Nation's Capital Gets Its First Look at a Portable Hospital for Response to Terrorist Attack, Bio/Flu Crisis or Natural Disaster; Demo at RFK Stadium.

WASHINGTON -- BLU-MED Response Systems:

What:      The first DC-National Capital Region demonstration of a
            portable, advanced-care hospital for disaster response.
            The BLU-MED Disaster Medical Facility is a fully equipped,
            freestanding, self-sufficient, 25 to 50 bed-capacity
            hospital that can be deployed and operational in less than
            24 hours following a disaster.

            Sections of the six-wing facility will be equipped to
            demonstrate the facility designed for use in patient
            triage, emergency room (ER)/trauma, intensive care
            (ICU), inpatient care and immunization.

            This demonstration coincides with the Third National
            Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Meeting, being held
            Dec. 6-10 by the U.S. Health Resources and Services
            Administration (HRSA).

 When:      Wednesday, Dec. 8
            Media briefing 11 a.m., followed by tour and access to the
            facility.

 Where:     RFK Stadium, Parking Lot 8, Washington, D.C.

 Who:       BLU-MED Response Systems, a division of Department of
            Defense supplier Alaska Structures, Inc., Kirkland, Wash.
            (www.blu-med.com)

            Spokespersons:

            --  Steve Bell, Lt Col, USAF, BSC (Ret), vice
                president, sales and marketing, BLU-MED Response
                Systems. Former chief, Air Force Medical
                Evaluation Support Activity, and director of
                operations, Detachment 1, Air Force Operational
                Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC). Bell is a
                retired medical officer and tester of military
                hospital technologies.

            --  Gerrit Boyle, president, BLU-MED Response Systems.

 Visuals:   Six cobalt-blue, white and orange hospital modules will be
            connected, providing more than 4,500 square feet of space.
            The high-tech-fabric structures are 10 feet tall and
            include medical lighting, heating and air conditioning.
            Inside, the wards will be fully configured with all
            medical equipment needed for an operational ER, ICU, and
            typical inpatient care (e.g. patient monitors, IV pumps
            and ventilators), except for consumable/disposable supply
            items. A scissor lift will be available for elevated
            photography.

 Why:       Hospitals are not prepared to accommodate the surge in
            patients that would result from pandemic flu, terrorist
            attack, or major natural disaster. The BLU-MED portable
            hospital provides a quick, safe, clean environment for
            advanced medical care. Many disaster scenarios (including
            chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack) call
            for isolation of affected patients, rather than admitting
            them into existing hospitals.