Pope Benedict XVI Accepts Gift of Defibtech Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Churches can be leaders in public access defibrillator programs
VATICAN CITY--(Business Wire)--
Pope Benedict XVI personally accepted the gift of a Defibtech
automated external defibrillator (AED) from Defibtech's president
Gintaras Vaisnys and Fabio Rangoni, president of Mortara, the Italian
distributor of the Defibtech Lifeline(R) AED. Defibtech is a leading
designer and manufacturer of automated external defibrillators, which
revive potential victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) caused by
ventricular fibrillation.

Vaisnys and Rangoni met with the Pope at a recent papal audience
where Vaisnys presented the AED while Rangoni explained to the leader
of the world's Roman Catholics how defibrillators can save victims of
sudden cardiac arrest. "Pope Benedict was genuinely interested and
immediately grasped how a defibrillator can save lives," Vaisnys said.
Health experts estimate that sudden cardiac arrest kills over 400,000
Americans each year.

Vatican City is one of the world's most popular tourist
destinations: approximately 17,000 visitors arrive each day to see St.
Peter's Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums including the Sistine
Chapel, the Vatican Gardens and Grottos, and other attractions.
"Because so many people come to the Vatican each day, it's an
important place to have a defibrillator," Vaisnys said. "It is very
important that AEDs are located in areas frequented by many
people--public areas, workplaces, airports, schools and churches,
health clubs, hotels and so on."

Churches as the scenes of numerous defibrillator life-saves

Churches have been the scenes of numerous defibrillator life-saves
and in many cases have been leaders in bringing AED programs into
their communities. Keith White, of Cincinnati, Ohio, suffered sudden
cardiac arrest at a dinner celebrating his parish's 60th anniversary.
Fellow guests saved his life by responding with a Defibtech AED. The
parish had received the AED only 10 days earlier from an anonymous
donor. The low cost of Defibtech AEDs makes the life-saving devices
affordable for churches, many of which have acquired them through
fund-raising and donations.

Having an AED where many people congregate is important because
immediate resuscitation is vital. Studies show that more than 70
percent of SCA victims who are defibrillated within a minute or two
after arrest survive. If defibrillation is delayed for more than 10
minutes, less than 5 percent live.

2006 Winter Olympics among Defibtech's previous deployments and
recognitions

Defibtech and the Italian distributor Mortara previously partnered
to deploy 148 AEDs at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Defibtech AEDs can be found throughout the United States, Canada and
Europe; in China, India, the Middle East and other parts of Asia; and
in Australia, South America and Africa.

Defibtech was named North America's fastest-growing medical
equipment company by Deloitte's prestigious 2007 Technology Fast 500
Program. The Defibtech AED has earned several major awards, including
the Best Bang for the Buck Award from Frost & Sullivan, an AED
industry analyst. The AED's outstanding design was recognized by The
Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), which selected the Lifeline
to be in its "SAFE: Design Takes On Risk" exhibit.

About Defibtech

Defibtech relentlessly pursues one goal: making the best automated
external defibrillators (AEDs) in the world at affordable prices.
Defibtech designs and manufactures the FDA-approved Lifeline(R) and
ReviveR(TM) brand AEDs and related accessories. Defibtech's products
are sold through its network of distribution partners in the United
States and around the world. Defibtech is headquartered in Guilford,
Connecticut and manufactures all of its defibrillators in the United
States in a state-of-the-art ISO 13485:2003 certified facility. For
more information about Defibtech and its products, visit
www.defibtech.com or call 1-866-DEFIB-4-U (1-866-333-4248).

for Defibtech
Ray Valek, 708-352-8695
ray@defibtech.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008