives of your organization make her aware
of the American Red Cross's position on the use of the Heimlich maneuver for near-drowning per the
attached August 2005 ARC "hot topics" memo and per this 2006 policy statement?
Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to receiving your answers to my questions.

Sincerely,

Peter M. Heimlich
Atlanta
(208)474-7283
http://medfraud.info

(Peter is now) writing a book about (his father), called Outmaneuvered. "I'm still turning up new information
every day." (LA Weekly)

cc:

American Red Cross

David Markenson, MD, Chair, American Red Cross Advisory Council on First Aid, Aquatics, Safety and
Preparedness
Michelle Jantz, Operations and Program Administration, Preparedness and Health and Safety

Holly Setter, Bay City Times

Subject: RE: author inquiry
From: "Gena Gates" <gatesg@redcross-esc.org>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 15:09:32 -0400
To: "'Peter M. Heimlich'" <pmh@medfraud.info>
CC: <JantzM@usa.redcross.org>, <hsetter@boothmidmichigan.com>, <david_markenson@nymc.edu>

In response to your questions,

1. I don’t know whether Ms. Irish was taught to use abdominal thrusts to clear water from the airway of a
near-drowning victim. As she is quoted, if she had simply followed her training, she would not have
thought to use this method. I do not know what training Ms. Irish has had.

2. Our chapter follows the guidelines established by the American National Red Cross for lifesaving skills
training, as we are required to do.

3. There was no discussion with Ms. Setter or with any of our heroes about the Red Cross position on any
lifesaving techniques.

The focus of our event is to honor people who took some action in an emergency situation to save or
preserve the life of another. We do not ask if they are certified in CPR or other lifesaving techniques,
although our honorees may mention such training in the course of telling their stories, if that training is
relevant to the situation. Such training is not required as a condition of receiving this award. We do not
attempt to evaluate whether a hero’s response to a situation was technically correct or followed all
recommended procedures and techniques. Again, the focus is on the hero’s willingness to take action in an
emergency.

Ms. Irish did not actually receive an award at our event yesterday. After her initial interview with our staff,
she did not respond to phone calls, so we were not able to interview her on tape and take a photograph for
the event program. She was included in the list of heroes that was provided to the Bay City Times several
weeks ago, which was the basis for the short article that you saw online today.

Gena J. Gates
Executive Director
American Red Cross, East Shoreline Chapter
228 Washington Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708
gatesg@redcross-esc.org
989.892.1541

American Red Cross

1 25 years helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies!
Subject: Re: author inquiry
From: "Peter M. Heimlich" <pmh@medfraud.info>
Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 15:44:05 -0400
To: Gena Gates <gatesg@redcross-esc.org>
CC: JantzM@usa.redcross.org, hsetter@boothmidmichigan.com, david_markenson@nymc.edu,
jhiner@boothmidmichigan.com

Gena Gates
Executive Director
American Red Cross East Shoreline Chapter
228 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708

Dear Ms. Gates:

Thanks for your prompt and thorough response. I'd appreciate your answer to one more quick question.

Ms. Setter's article clearly creates the impression that the Heimlich maneuver is an effective method for
neardrowning rescue when, in fact, according to American Red Cross guidelines, the treatment may put
readers at risk of serious injury or death. Further, clearly the article was written as a result of your
organization's decision to present the award to Ms. Irish.

Under the circumstances, do you or any other Red Cross representatives intend to write a clarification
letter to
the editor of the Bay City Times or to request a published clarification?

Thank you for your continued attention and I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Peter M. Heimlich
Atlanta
(208)474-7283
http://medfraud.info

(Peter is now) writing a book about (his father), called Outmaneuvered. "I'm still turning up new information
every day." (LA Weekly)

cc:

American Red Cross

David Markenson, MD, Chair, American Red Cross Advisory Council on First Aid, Aquatics, Safety and
Preparedness
Michelle Jantz, Operations and Program Administration, Preparedness and Health and Safety

Bay City Times

John C. Hiner, Executive Editor
Holly Setter
Subject: Re: author inquiry
From: "Peter M. Heimlich" <pmh@medfraud.info>
Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 17:11:54 -0400
To: Gena Gates <gatesg@redcross-esc.org>

Gena Gates
Executive Director
American Red Cross East Shoreline Chapter
228 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708

Dear Ms. Gates:

I haven't received your reply to my May 13 e-mail, copied below my signature. I'd appreciate your answer
to my question so I may know how to proceed:
Do you or any other Red Cross representatives intend to write a clarification letter to the editor
of the Bay City Times or to request a published clarification?

Thank you for your continued attention and I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Peter M. Heimlich
Atlanta
(208)474-7283
http://medfraud.info

(Peter is now) writing a book about (his father), called Outmaneuvered. "I'm still turning up new information
every day." (LA Weekly)
Subject: author inquiry - 3rd & final request
From: "Peter M. Heimlich" <pmh@medfraud.info>
Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 11:57:07 -0400
To: Gena Gates <gatesg@redcross-esc.org>

Gena Gates
Executive Director
American Red Cross East Shoreline Chapter
228 Washington Avenue
Bay City, MI 48708

Dear Ms. Gates:

I recently started a blog and plan to write an item next week about the May 12 Bay City Times article,
Heroes Among Us: Training mixed with instict (sic) when Heather Irish encountered a drowning man.

I haven't received your answer to this question I sent you via e-mail on May 13 & 19:
Do you or any other Red Cross representatives intend to write a clarification letter to the editor
of the Bay City Times or to request a published clarification?

In the event that I don't receive your answer to my question by Friday June 3, I'll be reporting that you
failed to respond to multiple inquiries.

Thank you for your continued attention and I hope to receive your answer to my question.

Sincerely,

Peter M. Heimlich
Atlanta
(208)474-7283
http://medfraud.info

(Peter is now) writing a book about (his father), called Outmaneuvered. "I'm still turning up new information
every day." (LA Weekly)

NO REPLY