Subject: media inquiry From: Peter Heimlich <peter.heimlich@gmail.com> Date: 4/16/2013 9:23 AM To: Regina.Benjamin@hhs.gov CC: Dawn.Alley@hhs.

gov, "Murray, Chase" <Chase.Murray@mail.house.gov> Regina M. Benjamin MD MBA United States Surgeon General 1101 Wooton Parkway Rockville MD 20852 Dear Surgeon General Benjamin: Per the e-mail thread copied below my signature, for an item I'm reporting on my blog, since February 26 I've made repeated attempts via e-mails and phone messages to obtain an answer to a straightforward policy question from various members of your staff. I have yet to receive a reply from anyone, therefore, I'd greatly appreciate your attention and assistance in helping me to obtain an answer to my question. On September 30, 1985, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a Public Health Report with your agency's recommendations for treating choking victims. Here's a copy: http://bit.ly/OZGIoJ Here's the gist of the Report: Surgeon General C. Everett Koop today endorsed the Heimlich manuever [sic], not as the preferred, but as the only method that should be used for the treatment of choking from foreign body airway obstruction. Dr. Koop also urged the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association to teach only the Heimlich Manuever [sic] in their first aid classes. Dr. Koop urged both organizations to withdraw from circulation manuals, posters and other materials that recommend treating choking victims with back slaps and blows to the chest. ..."Millions of Americans have been taught to treat persons who are choking with back blows, chest thrusts and abdominal thrusts," Dr. Koop said. "Now, they must be advised . . . and I ask for the participation of the Red Cross, the American Heart Association and public health authorities everywhere...that these methods are hazardous, even lethal." A back slap, the surgeon general said, can drive a foreign object even deeper into the throat. Chest and abdominal thrusts, because they refer to blows to unspecified locations on the body, have resulted in cracked ribs and damaged spleens and livers, among other injuries. "The best rescue technique in any choking situation," Dr. Koop said, "is the Heimlich Manuever. [sic]" Here's the question for which I've been trying to obtain an answer. Is this your agency's current recommendation for treating choking victims? If not, would you please explain your agency's current recommendation? Thank you for your time and consideration. I'd greatly appreciate confirmation that you received this e-mail and some indication of approximately when I may expect to receive an answer to my question. Sincerely, Peter M. Heimlich 3630 River Hollow Run Duluth, GA 30096 ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar cc: Dawn Alley PhD, Senior Policy Adviser, Office of the US Surgeon General The Hon. Rob Woodall (GA-7th District) % Chase Murray

On 3/28/2013 3:53 PM, Peter Heimlich wrote: Dawn Alley PhD Senior Policy Adviser Office of the US Surgeon General 1101 Wooton Parkway Rockville MD 20852 Dear Dr. Alley, I was referred to you by Tracy Powell in your office whom I called a couple days ago. As I explained to Ms. Powell, for an item I'm reporting on my blog, I'm trying to obtain an answer to a quick policy question and she told me you were the go-to person. As I explained to Ms. Powell -- and as you can see from the e-mail trail below my signature -- for the past month I've been sending inquiries to and leaving phone messages for a variety of employees at your office, the most recent being Chief of Staff Robert DeMartino MD. To date I haven't received any responses to my inquiries and phone messages, so here's hoping I do better with you! Here's my question. On September 30, 1985, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a Public Health Report with your agency's recommendations for treating choking victims. Here's a copy: http://bit.ly/OZGIoJ Here's the gist of the Report: Surgeon General C. Everett Koop today endorsed the Heimlich manuever [sic], not as the preferred, but as the only method that should be used for the treatment of choking from foreign body airway obstruction. Dr. Koop also urged the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association to teach only the Heimlich Manuever [sic] in their first aid classes. Dr. Koop urged both organizations to withdraw from circulation manuals, posters and other materials that recommend treating choking victims with back slaps and blows to the chest. ..."Millions of Americans have been taught to treat persons who are choking with back blows, chest thrusts and abdominal thrusts," Dr. Koop said. "Now, they must be advised . . . and I ask for the participation of the Red Cross, the American Heart Association and public health authorities everywhere...that these methods are hazardous, even lethal." A back slap, the surgeon general said, can drive a foreign object even deeper into the throat. Chest and abdominal thrusts, because they refer to blows to unspecified locations on the body, have resulted in cracked ribs and damaged spleens and livers, among other injuries. "The best rescue technique in any choking situation," Dr. Koop said, "is the Heimlich Manuever. [sic]" Is this your agency's current recommendation for treating choking victims? If not, would you please explain your agency's current recommendation? Thanks for your attention. I'd greatly appreciate confirmation that you received this e-mail and some indication of approximately when I may expect to receive an answer to my question. Sincerely, Peter M. Heimlich 3630 River Hollow Run Duluth, GA 30096 ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar cc:

Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin MD MBA, US Surgeon General The Honorable Rob Woodall % Chase Murray Tracy Powell

On 3/15/2013 9:59 AM, Peter Heimlich wrote: Robert DeMartino MD Chief of Staff Office of the US Surgeon General Tower Building Plaza Level 1, Room 100 1101 Wooton Parkway Rockville MD 20852 Dear Dr. DeMartino, This is to follow-up a voice message I left you yesterday asking you to confirm receipt of my March 6 inquiry (copied below my signature). Per my message, I'd also appreciate receiving some indication of approximately when I may expect to receive an answer to the questions I submitted in my February 26 inquiry. Thank you for your continued attention and I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Peter M. Heimlich 3630 River Hollow Run Duluth, GA 30096 ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar

On 3/6/2013 11:32 AM, Peter Heimlich wrote: Robert DeMartino MD Chief of Staff Office of the US Surgeon General Tower Building Plaza Level 1, Room 100 1101 Wooton Parkway Rockville MD 20852 Dear Dr. DeMartino: I'm having difficulty obtaining some basic information from your office and would greatly appreciate your assistance. For an item I'm reporting on my blog, on Tuesday, February 26, I phoned (202)205-0143, the number listed on your office's website as the media contact point: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/contactus/index.html The phone was answered by a recording, so I left a detailed phone message (including my contact information) and sent the following e-mail to the email address provided in the recorded message: On 2/26/2013 5:26 PM, Peter Heimlich wrote to ashmedia@hhs.gov To whom it may concern, I'd appreciate your help with a quick question for an item I'm reporting on my blog, The Sidebar.

On September 30, 1985, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a Public Health Report with your agency's recommendations for treating choking victims. Here's a copy: http://bit.ly/OZGIoJ Here's the gist of the Report: Surgeon General C. Everett Koop today endorsed the Heimlich manuever [sic], not as the preferred, but as the only method that should be used for the treatment of choking from foreign body airway obstruction. Dr. Koop also urged the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association to teach only the Heimlich Manuever [sic] in their first aid classes. Dr. Koop urged both organizations to withdraw from circulation manuals, posters and other materials that recommend treating choking victims with back slaps and blows to the chest. ..."Millions of Americans have been taught to treat persons who are choking with back blows, chest thrusts and abdominal thrusts," Dr. Koop said. "Now, they must be advised . . . and I ask for the participation of the Red Cross, the American Heart Association and public health authorities everywhere...that these methods are hazardous, even lethal." A back slap, the surgeon general said, can drive a foreign object even deeper into the throat. Chest and abdominal thrusts, because they refer to blows to unspecified locations on the body, have resulted in cracked ribs and damaged spleens and livers, among other injuries. "The best rescue technique in any choking situation," Dr. Koop said, "is the Heimlich Manuever. [sic]" Here's my question. Is this your agency's current recommendation for treating choking victims? If not, would you please explain your agency's current recommendation? Thanks and I'd appreciate receiving the requested information before end of the day this Friday, March 1. If you need more time, would you please provide me with an approximate date when I may expect to receive the information? By the afternoon of Friday, March 1, four business days later, I hadn't received a response, so I phoned your office's main number, (240)2768853. A receptionist answered and I explained the situation. The receptionist then directed me to Gayle Converse, your office's Senior Communications Specialist at (202)205-4867 and gayle.converse@hhs.com. The receptionist then transferred me to Ms. Converse's line. I got her voice mail, so I left Ms. Converse a detailed message explaining the situation and requested a callback or an e-mail reply to let me know the status of my February 26 inquiry. I promptly followed-up my voice message with an e-mail (copied below my signature).

