Operating Environments
9650-002360-01 Rev. A
ZOLL Z Vent Ventilator Operator’s Guide
6-3
At temperature ~ - 26 °C you may have to run the device for a few minutes to exercise the O
2
Valve before attaching the ventilator to the patient.
When operating at low temperatures, you can improve performance by operating the device in
the padded case, which insulates the device and allows it to retain heat generated by the
compressor, circuit boards, and AC/DC Power Supply.
Altitude
The ZOLL Z Vent ventilator is designed to operate from - 685.8 m to 7620 m (- 2,250 to
25,000 ft). An absolute barometric pressure sensor monitors ambient pressure and the device
uses this information to continuously correct the output of the device to maintain the ventilation
parameters. When the altitude is > 7620 m (> 25,000 ft), the device activates a Low Priority
alarm. When this occurs, you should monitor the peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and adjust the
tidal volume to maintain the PIP and monitor breath sounds and chest excursion to assure the
device maintains adequate ventilation. The tidal volume increases as altitude increases, so you
should look to prevent over-pressurization of the lung when the altitude increases beyond
7620 m (25,000 ft). If changes are made above 7620 m (25,000 ft), you should revert to the
initial settings once operation resumes in the compensated range (the LED will turn from
yellow to green).
Warning!
The device is not intended for hyperbaric operation. Use in a hyperbaric chamber can
result in harm to the patient and/or damage to the device.
Rain and Snow
You should prevent exposing the device to rain or snow. Use the optional padded case provided
with the ventilator to protect it from rain and snow. The device is capable of operating in these
conditions if you keep the device in the padded case and use the rain flap that is provided with
the padded case. Under these conditions battery operation is required. and the Pulse Oximeter
patient cables are not connected to the device.The padded case and rain flap prevent rain and
snow from puddling on any of the device’s surfaces. In cases of driving rain, where water could
possibly enter the device’s compressor, you can use a bacterial/viral filter to protect the
compressor inlet.
Using the Ventilator in Hazardous Environments
You can use the ventilator in environments where chemical and/or biological toxins are present.
To do this safely, all gas delivered to the patient comes from either a pressurized medical-grade
O2 source and/or filtered ambient air entrained through the Fresh Gas/Emergency Air Intake.
You can choose between a bacterial/viral filter and a C2A1 Chemical/Biological filter based on
the direction of the Medical Control Officer. Hazardous environment filters are shown in
Figure 6-1.
To prevent the patient from breathing contaminated ambient air in the event of a ventilator
failure, the device contains an internal antiasphyxia valve that allows the patient to inspire gas
through the external filter. While this design assures that no contaminated gas reaches the
patient, you must ensure that nothing blocks the input of the external filter.
