Testing Out Emergency Ventilators

Anton Agusta, the owner of a tumble dryer factory in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, has begun a project to build emergency ventilators for Covid-19 patients. 

Anton learned to make the low-tech ventilators from the Oxygen2 online forum based in Barcelona. 

Spain currently has the second-largest number of coronavirus cases after the US at just over 170,000.

People from all around the globe gather in the Oxygen2 forum to share information relating to communal ways to combat the pandemic and how to survive during the coronavirus crisis. 

"I'm making these emergency ventilators for the communities. I'm not doing it for profits. This is purely a social action," Anton said.

The self-taught mechanic started the project after his business suffered heavy losses during the pandemic.

According to Anton, emergency ventilators could be used as first aid on Covid-19 patients when they suffer from severe respiratory problems.

Anton learns from the forum that a ventilator that has been used on a Covid-19 patient cannot be reused because it can offer a pathway for coronavirus transmission.

It takes a long time to sterilize a ventilator and you can never be 100 percent sure if the device is even then free from contamination. 

Anton said the classic model emergency ventilator is cheaper to produce and may save many lives. 

Anton is currently trying to get his emergency ventilator tested by the Health Ministry.