BOTHELL, WA – Cardiac Science Corporation, a global leader in advanced cardiac monitoring and defibrillation products, today applauded the mass training of 1,838 teachers and other lay rescuers from the Pittsburgh school district in cardiopulmonary resuscitation with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Cardiac Science is the preferred provider of AEDs to Pittsburgh United for Life Saving Emergencies (PULSE), a public access defibrillation program run by the St. Margaret Foundation and UPMC St. Margaret Hospital. The mass training was sponsored by PULSE in partnership with Cardiac Science and Parent Heartwatch, a state-by-state network of parents dedicated to reducing the often disastrous effects of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in children.
“The Pittsburgh school system understands that the only way to increase the likelihood of surviving SCA is to have accessible defibrillation that can be deployed within four minutes of the event, and we applaud it for this record setting effort to safeguard the heart health of everyone in its schools,” said Rachel Moyer, founder of Parent Heartwatch. “Attempts to judge the cost-effectiveness of equipping schools with AEDs overlook the fact that SCA can strike anytime, anywhere. According to the Northern Pediatric Association, more than 7,000 children in this country suffer SCA every year, many of them in schools, and the death of a child can devastate not just the child’s family but the entire school community.
“When such a tragedy could be prevented with a simple piece of equipment, it is senseless to debate costs versus benefits,” Ms. Moyer added. “Schools today have fire extinguishers and many have metal detectors, and every one ought to have an AED.”
“Cardiac Science has been helping school districts build heart safe environments for many years,” said Tony Titus, vice president, marketing, at Cardiac Science. “According to New York State EMS data, school-owned AEDs have been used to resuscitate more than 55 SCA victims alone since the passage of the AED laws in that state in 2002. Recent research points to the randomness of SCA in schools – it can strike students, faculty and visitors of any age, during any activity at any time of day – underscoring the need for the level of readiness now in place in Pittsburgh. Cardiac Science applauds this effort, and hopes to see many more attempts to reset the world record.”
PULSE planned the training to set a Guinness World Record for the largest AED class. The previous record was set in Glendale, Arizona, where 1,039 people received training in 2006. Click here http://www.cardiacscience.com/news/inthenews.htm to view the broadcast coverage from KDKA Channel 2.
About Powerheart
Powerheart brand automated external defibrillators provide reliable, safe, and easy to use cardiac monitoring and defibrillation technology. Powerheart AEDs feature RHYTHMx™ software which detects abnormal heart rhythms, determines whether they are life-threatening, and only delivers a shock when needed. Powerheart AEDs also feature the patented RescueReady® technology, which automatically tests the device frequently to ensure functionality. Powerheart’s STAR® Biphasic Waveform Technology provides levels of escalating energy customized to the patient. Powerheart AEDs are used by hospitals, police and fire departments, as well as many public access facilities including major corporations, public agencies, airlines and airports, arenas, schools, hotels, casinos and consumers. For more information about Powerheart, go to www.powerheart.com.
About Cardiac Science Corporation
Cardiac Science is truly at the heart of saving lives. The Company develops, manufactures, and markets a family of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic cardiology devices and systems, including AEDs, electrocardiographs, stress test systems, Holter monitoring systems, hospital defibrillators, cardiac rehabilitation telemetry systems, patient monitor - defibrillators and cardiology data management systems. Cardiac Science also sells a variety of related products and consumables, and provides a comprehensive portfolio of training, maintenance and support services. The Company is the successor to various entities that have owned and operated cardiology-related businesses that sold products under the trusted brand names Burdick®, Powerheart®, and Quinton®. Cardiac Science is headquartered in Bothell, WA, and also has operations in Lake Forest, California; Deerfield, Wisconsin; Shanghai, China, Copenhagen, Denmark and Manchester, United Kingdom.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” anticipate,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Forward looking statements in this press release include those that infer or imply that deployment of AEDs in schools and other locations may increase in the future and that Cardiac Science’s revenue and profits derived from the sale of AEDs and other products will increase as a result. These statements, including their underlying assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Results may differ due to various factors such as the possibility that the distribution relationship described in this release may be modified or terminated early; that the distribution partner may not generate sales of our AEDs to the extent expected; or that sales of our AEDs may fall short of projections due to unforeseen developments. Other risk factors that could cause or contribute to such varying results are described in our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The statements in this press release speak as of the date of the release, and Cardiac Science Corporation undertakes no duty or obligation to update the information provided herein.