Carol Spizzirri January 20, 2003

President, Save a Life Foundation (SALF)

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 times 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 teach the Maneuver in
your program. Be assured that the Heimlich Institute and I, personally, will collaborate
with you in this effort.

Tens of thousands or choking victims are saved by the Heimlich maneuver because it is
known throughout the world. Yet, as the public was informed, President Bush fell
unconscious when alone in a room in the White House, as he choked on a pretzel. His life
was saved because as he fell, his abdomen struck the floor, apparently performing the
effect or 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 Outdated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 teaching lifesaving measures to masses of people - school children, police,
firefighters, and the public.