[November 13, 2012]

Two Key North American Customers Deploy New Version of ZOLL PocketCPR

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that the newest version of the PocketCPR^® has been purchased by two key North American customers, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA), to aid in lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) chest compressions for training and in clinical practice. The latest version of the device has been cleared by both the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada to meet the 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines.

ZOLL PocketCPR provides Real CPR Help^® that can "see" the chest compressions and guide the user to the proper depth and rate with real-time visual and audio feedback. Real-time feedback technology to improve compression depth during CPR is strongly endorsed in the 2010 AHA Guidelines and the latest PocketCPR fully complies with the 2010 Guidelines. Real CPR Help will now guide chest compressions to a depth of at least two inches as recommended by the AHA or at least 5 centimeters deep per the European Resuscitation Council. PocketCPR also coaches the rescuer to provide compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute by following the audible and visual metronome during CPR.

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Equips Response Teams and Vessels with PocketCPR

Founded in 1978, the CCGA has a fleet of over 1,130 vessels that respond to over 2,000 marine incidents annually. The 400 PocketCPR devices, which were purchased through a grant, will be distributed among the CCGA's response teams and vessels to help protect those who may experience cardiac arrest while at sea. The CCGA is a nonprofit organization and a registered charity made up of volunteer resources throughout Canada.

"Our teams have been credited with saving 200 lives annually through our national marine search and rescue (SAR) response network," said Ted Smith, CCGA National President. "We are confident we can improve survival rates for patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest with PocketCPR. It is simple to use and intuitive and e are excited to implement it for use both in training and in the field."

Pocket CPR Helps CAL FIRE Implement AHA 2010 Guidelines

Each year CAL FIRE responds to over 300,000 emergency incidents that include a broad range of medical emergencies and natural disasters. To assist employees with implementing the AHA 2010 Guidelines in their clinical practice and training, CAL FIRE will deploy 300 PocketCPR devices to further the department's mission to serve and safeguard the people of California.

"Adherence to the AHA 2010 Guidelines is a part of the CAL FIRE Public Safety First Aid and CPR programs," said David Duncan, MD, FACEP, CAL FIRE Medical Director. "Effective CPR greatly increases the rate of success in resuscitation and survival rates for our sudden cardiac arrest patients."

In the first published report¹ to show an improvement in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival by achieving the 2010 AHA CPR Guidelines, real-time audio visual feedback combined with scenario-based training was associated with a significant improvement in the proportion of chest compressions meeting the 2010 AHA Guidelines and a statistically significant 90% relative increase in overall survival.

"CAL FIRE and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary are to be commended for deploying Pocket CPR with Real CPR Help to their teams in an effort to optimize chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest," said Jonathan A. Rennert, President of ZOLL. "The ability to provide the proper chest compression depth and rate is a critical aspect of high-quality CPR and essential to saving lives."

How it Works

Position PocketCPR on the victim's chest, place hands directly on top of the device and follow the prompts for CPR chest compressions. PocketCPR instructs the user to:

• Stay calm
• Call for help
• Open airway, check for breathing
• Start CPR

PocketCPR prompts the user with audible and visual feedback to perform CPR consistent with the 2010 AHA, ERC, and International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) Guidelines-compression depth of at least 2 inches (5-6 cm) and to provide compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute by following the audible and visual metronome. If good compressions are delivered, PocketCPR will respond with "good compressions" and flash four LED lights. If good compressions are not being delivered, PocketCPR will instruct the user to "push harder" and will flash just one LED.

About ZOLL Medical Corporation

ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and monitoring, circulation and CPR feedback, data management, fluid resuscitation, and therapeutic temperature management, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, and lay rescuers treat victims needing resuscitation and critical care. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the chemicals and fibers, homes and construction materials, electronics, and health care business sectors. Its health care operations include devices and systems for critical care, dialysis, therapeutic apheresis, transfusion, and manufacture of biotherapeutics, as well as pharmaceuticals, diagnostic reagents, and nutritional products. With more than 25,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/asahi/en/.

Copyright © 2012 ZOLL Medical Corporation. All rights reserved. Pocket CPR, Real CPR Help, and ZOLL are trademarks or registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Asahi Kasei is a registered trademark of Asahi Kasei Corporation. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹ Note: "Achieving the 2010 AHA Guideline Metrics is Associated with Improved Survival from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest" poster presented at AHA 2011. http://www.azdhs.gov/azshare/documents/AHA_ReSS2011EMSPoster.pdf

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