Question

why people need ventilators to breathe when they can breathe on their own ?

Answer 1

A ventilator is a machine that breathes for you or helps you breathe. It is also called a breathing machine or respirator. People are placed on ventilators when they cannot breathe on their own. This may be for any of the following reasons:

• To make sure the person is getting enough oxygen and is getting rid of carbon dioxide.
• After surgery, people may need a ventilator to breathe for them when they have had medicine that causes them to be sleepy and their breathing has not returned to normal.
• A person has an illness or injury and is not able to breathe normally.