Napa Valley College Donates Ventilators To Cal OES: Coronavirus

Maggie Fusek
Updated ·2 min read

NAPA, CA – Napa Valley College was one of more than 20 California Community Colleges across the state to donate ventilators to the California Governor's Office Of Emergency Services — Cal OES — for distribution to hospitals fighting COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Cal OES picked up 14 ventilators Tuesday from Napa Valley College, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway in Napa. Six of the ventilators were donated by Modesto Junior College and eight were donated by Napa Valley College. The two Bay Area colleges are among 18 in the state that offer courses in respiratory care and similar fields that require ventilators for training.

Ventilators are key in the medical battle against COVID-19, a severe acute respiratory syndrome — SARS — that causes patients to suffer breathing difficulties.

"These are challenging times and require healthcare programs, their faculty and staff, and the entire health care community — local, regional, national and international — to be nimble and agile in the delivery of education and the quality care that is so necessary to safeguard the health of our community, the nation, and the world," said Robert Harris, senior dean of Health and Safety Programs at NVC. "We are proud to be able to do our part to assist in any way we can."

Amid the public health crisis that has closed schools and college campuses throughout California, NVC is offering instruction and support services remotely through the 2020 summer semester for health occupations and other areas of study.

"Napa Valley College is dedicated to ensuring that we do everything possible to help our community during this crisis, including continuing to educate future healthcare professionals," NVC Superintendent/President Ron Kraft said. "We are grateful to be able to play a part in fighting this pandemic, along with our colleagues in the California Community College system, by providing equipment that can help save lives."

This article originally appeared on the Napa Valley Patch