On Monday, March 4, I hadn't received a response so I left Ms. Converse another follow-up voice message. Yesterday, Tuesday, March 5, I still hadn't received a response, so I left Ms. Converse another voice message and sent her another e-mail (copied below my signature) stating that if I did not hear from her by day's end, I'd assume she was out of the office and that I would attempt to contact another representative of your office. I didn't receive a reply so at about 10:45 AM this morning I again called your office's main number, (240)276-8853. This time, instead of a receptionist answering the phone, I got a voice recording. The recording did not offer callers the option of leaving a message, but simply instructed to try again at another time. First, you may be concerned how your office handles media and public inquiries, so I wanted to bring the above information to your attention. Second, would you please advise when I may expect to receive an answer to my February 26 inquiry? As you can see, I asked a simple, straightforward policy question regarding your office's current position on a public health issue. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your reply. In recent years, my congressman Rob Woodall (GA-7th District) has been helpful in assisting me to obtain information from other federal agencies, so I'm copying his office on this. Sincerely, Peter M. Heimlich 3630 River Hollow Run Duluth, GA 30096 ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar cc: The Honorable Rob Woodall % Chase Murray

On 3/5/2013 3:31 PM, Peter Heimlich wrote: Dear Ms. Converse, I left you a second voice message yesterday, but I haven't received a reply. If I don't hear from you by day's end, I'll assume you're out of the office and will attempt to reach another of the Surgeon General's representatives. Cordially, Peter M. Heimlich Atlanta ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar On 3/1/2013 9:08 PM, Peter Heimlich wrote: Gayle Converse Communications Specialist Office of the US Surgeon General

Dear Ms. Converse, I'm following-up on a voice message I left you this afternoon. As I explained in my message, on February 26, I e-mailed the inquiry copied below my signature to ashmedia@hhs.gov. I received a near-immediate confirmation of receipt, but didn't receive a reply. Yesterday I left a follow-up voice message at (202)205-0143. I didn't receive a reply today, so late this afternoon I called (240)276-8853, explained the situation, and the operator directed me to you. Can you please provide me with an indication of when I may expect to receive an answer to my question? Thanks for your consideration and I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Peter M. Heimlich Atlanta ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar

On 2/26/2013 5:26 PM, Peter Heimlich wrote to ashmedia@hhs.gov To whom it may concern, I'd appreciate your help with a quick question for an item I'm reporting on my blog, The Sidebar. On September 30, 1985, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a Public Health Report with your agency's recommendations for treating choking victims. Here's a copy: http://bit.ly/OZGIoJ Here's the gist of the Report: Surgeon General C. Everett Koop today endorsed the Heimlich manuever [sic], not as the preferred, but as the only method that should be used for the treatment of choking from foreign body airway obstruction. Dr. Koop also urged the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association to teach only the Heimlich Manuever [sic] in

their first aid classes. Dr. Koop urged both organizations to withdraw from circulation manuals, posters and other materials that recommend treating choking victims with back slaps and blows to the chest. ..."Millions of Americans have been taught to treat persons who are choking with back blows, chest thrusts and abdominal thrusts," Dr. Koop said. "Now, they must be advised . . . and I ask for the participation of the Red Cross, the American Heart Association and public health authorities everywhere...that these methods are hazardous, even lethal." A back slap, the surgeon general said, can drive a foreign object even deeper into the throat. Chest and abdominal thrusts, because they refer to blows to unspecified locations on the body, have resulted in cracked ribs and damaged spleens and livers, among other injuries. "The best rescue technique in any choking situation," Dr. Koop said, "is the Heimlich Manuever. [sic]" Here's my question. Is this your agency's current recommendation for treating choking victims? If not, would you please explain your agency's current recommendation? Thanks and I'd appreciate receiving the requested information before end of the day this Friday, March 1. If you need more time, would you

please provide me with an approximate date when I may expect to receive the information? Cheers, Peter M. Heimlich Atlanta ph: (208)474-7283 website: Medfraud blog: The Sidebar