A ventilator system for providing respiratory support in cases of acute respiratory failure or severe trauma is described. The ventilator system has a ventilator and a tubing system. The system is characterized in that the ventilator has a continuous bleed valve configured to be open to air flow from the blower at all times when the blower is operating during both inspiration and expiration; thereby providing a minimal amount of pressure within a patient's lungs at the end of each exhalation—positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP). In an embodiment of the invention the system comprises a manifold block configured to hold the main operating elements of the ventilator.