Local defence company General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada (GDLS-Canada) has gifted 14 ventilators and 860 N95 masks to London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) as the hospital prepares for a surge of patients requiring critical care services due to COVID-19.
The life-sustaining equipment, originally intended for use in the company’s Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) ambulance variant, is now being directed to LHSC.
In light of the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, GDLS-Canada employees were keen to help in any way they could. An idea, brought forward by the company’s manager of Quality Assurance, to donate the ventilators (AEV 731 model) and masks was readily supported by the company.
Doug Wilson-Hodge, GDLS-Canada’s Manager of Communications, Community and Government Relations, says that helping the hospital in this capacity is a natural fit for the company, where health and safety are always top-of-mind.
“Our focus is on protecting soldiers by manufacturing the equipment that protects them on the front lines,” he says. “So, as you translate that into this particular fight against COVID-19, it’s a logical extension for our employees to say ‘Okay, how can we help these frontline workers and make this connection with this industry?’”
“What we’re doing here in London is really part of a broader company effort across General Dynamics worldwide to make sure that we’re focusing on bringing our resources to fight the problem, and giving back to our communities,” Wilson-Hodge adds.
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada is a longstanding donor to London Health Sciences Foundation (LHSF), supporting a wide variety of high-priority areas in the past, including mental health care, critical care trauma research and diagnostic radiology.
“We’re so grateful to be able to facilitate this vital donation from General Dynamics Land Systems,” says John MacFarlane, LHSF’s President and CEO. “Donations like this one, paired with the outpouring of support from our community, really bring to light how we can rally behind our frontline healthcare heroes during this time of crisis.”
Click here to learn more about donating equipment and PPE.
For media inquiries:
Heidi Janzen
Senior Marketing Officer
London Health Sciences Foundation
Cell: 416.949.2171 | heidi.janzen@lhsc.on.ca