CHELMSFORD , MASS. -ZOLL Medical Corporation (NASDAQ:
ZOLL), a manufacturer of resuscitation devices and related software
solutions, today reported that a growing number of EMS agencies in the
state of Virginia are deploying the AutoPulse to help better manage
cardiac arrest. Most recent customers include Goochland County
Fire-Rescue Department, which purchased six devices, and Sterling
Volunteer Rescue Squad, which purchased seven devices.
Goochland County Fire-Rescue provides 24-hour fire and emergency
medical services to more than 16,800 people in Goochland County, just
west of Richmond, Virginia. "We implemented the AutoPulse countywide
at all six of our stations," said Eddie Ferguson, Goochland County's
Deputy Chief of EMS. "After several uses, the AutoPulse has yielded positive results.
Beyond the increased perfusion benefits that we have seen our patients
gain, the AutoPulse allows for a more efficiently run code, impacting
our providers and EMS system in a positive and safe way. I would
highly recommend the AutoPulse to any EMS system wishing to improve
its resuscitation effectiveness."
Sterling Volunteer Rescue Squad offers emergency services to
approximately 70,000 people over 25 square miles. It is the first
system in the Northern Virginia area to place AutoPulse devices on all of its responding units.
According to Sterling's Chief Byron F. Andrews, III, "We believe the
AutoPulse is a tool that helps our medics give patients a better
chance at surviving cardiac arrest. By providing automated and
uninterrupted chest compressions, medics can focus on other
life-saving interventions. The AutoPulse helps them improve
resuscitation efforts so that they believe they are doing everything
they can for the victim. I cannot say enough about the benefits of the
AutoPulse in terms of its ability to improve circulation and our efforts to help cardiac arrest victims."
VCU Medical Center Study Showed Improved Survival to Discharge
A recent study, completed in conjunction with Richmond Ambulance
Authority (RAA), compared 499 manual CPR cases and 284 cases using
automated CPR, which involved the use of the AutoPulse. The study
analyzed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases between January 2001 and
March 2005 and evaluated data before and after RAA paramedics began
using the AutoPulse. Overall, the data showed a
survival-to-hospital-discharge rate of 9.7 percent using automated
CPR, compared with 2.9 percent using manual chest compressions.
According to its Medical Director Joseph P. Ornato, M.D., RAA is the
first EMS agency in the country to have shown that significantly more
patients survive and are discharged from the hospital with use of the AutoPulse.
Other Virginia agencies that currently use the AutoPulse as part of
their resuscitation efforts include Christiansburg Rescue Squad, Chase
City Rescue Squad, Colonial Heights Fire & Rescue, Cumberland County
EMS, Ettrick Matoaca Rescue Squad, Ford Volunteer Fire Department,
Gloucester Emergency Service, Gloucester Volunteer Fire & Rescue,
Henrico Volunteer Rescue Squad, James City County Fire Department,
James City Volunteer Rescue Squad, Kilarnock Lancaster Volunteer
Rescue, Lakeside Volunteer Rescue, Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad,
Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, Medical College of Virginia Hospital,
Mid-County Public Safety Equipment, Middlesex Volunteer Rescue Squad,
Midway Volunteer Fire Department, Moneta Volunteer Ambulance, Montross
Volunteer Rescue Squad, Powhatan County Fire Department, Providence
Forge Volunteer Rescue, Richmond Ambulance Authority, Richmond Fire
Department, Southside Virginia Emergency, and Tuckahoe Volunteer
Rescue. More than 235 EMS agencies and hospitals worldwide employ the AutoPulse.
About the AutoPulse
New AHA 2005 Guidelines note that interrupting chest compressions can
decrease the rate of survival from cardiac arrest.* The AutoPulse is
an automated, portable device with a simple, load-distributing
LifeBand® that squeezes the entire chest in a consistent, uninterrupted "hands-free"
manner, delivering maximum blood flow to the heart and brain.*
Additionally, it offers the benefit of freeing up rescuers to focus on
other life-saving interventions.
About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation is committed to developing technologies that
help advance the practice of resuscitation. With products for pacing,
defibrillation, circulation, ventilation, and fluid resuscitation,
ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help
clinicians, EMS professionals, and lay rescuers resuscitate sudden
cardiac arrest or trauma victims. ZOLL also designs and markets
software that automates the documentation and management of both
clinical and non-clinical information.
ZOLL markets and sells its products in more than 140 countries. The
Company has direct operations, distributor networks, and business
partners throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, the
Middle East, Asia, and Australia. For more information, visit
www.zoll.com or call +1 (978) 421-9655.
Certain statements contained in this press release regarding matters
that are not historical facts are "forward-looking" statements (as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995).
Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual
results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, ZOLL's
ability to compete in the resuscitation business; acceptance of the
AutoPulse; changes in regulations affecting the healthcare industry;
general economic conditions; and those other factors discussed in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in ZOLL's Annual Report on Form 10-Q,
which was filed with the SEC on February 10, 2006.
© 2006 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. 269 Mill Road,
Chelmsford, MA 01824-4105. AutoPulse, LifeBand, and ZOLL are
registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation. All product names
are the property of their respective owners.
*Clinical data available upon request.
