CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is answering Gov. Mike DeWine's statewide call for emergency medical equipment donations to help treat the increasing number of COVID-19 patients struggling to breathe.
Tri-C will be distributing a total of eight ventilators to ICUs at Cleveland Clinic, The MetroHealth System, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and University Hospitals.
This type of medical equipment has been in large demand across the country in recent weeks as the virus continues to surge. Ventilators assist patients with breathing who are fighting respiratory effects of COVID-19. Often times, the equipment can mean the difference between life and death for patients.
"Whatever resources the College has to offer will be provided," said Tri-C President Alex Johnson. "It's up to all of us to work together to fight COVID-19 and protect the people who make Cleveland the community we love.
Tri-C may have up to an additional six ventilators available to be loaned, but these are older pieces of equipment and require servicing to ensure they work properly. This additional equipment comes from hands-on classroom and lab instruction in the College's nursing and health career training programs, but are not currently being used as classes have shifted to remote and virtual instruction.
In addition to loaning ventilators to hospitals throughout Northeast Ohio, Tri-C has recently donated hundreds of boxes containing gloves, respiratory masks and other protective medical equipment to health professionals on the forefront fighting the outbreak.
Tri-C is part of a large contingent of community colleges across the nation offering supplies to aid local health care efforts.
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