CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Del Mar College began collecting used CPap and BiPap machines today to help local health care facilities meet the demand for ventilators. Donors dropped off used machines curbside at a drop off location in a parking lot on the West Side campus. The college collected 56 units on its first day of the donation drive during the 3 hour period.
CPaps and BiPaps are used by people who suffer from sleep apnea, however, the devices can be cleaned and re-purposed as auxiliary ventilators for health care facilities treating patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
On Tuesday, an eight-person team from Del Mar College's Respiratory Therapy program sanitized all of the machines and soaked all hoses during the afternoon. The college will also store the machines for the Nueces County Health District to distribute to area medical centers.
Collection of BiPAP and CPAP machines will continue Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1, on the College’s West Campus from 3 to 6 p.m. For further information about the program, contact the CCNCPHD at 361-826-7200.
