The American Association for Respiratory Care is surveying all U.S. hospitals to obtain an accurate count of mechanical ventilators available as the nation braces for the H1N1 flu virus this fall. The survey is being conducted for the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Preparedness and Response. Information on completing the survey has been sent to hospitals' respiratory care or critical care service managers for completion by Aug. 30. For more on the survey, visit www.aarc.org/nvs.