A Mother's Crusade; Prominent Mums Help Launch Project Safeguard to Enhance Safety in London Child Care Centres; Retrofits Have Saved Property and Injuries.

Business Editors

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2002

Glass is meant to protect people. But in an accident, broken glass can inflict harm. GE Employers Reinsurance Corporation (GE ERC) understands the risks associated with everyday hazards, so it has launched an initiative called Project Safeguard(SM) to help counter these dangers.

To help launch Project Safeguard(SM) in London, GE ERC has enlisted the support of two prominent mums -- U.K. Olympic swimmer and TV personality Sharron Davies and Aren Almon-Kok, founder of the Protecting People First Foundation, a U.S. organization designed to educate people about the dangers of flying glass.

Aren Almon-Kok's daughter was killed in the 1995 Oklahoma City, U.S.A., bombing. Since then, Almon-Kok has devoted her life to spreading the word about protecting children. Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has two children and recently completed a 26-part television series on parenting.

GE ERC's London employees, along with Aren and Sharron, will volunteer their time on Wednesday, 12 June from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. to perform a safety retrofit at three London childcare centres: Barbican Playgroup, City Child Nursery and Golden Lane Playgroup.

To enhance safety, volunteers will apply safety film to windows, install shatter-resistant light bulbs and secure heavy objects that could fall and cause injury. These three childcare centres serve more than 80 children.

"Through Project Safeguard(SM), GE ERC hopes to draw public attention to the issue of child safety and encourage other community and childcare centres to take simple steps to make their own facilities safer," said Dean Davison, Vice President at GE ERC.

A launch briefing for media, volunteers and partners will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the City Child Nursery (1 Bridgewater Square Barbican, London EC2Y 2AH) where Davies and Almon-Kok will discuss the initiative and their reasons for supporting it.

Since its inception in 2000, Project Safeguard has won the approval and endorsement of child caregivers.

St. Joseph Early Education Centre -- Shawnee, Kansas, U.S.A.

Ginny Ruder, director of the St. Joseph Early Education Centre, recently relayed the following account of the success of the safety film installed by volunteers of Project Safeguard and the Protecting People First Foundation.

During the Christmas holiday break, a local contractor was using heavy machinery to raise the south side of the building. During this process, seven windows in the basement level shattered. The windows stayed in place thanks to the safety and security film. Mrs. Ruder said the contractors were amazed that the film held the glass in place.

"They kept running their hands over and over the glass trying to find a place where a piece of the glass could be felt. We couldn't find any glass sticking out!" said Mrs. Ruder. She added the staff of St. Joseph was ecstatic that the film had held as expected.

"While there were no children in the centre because of the holidays and renovations, this type of breakage could have shattered glass all over our children at any other time."

Mrs. Ruder also noted that two mirrors with safety film didn't break into shards when broken. Many daycare centres have mirrors that are eye level with small children and babies. In fact, the film protected the mirror so well that city inspectors did not require that the mirror be replaced. Again Mrs. Ruder stated, "We are so happy with the results of your program and the work of your volunteers!"

Salvation Army Child Care Centre -- Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.

Recently, Salvation Army Child Care Centre director Kathy Trager arrived at work to start the day and found the glass in one of the centre's windows had been smashed with a heavy object -- cracking in many directions -- but the glass remained unsplintered and in place.

Thanks to GE ERC Project Safeguard and Protecting People First volunteers who had installed safety and security film as part of a Project Safeguard daycare retrofit, the window was not shattered, and the would-be thieves left the scene of the crime -- and the rest of the building untouched.

"We knew the safety film would protect against high winds, but we were astonished that it protected us from thieves," said Kathy. "We just can't say enough about Project Safeguard and the volunteers who worked so hard. Their efforts really did make a huge difference for us."

Since that day, the Salvation Army has replaced the glass and new safety film has been applied. The safety film not only serves as a key safety feature for the centre, but also as a deterrent from crime.

Greater Miami YMCA/Homestead Branch -- Homestead, Florida, U.S.A.

From Alex Mestres, director of the developmental learning centre: "Our community was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, so our patrons are aware of the risks associated with severe weather. They've lived through it.

"Today the YMCA not only serves more than 120 children and hundreds of families -- it also serves as a safe haven during natural disasters. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for the families and children we serve.

"The recent Project Safeguard retrofit gives us an added level of safety and security -- from the window film to the shatterproof light bulbs to the securing of heavy objects."

Other contributors to this effort include:

-- GE Lighting is providing shatter-resistant light bulbs

-- GE Silicones is providing window sealant, which enhances the strength of the
window film

-- Bekaert Specialty Films, a member of the Protecting People First Foundation
and one of the world's leading window film manufacturers, is donating the
window film

-- Simart, one of Bekaert's leading window film installers in London, is
installing the security film.

Employers Reinsurance Corporation, a GE company, is the world's fourth-largest reinsurer and a premier global provider of risk solutions. ERC serves clients in property and casualty reinsurance, life & health reinsurance, commercial insurance and other risk management services. ERC has earned top financial security ratings. More information on ERC is available at www.ercgroup.com.

GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, services and manufacturing company with a commitment to achieving customer success. GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs approximately 310,000 people worldwide.

The Protecting People First Foundation was created to promote awareness of the hazards of flying glass. Aren Almon-Kok is the Foundation's spokesperson. Aren's daughter, Baylee, was killed in the April 1995 attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Aren travels and speaks to private and public organizations and governments raising public awareness of flying glass dangers and the need for greater prevention measures.

Notes to Editors:

All media is invited to the launch. Project Safeguard will provide excellent visual and interview opportunities. Photos of the event are also available on request.