Human innovation in the fight against the pandemic is saving lives

Our creative human spirit is alive and fights to save lives during this crisis. New York hospitals have begun splitting ventilators and calling for help in printing personal protective equipment (PPE). Now, volunteer engineering teams are developing DIY ventilators.

ISO and CEN paywalls stand in the way

The technical details that ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of ventilators sit behind paywalls. Volunteer teams must pay tens of thousands of dollars for the needed Standards. In February, FreeRead.org petitioned academic publishers to remove paywalls for all Coronavirus science. Today, that science is free to read for everyone in the world. We asked loudly, and we were heard. Let's ask again.

We ask the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to give engineers the Standards needed to build ventilators (ISO 11.040.10 and all other needed codes).

We beg ISO and CEN to join ASTM, who released their Standards for Masks, Medical Gowns, Gloves, Hand Sanitizers, and Respirators in support of the fight to help medical personnel and save lives.

The teams are working against the clock and every hour counts.

Eddy Njoroge and Vincent Laflèche: do not count pennies behind your paywalls as we struggle to breathe. Help us.