In the next nine days, hospitals in populated areas will begin to see excess demand on particular resources. High on that list will be ventilators.
The time for smart minds to jump on this problem is now. If enough hacks, workarounds and juryrigs can be developed and rapidly disseminated, some of the dreadfulness ahead can be reduced.
Hackaday.com has put up a hackathon challenge for ideas here: hackaday.com/… .Hopefully, practical ideas will expand quickly.
I’ve found one interesting plan from Indestructables for a Pandemic Ventilator hacked up for use in a potential avian flu epidemic.
What other ideas might work? CPAP machines? How can I rig up a bag regulator and mask to a compressor or tank? How about that airbrush you bought at Michael’s?
If you think you’ve got an idea to help alleviate the inevitable, imminent shortage of breathing assistance tech, please share here or, even better, join the hackathon group.
The life you save could be someone’s mom.