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BlastGard International, Inc.'s Successful Trash Receptacle Test Results Prove the Effects of Blast Overpressure on the Human Body

October 5, 2004, Clearwater, FL. BlastGard International, Inc. (OTCBB: BLGA), a creator of explosive mitigating products, announced that it has successfully tested a range of blast mitigated trash receptacles and has analyzed the data with reference to blast pressure injuries to the human body. The purpose of the test, which was conducted in Bakersfield, California, was twofold: to test BlastGard's new trash receptacle which dramatically reduces the threat to the public from an internal explosion and to measure and evaluate air blast and its effects on structures such as airports and other transportation hubs. Kevin Sharpe, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Product Development for BlastGard International, Inc. oversaw the project. Mr. Sharpe's background is in explosive engineering and the measurement and mitigation of blast in improvised explosive device (IED) disposal scenarios. Mr. Sharpe worked for the UK Ministry of Defence for 24 years before joining the BlastGard International team.

Mr. Sharpe states "Spectacular claims are being made by several manufacturers of blast resistant trash receptacles. It is claimed that their products can protect against explosive threats that are as large as 10lbs (4.54Kgs) of high explosive. These claims are at least misleading and at worst place the public at significant risk. What the claims actually refer to is that the blast resistant bin doesn't come apart under the explosive loading from a large internal detonation. Protecting against an explosive event of this magnitude is a far more challenging task than merely ensuring the receptacle remains intact. Any explosion mitigating litterbin must stop the primary fragmentation from escaping as this is the primary threat to the public. The bin also must not come apart under explosive loading, potentially adding to the lethality of the device. However, in addition to these two criteria, it is essential that the air blast, flash and fireball are effectively managed. Each can be equally lethal. A bin that is designed merely not to come apart will funnel the blast and fireball out of the open end much like a cannon. The blast effects can have catastrophic consequences for buildings and structures and the human body."

Mr. Sharpe continues "Take for example the case of ten pounds (4.54Kg) of TNT equivalence detonated inside a litter bin. Ten pounds of TNT liberates on detonation around 19 million Joules (MJ) of energy. This is a huge amount of energy to dissipate in a few thousandths of a second. The trash receptacle manufacturers claim that energy is taken out of the blast by the deformation of the receptacle. Simple calculation shows that deformation of the steel bin will only account for a tiny portion of the 19 MJ available. The remainder of the energy will either be transmitted through the sides as a shock or vented out through the open end. It is misleading, as the manufacturers suggest, that the blast is "directed up, and not out", this is plainly not true. On exiting the open mouth of the bin the pressure wave will expand to equalize the pressure on either side of the shock wave and begin to spread outwards spherically. On impacting with the ground around the receptacle the blast wave will be reflected from the surface and it will establish itself as a stable, hemispherical blast wave, very similar to that generated by a 10lb charge detonated in air. In the case of a typical airport setting, if you are standing 9 feet away, even though the trash receptacle held together, you will suffer substantial lung and ear damage, or potentially not survive."

BlastGard's CEO Jim Gordon explains "There are four distinct aspects of an IED explosion inside a trash receptacle that need to be managed effectively if members of the public in the surrounding area are not to be injured. They are: 1) primary fragmentation from the casing of the device or materials in contact with the explosive charge; 2) secondary fragmentation from the break up of the trash receptacle under explosive loading or the acceleration of adjacent article in the trash receptacle; 3) air blast; and 4) thermal output from the fireball. Blast resistant trash receptacles on the market today only address the first two concerns. BlastGard's Safe Bin successfully addresses all four areas of concern.

Blast mitigants such as BlastWrap have been shown to reduce blast overpressure by as much as 97% with distance and are regularly used in reducing the effects of explosions. Click here to view the complete report on this study.

About BlastGard International, Inc.

BlastGard International, Inc. creates designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary blast mitigation materials. The Company's patent-pending BlastWrap® technology effectively mitigates blast effects and suppresses post-blast fires. This unique technology is being used to create new, finished products or to retrofit to existing products. BlastWrap® is a market leading product from which blast protection solutions are built to save lives and reduce damage to valuable assets from explosions. Additional information on BlastGard can be found at http://www.blastgardintl.com.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. It is possible that the assumptions made by management are not necessarily the most likely and may not materialize. In addition, other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: the Company's ability to market its products; the Company's ability to obtain additional funding; the Company's ability to obtain regulatory approvals on new products, the general economy; competitive factors; ability to attract and retain personnel; the price of the Company's stock; and other risk factors. The Company takes no obligation to update or correct forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:

BlastGard International, Inc.
Michael J. Gordon
(727) 592-9400



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