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On today's date in The Beacon archives, we published:
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•More Lack of Coverage from The Cincinnati Enquirer (2006)
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Saturday, May 27, 2006
The Enquirer’s “Pool Safety”: A Threat to Life?
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
In a large spread that does not seem to be available online, today’s Enquirer actually promotes The Heimlich Maneuver as a first response for near drowning victims—despite the fact that every credible piece of medical research maintains that CPR should always be the first response, and despite research which indicates the Heimlich Maneuver in these circumstances can be deadly. Click on the thumbnail to your right to see a full-sized image of the spread in question.
This past November, the American Heart Association (the group in charge of resuscitation guidelines for the medical community) stated in no uncertain terms that The Heimlich Maneuver can be dangerous when used in the manner promoted by today’s Enquirer. For some history on last November’s announcements by the AHA, see ”New AHA Research Repudiates The Heimlich Maneuver,” or ”Peter Heimlich Vindicated, American Heart Association Repudiates Henry Heimlich.”
In fact, The Beacon just finished a series by freelance writer Pamela Mills-Senn entitled ”Drowning in Funworld”—where she chronicles her experiences researching the Maneuver for drowning as a reporter for a trade magazine. In fact, Mills-Senn’s research may have actually saved lives, preventing organizations from teaching the Maneuver to lifeguards as a first response.
But check out the scanned image above. The spread actually lists “sources” at the bottom left corner: “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005; American Red Cross; American Heart Association; Heimlich Institute Foundation; Gannett News Service; Enquirer Research.”
Here’s what the AHA has to state (one of the sources supposedly referenced by The Enquirer):
“Attempts to remove water from the breathing passages by any means other than suction (e.g. abdominal thrusts or the Heimlich maneuver) are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. The routine use of abdominal thrusts or the Heimlich maneuver for drowning victims is not recommended.”
“There is no evidence that water acts as an obstructive foreign body. Maneuvers to relieve FBAO [Foreign Body Airway Obstructions] are not recommended for drowning victims because such maneuvers are not necessary and they can cause injury, vomiting and aspiration and delay CPR.”
Apparently, the Enquirer staff did some “research,” deciding to promote The Heimlich’s Institute’s agenda—despite the fact that every credible medical institution disagrees with the idea of using the Maneuver.
What kind of politics are going on here? Why is the Enquirer carrying water for The Heimlich Institute? (Don’t forget, Phil Heimlich is the VP on the Heimlich Institute Board.)
Swimming season is upon us. Water safety is important. That the Enquirer would advertise discredited medical procedures under the name of safety is a grave error.
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27 May 2006 at 09:58 pm | #
The American Red Cross recommends rescue breathing prior to either of the two methods mentioned in their paper. Irresponsible reporting on their behalf.
28 May 2006 at 04:04 am | #
funnel - You’re correct, but allow me to include a small, but important clarification. The American Red Cross in no way recommendeds the use of abdominal thrusts ("the Heimlich maneuver") for near-drowning rescue. The ARC only recommends using this procedure when a victim is choking on a solid foreign body.
Interested parties may wish to contact the Cincinnati chapter of the ARC such as CEO Sara Peller.
28 May 2006 at 07:24 am | #
Not only must we expect a retraction—we must expect a full page retraction that reviews ACCEPTED procedures for helping a near-drowning victim.
28 May 2006 at 11:51 am | #
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, this will be a very good example of how inept and corrupt this paper is. We will show this to their advertisers when we start the boycott. These assholes should already know about this from the many reports at the Beacon and aren’t concerned about the deaths this misinformation will cause. It’s bad enough they cover up Philthy Phil’s corruption.
28 May 2006 at 03:27 pm | #
Here’s what I heard. Three years ago, Peter Heimlich brought the Heimlich maneuver drowning frauds story and the Jewish Hospital residency fraud story to the Enquirer. Tom Callinan and other editors gave the go-ahead to reporter Robert Anglen to do a full-tilt expose series on Dr. Heimlich. The paper published two front page Heimlich exposes in Spring 2003, but killed the rest because the Health Alliance and the Republican party didn’t want the residency fraud story published because it would result in massive legal problems. Phil Heimlich, who has strong editorial contacts at the Enquirer (Peter Bronson), likely intervened at the Enquirer to kill future bad press about his father.
The residency fraud and drowning fraud stories were first broken by Cleveland Scene in 2004. The Enquirer has been fully informed, but still hasn’t reported either story. Draw your own conclusions.
29 May 2006 at 06:12 am | #
Today’s paper has a new “revision” of the “Pool Safety” bit. When I get some time I’ll try to upload a scan. But here’s the long and short:
The spread appears on B3 in today’s Enquirer. The spread is smaller than the original, and it does not mention a retraction or any corrections whatsoever. It is just like a new version of “Pool Safety.”
It has the same two-column chart, only now the HM is on the right instead of the left.
Under the “Pool Safety” graphic, there appears this paragraph to introduce the chart:
This really blows my mind. This is a convoluted and poorly written paragraph!
29 May 2006 at 06:14 am | #
I mean, seriously, who gives a shit what Henry Heimlich has to say about this? Why are they even mentioning the guy? The HM has been totally discredited for near-drowning.
29 May 2006 at 07:16 am | #
Didn’t see this on B1 till just now. A small paragraph on the left news briefs column, near the bottom:
CLARIFICATION
Pool safety skills recommended
A pool safety graphic Saturday included procedures not universally accepted for potential drowning victims. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association recommend CPR as the first—and possibly only—step to save a near-drowning victim.
29 May 2006 at 07:46 am | #
Who was the Enquirer reporter who wrote yesterday’s and today’s drowning rescue articles and who was the editor who approved them? Those are legitimate questions which the paper has no reason not to answer unless they’re hiding something.