A medical professional can attach a PEEP valve to the bag valve mask to help maintain pressure inside the lungs. This can help prevent damage to the delicate sacs of air on the lungs, called alveoli.

COVID-19 projection shows height of US need for ventilators, beds will be mid-April The idea is that instead of manually squeezing a bag to push air into a person’s lungs, a machine would do it.

WATCH: NY Gov. Cuomo demonstrates how to use a bag valve mask, a manual alternative to a ventilator. “If we have to turn to this device on any large scale basis, that is not an acceptable ...