FEMA Adds Masimo Rad-57(R) Pulse CO-Oximeter(TM) to Required Medical Equi...( Citing Need for Early and Accurate Ca...),Health

Citing Need for Early and Accurate Carbon Monoxide Exposure Detection Following Disasters, Agency Unanimously Approves and Authorizes Funds to Purchase Rad-57s

IRVINE, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that the Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter has been added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) list of required health and safety equipment for all Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) task forces throughout the United States. FEMA authorizes funding for each of its US&R task forces to purchase multiple Rad-57s, enabling them to quickly, accurately and noninvasively detect carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning on the scene of disaster recovery operations.

FEMA has 28 national US&R task forces staffed and equipped to conduct round-the-clock search and rescue operations following earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, aircraft accidents, hazardous materials spills, and catastrophic structure collapses. Search and rescue operations often function in confined or poorly ventilated spaces with gas-powered equipment producing elevated levels of CO, which until now had been an overlooked hazard. Adding the Rad-57 to its mandatory medical equipment cache now allows FEMA's US&R task forces to quickly, noninvasively evaluate and address the significant health and safety risks associated with CO poisoning for both civilians and rescue personnel in the urban search and rescue environment - helping to save and sustain lives, minimize suffering and enhance safety.

"Early and accurate CO exposure detection is important for successful mitigation and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning," stated Neil Hampson, MD, Medical Director, Center for Hyperbaric Med
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