FDA approves first and only protective garment to guard general public against spread of disease.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 17, 1995--TBC California Inc. has developed the only protective garment system which has been approved by the Food & Drug Administration to guard against the spread of infectious disease.

Called the "TBC Trauma Suit," this protective system is to be used by individuals who might come in contact with potentially infected blood or body fluids. Along with other emergency supplies, the TBC Trauma Suit should be stored by individuals, companies, volunteer rescue organizations, schools, government offices, etc., for use in an emergency such as car accident, earthquake, an extraordinary crisis like the Oklahoma City bombing, or the outbreak of a virus.

Dr. Patricia Bowling, co-founder of TBC California Inc., says, "We originally developed this protective gowning system for use by emergency medical personnel, but we quickly realized that in today's changing world, the general public also needs to protect themselves. AIDS, Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis are found in every community in America. Anyone who responds to help their neighbor, whether as a good Samaritan or a volunteer rescue worker, should not have to pay a price for their caring and their efforts.

"The Oklahoma City bombing is a prime example of how volunteer rescue workers and ordinary citizens end up covered in blood that is not their own. How many of these brave citizens will pay a price for their efforts by testing Hepatitis B or tuberculosis positive in the future? As a country, we cannot let any group dictate who we are, how much we will care, or the risks we will take for each other. Nor, with the protection now available, should we. TBC California Inc. intends to make this protective system available to everyone, regardless of their medical background.

The incidence of infection is staggering: One in 20 Americans are HIV positive and 70 percent of those positive don't know they are infected. Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis also have alarming infection rates and many of the strains of all these diseases are deadly. Developed by Dr. Patricia Bowling, an emergency room physician, and Scott Burgess, a paramedic, the TBC Trauma Suit was designed by two people who would ultimately depend upon it for their own personal safety. It can be donned in 30 seconds. It is a one-time usage, disposable gown unit complete with attached latex gloves and anti-fog, mylar face shield and mask.

As the only protective system that meets the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Universal Precautions Law, the TBC Trauma Suit is a completely unique self-contained system to be used at the scene of any crisis/trauma situation. Currently, most emergency medical workers protect themselves with the bare minimum of what's required by OSHA: gloves and maybe eye protection or some type of face mask -- leaving many areas exposed to possible contamination. Until the recent advent of TBC's Trauma Suit, nothing has been available to the average citizen to protect him/herself in a similar manner during a trauma situation.

The TBC Trauma Suit incorporates a full length, long-sleeve gown covering the wearer from the neck to the knees. The gown is secured at the neck and around the waist with Velcro belts. The latex gloves are attached and an extra set of gloves are provided for "double gloving," a concept pioneered by the inventors. The mylar face shield was designed to fit comfortably even allowing for eye glasses. The shield is clear so that the victim can "read lips" even if there is tremendous background noise.

Years of extensive testing on design concepts and materials was conducted prior to completion of the TBC Trauma Suit. International patents are held to protect the unique finished system and FDA approval was recently granted.

TBC California Inc. was founded to save lives by educating the emergency medical field and the general public about the necessary protection needed to eliminate the spread of disease during an emergency or crisis.

CONTACT: Laurie Chase & Company

Michelle Morgan, 415/781-1545