I belive I heard it reported that there are only 150 ventilators nationwide. Don't expect to get onto one of those if you get severe pneumonia. The safest course looks like isolation (which is my plan)...don't get it in the first place.
Funny you should bring that up.
The New York Times today had a long article and informative on this potential shortage.
According to the article, there are approximately 105,000 mechanical ventilators, nationwide. In any given flu season, around 100,000 are in use at any given time. The Strategic National Stockpile has 4-5,000 additional for distribution. Unfortunately - according to the National Emergency Plan issued last November - we would need approximately 742,500 at any one time (assuming the pandemic doesn't get any worse than a lower case scenario).
In other words - if this thing hits - somebody's gonna get left out. And without a mechanical ventilator, he/she ain't gonna last long once this thing settles into the deep lungs, which is where it heads.
By the way, these ventilators cost around $30,000. So, it is unlikely the Average Joe can get one to stash in his basement. Besides, the world's largest manufacturer of these things says they can ramp up production only to about 10,000 a year. So there still won't be enough to go around - even if you could afford one.
Here is the Link, but you have to register to read it...
There is another option. Wear double face masks. That is what a nurse I know from Brazil does after they have their Carnival. Strange diseases occur in the tropical areas. She's healthy:)
Wash hands frequently. Cremate what you eat. And don't walk around BSing with people at work all day long:) Their kids are the source of most colds, flu, whatever.