SPAN-AMERICA ON FORTUNE'S  FASTEST GROWING
SMALL BUSINESS LIST

GREENVILLE, S.C. – (July 7, 2003) -- Span-America Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAN) was ranked number 63 in a list of 100 Fastest Growing publicly traded small companies by FSB: FORTUNE Small Business magazine.  The ranking was included in the July/August 2003 issue.

"Span-America's inclusion in FSB's list of the fastest growing small public companies in the U.S. highlights the solid progress we have made in building sales and earnings," said James D. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Span-America.   "We remain focused on growing Span-America to continue building shareholder value."

TheFSB ranking was based on earnings growth, revenue growth and stock performance over the past three years. FSB, with help from Zacks Investment Research, evaluated public companies traded on major exchanges with $200 million or less in annual revenue.

About Span-America Medical Systems, Inc.

Span-America manufactures and markets a comprehensive selection of pressure management products for the medical market, including Geo-Matt®, PressureGuard®, Geo-Mattress®, Span+Aids®, Isch-Dish®, and Selan® products.  The Company also supplies custom foam and packaging products to the consumer and industrial markets.  Span-America's stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under the symbol SPAN.