MSU lab to retrofit hundreds of ventilators for UMMC

Students at the High Voltage Lab are converting about 300 ventilators for UMMC in Jackson.

Students at the high voltage lab will upgrade ventilators from running on batteries only to being able to plug it into a wall.

The lab manager said not only will this help hospital workers..it will help also coronavirus patients.

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((live)) students at the high voltage lab will upgrade ventilators from running on batteries only to being able to plug it into a wall.

The lab manager said not only will this help hospital workers..it will help also coronavirus patients.

((pkg)) "we're saving lives out there."

David wallace, the manager of the high voltage lab at mississippi state university said his team is working day and night to convert over 300 ventilators.

(nats) the university of mississippi medical center in jackson asked the school to make the ventilators a-c powered in addition to its battery power option.

((sot)) "now we've mounted switches in them to give the person the choice to either use batteries or the ac power, whichever one they need."

David wallace-manager, msu high voltage lab 0:25;08-0:30;26 wallace said ventilators can only last about 48 hours with batteries in them.

"the problem is the batteries do not last very long."

But after wallace and his team convert it to ac power, the ventilators will stay on as long as theyre plugged in.

(nats) with family members in the medical field, wallace said its rewarding to contribute to the fight against the coronavirus.

"i think it's fantastic.

It gives us the opportunity to put our engineering dollars to use.

To do something that's going to be helpful.

It's great for these kids, it's a wonderful experience for them so anything we can do to help others..all the better.

" wallace said he recruited about 10 students to finish converting the ventilators.

They just started today and hope to finish by sunday.

Live in starkville nicole dantzler wtva nine