The present invention relates generally to the field of ventilators, and, more specifically, to a ventilator system that addresses respiratory distress due to the onset of an epidemic or pandemic disease state. In particular, the present invention is a ventilator system that can be manufactured quickly with minimal skill requirements and employed rapidly in response to epidemic respiratory disease conditions. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed toward a ventilator having a gas input, an inhalation conduit connected to the gas input, a patient flow control valve, operably connected to the gas input via the inhalation conduit, a patient interface, separated from the inhalation conduit by the flow control valve, and a gas shut-off mechanism that senses a pressure state in the inhalation conduit.
