The recent arrival of 30 ventilators at Niagara Health is an important addition in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ventilators — machines that help people breathe — are essential for the most serious cases of COVID-19. The virus can cause severe pneumonia, making it difficult for people to breathe on their own.
The addition brings our total number of ventilators to 88.
After the ventilators arrived, Niagara Health’s Biomedical Engineering team worked with the manufacturer and our Respiratory Therapy team to set up the machines, ensuring they are inspected, safe and ready to be used, if needed.
Today (Jan. 5) , Niagara Health is caring for 83 patients in hospital for COVID-19. A total of 14 patients in our care are using ventilators, including eight people with COVID-19.
This illustrates the seriousness of the virus and why it’s so import we all do our part to control the spread of COVID-19. That includes following all infection control measures -- meticulous hand hygiene, physical distancing and the appropriate use of masks.
