Doctor enters lifesaving controversy
By James Kirley staff writer
Dr. Peter Wernicki, who practices in Vero Beach, says following Dr.
Henry Heimlich's advice as a first response to
drowning could cause a victim to choke on vomit, aggravate any spinal injuries
and may be fatal.
A recent inquiry by Dr.
Peter Wernicki of
Wernicki said following Heimlich's
advice delays the beginning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, could cause a
drowning victim to choke on vomit and could aggravate any spinal injuries.
"I think Dr.
Heimlich, by advocating it, is probably causing more loss of life," Wernicki said, "and we want
to prevent that."
Heimlich's advice runs contrary to drowning
rescue protocols taught by the American Red Cross — which teaches the use of
rescue breathing first.
"If efforts to
ventilate the patient suggest obstruction of the airway, then the Heimlich maneuver
may be performed in an attempt to clear the obstruction," said Stacy
Grissom, a spokeswoman at the Red Cross'
20-year campaign
Heimlich has campaigned
more than 20 years to have lifesaving organizations adopt the maneuver bearing
his name as a first step in drowning rescues. His efforts included a 1995
lecture to the lifesaving association's board of directors, followed by an
article published in the association's American Lifeguard Magazine.
But the association never
took Heimlich's advice and Wernicki
wrote a counterpoint article in a subsequent issue of the magazine.
"I think the only
person who actually recommends the Heimlich maneuver (for drowning) is
Heimlich," Wernicki said, "and everybody
else recommends it only if you have an (airway) obstruction."
The Heimlich Institute Web
site calls mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing "the kiss of death" and
says it has cost thousands of lives with heart attack and drowning victims.
"To save drowning
victims, perform the same Heimlich maneuver you use for a choking victim.
Repeat until water no longer flows from the lungs," the Web site advises.
"The greater problem,
to me, is that Dr. Heimlich continues to go out and advocate this to anyone who
will listen," said R. Chris Brewster, president of the association.
"Still, no reputable medical organization endorses his decision."
Contacted by the Press
Journal for comment, Heimlich sent a copy of his April 19 reply letter to Wernicki and an open letter printed in the May issue of
Cornell Alumni Magazine.
"Drowning victims die
because their lungs fill with water...Four Heimlich maneuvers clear the water
from the lungs," Heimlich's Cornell Alumni
Magazine letter stated.
Locally, supervisors for
both
Questions raised
Wernicki wrote Heimlich March 31, reminding
the
"Recent information
provided to us has raised questions regarding the factual basis of...the cases
you have cited that purport to show the efficacy of the Heimlich maneuver for
drowning," Wernicki wrote. "We have an
ethical obligation to investigate and to correct the record, if
necessary."
Heimlich wrote Wernicki in his reply: "I am perplexed by your
criticism, since you elected to publish my article. It is apparent that the
(U.S. Lifesaving Association) also felt the need to inform its lifeguards of
the alternative to the (American Red Cross) protocol."
Heimlich's letter to Wernicki
cited a 1995 report of rescuing a 2-year-old boy at a
Now a commissioner in
"We saved him by
doing (the Heimlich maneuver)," Watson said in a phone interview last
week. "If I hadn't gotten the water out...the kid would have died."
Wernicki and Brewster said they have read
letters and other writings posted on the Internet critical of Heimlich's efforts to advance the Heimlich maneuver for
drowning rescue.
These include an anonymous
letter to the presidents of four nationwide medical organizations. It questions
the veracity of the two drowning cases cited in Wernicki's
letter to Heimlich.
"We're trying to get
at the facts behind it," Brewster said about the Internet material.