As Hospitals Run Low On Oxygen, Generators Delivered To RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Hospitals have been running low on oxygen supplies for patients across Southern California, and on Thursday officials announced the state has delivered oxygen generators to Riverside County to help meet the urgent need.

“Oxygen suppliers are having a difficult time meeting the high demand of area hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Riverside County Emergency Management Department Director, Bruce Barton. “This isn’t limited to just one hospital. COVID patients need lots of oxygen and that’s taxing the entire healthcare system. We’ve been working with representatives from California Emergency Medical Services Authority to address the growing needs and we’re glad to report that today EMSA set up an oxygen depot, a state resource, that will supply Riverside County and surrounding counties with oxygen.”

The "oxygen depot" is comprised of two large oxygen generators that will fill the large tanks used by hospitals and will augment the local oxygen supply, according to the county.

The State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority, working with the Riverside County Emergency Management Department, brought the "much-needed" oxygen into the county to help meet the needs of hospitals within the region, a county news release Thursday announced.

"Centrally located, Riverside County is an ideal location to provide this resource to neighboring counties," the news release stated.

Supported by Riverside County Facilities Management, state staffers will be available 24 hours a day to fill oxygen tanks, according to the county.

The oxygen generators are expected to remain until suppliers are able to keep up with demands.