ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Medical ventilator

A medical ventilator is like a super-special machine that helps people who are having trouble breathing. You know how you inhale and exhale air naturally? Well, sometimes people can't do it properly because they're sick or hurt in a way that affects their lungs. That's where a ventilator comes in!

It helps them breathe by pushing air in and out of their lungs through a tube that goes into their mouth or nose. The tube is connected to the ventilator that does all the work of pumping air in and out at the right speed and pressure, just like how you blow up a balloon.

The doctor can set the ventilator to work in various ways, depending on what the patient needs. For example, it can give a certain amount of oxygen if the patient's body isn't getting enough naturally, help remove toxins from the body, and change the speed and depth of how air gets pushed into the lungs.

Think of it like a superhero friend for someone who's having trouble breathing!