The U.S. Army delivered a much-needed three-day supply of fuel to San Juan-based San Jorge Children's Hospital Sept. 27, which reportedly helped save the lives of 12 pediatric patients, according to CNN.
A hospital administrator said the hospital's power generating capability was at 50 percent prior to the refueling Wednesday. The generators acted as the main source of power for 12 patients' ventilators, the report states.
Because of the shortage, the administrator told CNN the ventilators were required to run on battery power for approximately eight hours Monday, placing the patients in danger of having their ventilators turned off if the batteries died.
Domingo Vivaldi, senior vice president of operations and CEO of San Jorge Children's Hospital, said the refueling helped the hospital avoid a medical emergency "for now," he told CNN.
Prior to Hurricane Maria's arrival on the island last week, the hospital cared for an estimated 90 patients. Once the storm hit, officials discharged 30 patients who were in stable condition. The additional 60 patients remain hospitalized at the facility, according to Mr. Vivaldi.