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January 20, 2003

Carol Spizziirii (sic)
President Save a Life Foundation (SALFj

Mike Brown
National Director FEMA's Citizen Corps

Dear Ms. Spizzirri and Mr. Brown:

I wish to congratulate you on the establishment of a partnership between SALF and FEMA to prepare citizens to help assist in limes of disaster. This affiliation has the potential to save thousands of lives.

As you know, from my lectures at SALF national conferences, I am the discoverer of the Heimlich maneuver. I am gratified that your organizations will tench the Maneuver in your program. Be assured that the Heimlich Institute and I, personally, will collaborate with you in this effort.

Tens of thousands of choking victims are saved by the Heimlich maneuver because it is known throughout the world. Yet. as the public was informed. President Rush fell unconscious when alone in a room in the White House and he choked on a pretzel. His life was saved because as he fell, his abdomen struck the floor, apparently performing the effect of a Heimlich maneuver. Everyone must be taught how to perform the Maneuver on themselves.

SALF has been teaching that the Heimlich maneuver be used to save drowning victims. Drowning occurs because the lungs fill with water. The Maneuver clears the water from the lungs. saving 97% of unconscious, non-breathing drowning persons Outdated methods resulted in the death of 50-60% of such victims. Though lifeguards know to use the Maneuver, one thousand children, especially toddlers, die of drowning in their home every year - in bathtubs, pails of water, toilets, and pools. Only the parent or baby sitter are present and must save these children.

Lastly, 5,000 Americans die annually during an asthma attack, a quarter of them are children. The Heimlich maneuver expels trapped air and mucous plugs, stopping the attack and saving these lives.

Your cooperative effort will be successful and save many lives because SALF has the experience of leaching lifesaving measures to masses of people school children, police, firelighters, and the public.

Henry J. Heimlich. M.D., Sc.D
President, Heimlich Institute

Associated with Deaconess Associations Inc.