BD Announces Preparation Efforts Ahead of Hurricane Rita; Donates $250,000 and Contributes $500,000 Worth of Medical Products

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company, announced today that it is donating $250,000 in cash and medical products worth $500,000 in anticipation for relief efforts as Texas and the Gulf Coast region brace for the approaching Hurricane Rita. The financial donation will be divided among the American Red Cross, Direct Relief International and AmeriCares.

BD is working through these organizations, its long-standing humanitarian aid partners, to ensure that its products are in place and ready to be distributed immediately after the storm.  Ahead of the storm, among the products BD is providing to these organizations are blood glucose meters, test strips and insulin syringes to assist people with diabetes, for whom having immediate access to supplies is critical.

"We're doing what we can to prepare for what appears to be another catastrophic event impacting residents of the already battered Gulf Coast region," stated Edward J. Ludwig, BD’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.  "Our actions today are a first step.  We will assess the situation as it unfolds in coming days and make further decisions regarding additional assistance BD can provide."

The financial assistance and product contributions for this storm follow BD's contributions earlier this month to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, which included a $500,000 financial cash contribution, split equally between the American Red Cross and the United Way Hurricane Relief Fund, and product contributions valued at $1 million.

Source: BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)