Elon Musk will be using Tesla’s global delivery network to send free FDA-approved ventilators worldwide. Musk shared that Tesla has extra FDA-approved ventilators that will be shipped to hospitals all over the world that are within the company’s delivery regions.
“We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please [let] me, or @Tesla know,” Musk wrote in his recent Tweet.
We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please me or @Tesla know.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2020
Musk and Tesla’s effort during this pandemic has shown that words and promises must be put into action. Tesla has delivery centers across Europe, Asia, and Australia besides the United States. Musk’s tweet also mentioned that Tesla would be delivering directly to hospitals and making sure that all the ventilators will be put to use rather than useless in a warehouse.
Tesla recently delivered ventilators to Brooklyn, where healthcare providers seemed to be happy to receive the shipment. As noted by a previous Tesmanian report, Elon Musk promised to deliver hundreds of ventilators to New York City and State.
In a tweet to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Musk said the Tesla team should be credited for their efforts. “Will do our best to help in any way.” Thus far, it seems Tesla has tried to proactively help during the pandemic by getting ventilators out of warehouses and into the healthcare facilities, where they are undoubtedly more needed.
Brother Elon, send some to Louisiana by April 5th, please. 🙏🏼
— Hopeful Pope Of Muskanity (@RationalEtienne) March 31, 2020
They need them badly!
🤩https://t.co/ZTTRZfdM9K
Tesla also sent other sought-after medical supplies that healthcare professionals need, like PPE sets with masks and gowns. Tesla’s activity during this global crisis isn’t confined to the United States either. A few months ago, Tesla China donated RMB¥5 million to the CDC in the country to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Based on Musk’s recent tweet, Tesla isn’t stopping with China and the United States. The EV tech company wants to help the entire world to get through this global pandemic. Tesla may still be considered a small car maker compared to legacy automakers, but it’s revealing more and more that its presence can be just as significant--or maybe even more so.
Also here is an open letter provided by Cole Adam Davis:
As I am sure you know, Louisiana is a massive hotspot for the coronavirus. Currently, New Orleans is experiencing one of the highest per-capita rates of COVID-19 infections in the country. I am currently seeing a trend in that frightens me about the future and wellness of Louisiana.
States like California, Washington, and New York have larger economies. They are getting attention and support for that reason. People of power do not see the need or urgency to help Louisiana, however, when it is in times of great need. This is one of those times.
I am sure the states I mentioned above are in great need of medical equipment. It is good that they are getting support. My fear is that Louisiana will get pushed aside, pushed down the list, for much needed supplies and donations, such as ventilators.
According to the governor of Louisiana, Jon Bel Edwards, “Under current modeling, we would run out of ventilators sometime around April 2nd or April 3rd.” Without these ventilators, lives will be lost. I am scared priority will be given to other states with larger economies, pushing aside Louisiana and leaving us with a shortage of supplies needed to fight and save lives.
I’m a pre-med student, so am not on the front lines, but I’ve been in touch with friends who are, and they are horrified at the situation. One of the biggest problems is that it’s just starting to hit. We are having issues protecting our health care workers, which could lead to a horrible snowball effect. I’ve seen and heard our medical professionals wearing the same disposable mask for a week. We are in dire need of your help! The vice president for the children’s hospital told me that, “We are caring for hundreds of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 positive patients.” This is frightening because Our hospitals here are running extremely low on supplies, to the point that they have started asking the public to hand-make protective equipment and donate it.
WBRZ, Baton Rouge General accepting homemade masks starting Mondayhttps://t.co/mcixJu179n pic.twitter.com/xRrt3v1rjZ
— WBRZ News (@WBRZ) March 21, 2020
But there is hope. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted to Johnna Crider and me (see link below) stating that he would have as much PPE as possible sent to Louisiana. As I stated on Twitter, I will do whatever I need to do to help get materials to hospitals here — manage deliveries — even if that means renting out a truck and helping complete the deliveries. Whatever you need, I am there. If you have a way I can help in Louisiana, please contact me at cdav231@lsu.edu
We’ll try to get & deliver as many as possible. N95 masks are a pain to wear btw. Less onerous masks are better most of the time.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 23, 2020
We need your help to donate. Recently, Kelly Angard’s team and I have started donating masks directly to hospitals in Louisiana our GoFundMe campaign is gf.me/u/xrvk9i. So far, we have donated at least 2000 masks to hospitals. Louisiana has potential and is a great part of the United States. We bring culture, great food, and the spirit to keep going when things get hard. We are the Cajun navy, the people who cross state lines to help our neighbors and friends when they are in need, the people who not only bring water and food but warm Cajun meals to reconcile those who have just lost everything. Whether it is Tesla, Ford, GM, BYD, or others, we need medical supplies urgently. We do not want to be left behind.
In order to make this easier on those who want to donate, I have been compiling a list of hospitals that need PPE. This contains the hospital name, address, and most urgently needed materials. The hospitals at the top are the ones the most in need. This is not a comprehensive list for the state — just what I have been able to confirm. I know this is a long list and that no one person can supply donations to every single hospital. But if you do, know that you are saving lives that would have been possibly left to die due to lack of supplies.
Contact Information for Hospitals
University Medical Center
2000 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Needed materials — most urgent needs are isolation gowns, N95 masks, surgical masks, and ventilators
Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans
Ochsner Health Department of Philanthropy
1514 Jefferson Hwy, BH 607
New Orleans, LA 70121
Office of donations
504-842-7110
Needed materials — isolation gowns, N95 masks, surgical masks, and ventilators
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Hospital
5000 Hennessy Blvd
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808
They told me to drop off all needed materials at front door
Needed materials — isolation gowns, N95 masks, and surgical masks
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
8595 Picardy Ave.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809
Needed materials — isolation gowns, N95 masks, and surgical masks
Tulane Medical Center
1415 Tulane Ave.
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Needed materials — isolation gowns, N95 masks, and surgical masks
Woman’s Hospital of Baton Rouge
100 Woman’s Way
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70817
Needed materials — surgical masks
Featured Image Credit: Medtronic/Twitter
