Officials from the Alaska Department of Health have issued a warning to emergency medical services about a potential shortage of IV fluids following Hurricane Helene’s damage to a factory that produces about 60% of the liquid used in IVs.
The alert was included in a notice shared Thursday through EMS Vitals, a newsletter sent to EMS specialists across the state. This comes after similar warnings from medical facilities in various regions of the country.
We’re reaching out to our EMS community to raise awareness, said Gene Wiseman, the section chief of rural and community health systems for the Department of Health. We want to take a proactive approach, especially for EMS providers in rural Alaska, where shipping can be challenging. If there are any delays, they should start planning ahead—perhaps by doubling their orders—to ensure they have enough supplies.
The current concern revolves around Baxter International Inc., one of the largest medical supply companies in the U.S. Earlier this week, the company reported that its North Cove factory in Marion, North Carolina, was partially flooded due to a levee breach, and the bridges leading to the factory have been damaged.
Marion, located northwest of Charlotte and east of Asheville, has experienced significant rainfall and flooding, leading to extensive damage to homes and injuries or fatalities among residents.
On Thursday, Baxter stated that the safety of its workers is its top priority, emphasizing that we are working with the greatest urgency, but we do not yet have a timeline for when operations will resume.
Wiseman noted that the Department of Health has not yet received federal guidance regarding the potential shortage but anticipates that it will come in the next few days.
Mikal Canfield, a spokesperson for Providence Alaska Medical Center, the state’s largest hospital, confirmed that they are aware of the situation. We are currently assessing the situation and its impact on product availability. In the meantime, Providence is implementing various strategies to prevent disruptions in patient care, including conserving current supplies and utilizing alternative fluids and solutions as needed, he stated via email.
Blue & Gold NLR Team is a dedicated journalist at blueandgoldnlr.com, where he provides insightful and up-to-date news coverage. With a passion for uncovering the truth and a commitment to delivering accurate information, Blue & Gold NLR Team brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. His work ensures readers stay informed about the latest events and developments.