[bearcobra]

The YouTube channel Real Engineering has a great video breaking down why that might not actually be true. The possibility that makeshift devices could cause barotrauma and make things worse seems quite significant. You can check it out here if your interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vLPefHYWpY

[sneak]

I just watched the video. I'm not sure what outcome is worse than "you need a ventilator, but we are out of all of the safe, high-quality ones, and so you will now suffocate and die". In that circumstance I am certain that very nearly 100% of patients would accept potential barotrauma versus the alternative.

[mumblemumble]

If we're to keep it real, my understanding is that, if you have COVID-19 and need ventilation but can't get it, you're all but guaranteed to die. So, assuming a real ventilator is not available, then avoiding makeshift measures due to worries about barotrauma seems to me to be somewhat akin to saying that people shouldn't administer CPR because it's likely to break ribs.