Critical Care Ventilators for COVID-19 Fight Headed to Gary, IN
The Indiana District 1 Emergency Operations Center/Multi-Agency Coordination Center at Gary Chicago International Airport is set to receive a shipment of critical care ventilators on Saturday April 18th directly from General Motors & Ventec Life Systems. The VOCSN V+Pro ventilators were manufactured in Kokomo, Indiana as part of a historic partnership in response to the COVID-19 crisis and will be delivered directly to the Emergency Operations Center in Gary, Indiana for use in local hospitals. RNS will be LIVE in the terminal when the shipment arrives and will have further info and interviews from the Airport this evening.
“These ventilators will help to fill critical needs at hospitals that service the people of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton and Jasper Counties,” said Indiana District 1 Public Information Officer, Lori Postma. “Northwest Indiana has quickly become a COVID-19 hotspot and our coordination with the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy and FEMA has provided us with an outstanding opportunity to supplement the equipment needs of 17 hospitals in District 1.”
White House Assistant to the President Dr. Peter Navarro said: “Not only has GM/Ventec and the UAW set a new Trump Time standard in rapid industrial mobilization – just weeks from site construction to ventilator production – the GM/Ventec ventilators are now rolling off the line, and on the wings and tires of Big Brown-UPS. Through the seamless coordination of FEMA, these lifesaving devices are equally rapidly being delivered to hospitals in need in Chicago and Gary. A patriotic White House salute to the full power of private enterprise joining hands with the full force of the federal government to fight the invisible enemy!”
“Patients deserve access to the best technology to keep them in the fight as their bodies combat the virus,” said Ventec Life Systems CEO Chris Kiple. “Critical care ventilators deliver precise airflow to protect the lungs, include accurate monitors to assess patient well-being, and most importantly, they include advanced controls that help respiratory therapists and physicians wean patients off ventilators as fast as possible.”
“The passion and commitment that people at GM, Ventec and our suppliers have put into this work is inspiring, and we are all humbled to support the heroic efforts of medical professionals in Chicagoland and across the world who are fighting to save lives and turn the tide of the pandemic,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.
Part of a larger order of 30,000 ventilators made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this shipment is one of the first to come off the line and delivery is being expedited by UPS directly to Gary, IN from the manufacturing facility. “UPS always stands ready to meet the urgent needs of the American people, and we are proud to be selected to make this historic delivery,” said UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney.
Indiana District 1 Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) was activated by the District 1 Healthcare Coalition to coordinate COVID-19 response efforts in a five-county area of Northwest Indiana. Together with Northwest Indiana Information Sharing & Security Alliance (NIISSA), a Public/Private partnership, this diverse group of emergency planners in the MACC is comprised of Healthcare, Emergency Response, and Logistics professionals that have facilitated the donation and delivery of PPE to area hospitals and first responders, while also providing community focused information to deliver clear communication about COVID-19 in Northwest Indiana. More information on the Indiana District system can be found at http://www.in.gov/dhs/districtprograms.htm
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