October 14, 2002

SETTLEMENT REACHED IN X-IT v. KIDDE "ESCAPE
LADDER" CASE

Full Judgment Amount given to original inventor's of world's "strongest,
safest, smallest" Escape Ladder

A $17.4 million global settlement was announced today, bringing to a
close X-IT Product's legal action against Kidde, tried last year in the
United States Federal District Court in Norfolk, Va. In 2001, X-IT
Products (VA, USA / www.escapeladder.com) sued Walter Kidde
Portable Equipment (NC,USA and UK / www.kidde.com) for copyright
violations, trade dress violations, false advertising, breach of contract,
misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair trade practices. A
federal jury found Kidde liable on all counts and awarded a record $117
million verdict to X-IT which was reduced in the final judgment to
$12.4 million, plus legal fees and interest. The final settlement
between X-IT and Kidde reflects this judgment amount, including
interest, legal fees, and costs, and releases Kidde from future litigation.

Aldo DiBelardino, Director of X-IT, said that while he believes the
Company would have recovered more on appeal, it was in the interest
of X-IT and it's Investors to bring this difficult chapter in the Company's
history to a close. "The settlement avoids pending, additional, and
future legal actions stemming from this case and is in the best interest
of X-IT's shareholders.

X-IT remains the original inventor and exclusive manufacturer of the
world's "strongest, safest, smallest" emergency Escape Ladder and is
dedicated to the idea of saving lives."