American Companies Protect Workers From Sudden Cardiac Arrest by Deploying Lifesaving Defibrillators in the Workplace.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 17, 1998--Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), an electrical malfunction of the heart, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming 350,000 lives annually. The American Heart Association estimates that nearly 100,000 lives could be saved each year through early defibrillation. Many American businesses are protecting their workers by deploying automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), such as the Heartstream ForeRunner. These devices are now available to deliver lifesaving therapy where people spend most of their waking time -- the workplace.

SCA can strike anybody, anyplace and often without warning. Immediate defibrillation is critical because the chance of survival decreases by approximately 10 percent each minute therapy is delayed. The current SCA survival rate in the United States is only 5 percent, largely because defibrillators do not reach victims in time, but some companies are working to increase the odds by placing AEDs in the workplace.

Each week, approximately 130 million Americans head off to work. A recent study concluded that the highest volume of SCA incidents occur on Monday, closely followed by Friday, while the fewest occur over the weekend.

Michelin North America, The New York Times Company, Transamerica and Bankers Trust are just a few of the companies that have instituted workplace AED programs. These companies put lifesaving AED technology in the hands of trained corporate responders, those most likely to reach victims first.

"There is absolutely no doubt about it," said Jim Young, a 59-year-old former employee of Michelin North America. "If Michelin didn't have a defibrillator readily available, I wouldn't be here today." Young's attack happened earlier this year while he was exercising at Michelin's corporate health club. A fitness staff member initiated CPR until, just minutes later, Michelin emergency personnel arrived with an AED.

"The health and well-being of our employees are responsibilities we take seriously," said Dr. David Brill, corporate medical director of Michelin North America. "This is more than being a good corporate citizen. Our people are Michelin's most important asset. Recent advances in AED technology now make it possible for the first time to broadly deploy this critical therapy." ABOUT THE FORERUNNER

The Heartstream ForeRunner AED is a breakthrough in defibrillation technology that makes it practical for broad groups of emergency first-responders to deliver time-critical defibrillation therapy to victims of SCA. The ForeRunner is the only FDA-cleared AED with low-energy SMART Biphasic technology. It was designed specifically to make the implementation of early-response programs practical in communities, industrial settings, and other public and private facilities. ABOUT HEARTSTREAM, INC.

Heartstream, Inc., a subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard Company, is based in Seattle, and develops, manufactures and markets innovative AEDs for the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. HP acquired Heartstream, Inc., the developer of the ForeRunner AED, in March 1998. Heartstream is now part of HP's Cardiology Products Division, which also markets the HP CodeMaster line of defibrillators. Information about Heartstream can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.heartstream.com/. ABOUT HP

HP's Medical Products Group is a worldwide leader of clinical measurement and diagnostic technologies, information solutions, services, support and supplies for the healthcare industry. The group has 4,800 employees and had revenues of more than $1.2 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 127,200 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

NOTE TO PRODUCERS AND EDITORS: For television, a VNR and B-Roll package is available, which includes an interview and B-Roll of sudden cardiac arrest survivor Jim Young; an interview with David Brill, M.D., corporate medical director of Michelin, North America; an interview and B-Roll of Glenn Ortiz-Schuldt, a paramedic with the San Francisco Fire Department; a simulated AED training session at a corporation; and animation of the Heartstream ForeRunner AED. For print media, color graphics are included in a press kit. -0-

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