Fresno County taking measures amid possible nationwide shortage for IV fluids

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Hospitals crossed the state are facing imaginable shortages of IV fluids aft 1 of the largest plants successful the state was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene successful North Carolina.

There's interest the shortage volition scope Central California and section hospitals are preparing for the worst.

Aerial footage obtained by Action News shows the demolition successful North Carolina, wherever Baxter International produces 60% of the country's IV fluids.

In a connection posted connected the company's website, the aesculapian supplier says they volition beryllium unopen for the foreseeable future.

The closure of the works has prompted Fresno County to merchandise a wellness alert informing radical of imaginable shortage of the beingness redeeming liquid.

"We are surely proceeding that our ain hospitals are precise alert and trying to hole up of time," said Dr. Rais Vohra with the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

Vohra wants aesculapian providers to cognize that with Baxter cutting accumulation aft Helene, determination could beryllium a imaginable shortage.

He is encouraging wellness attraction providers to instrumentality inventory of their IV fluids and prioritize patients with the astir urgent need.

"We don't privation to beryllium successful a presumption wherever this does crook into a crisis. We truly conscionable privation to marque definite that we proceed attraction arsenic usually arsenic we can," explained Vohra.

Valley Children's Hospital successful Madera County is taking a imaginable shortage earnestly and is already preparing arsenic they prioritize the wellness and information of their patients.

In a connection sent a to Action News the infirmary says, successful part:

"We person instituted exigency conservation measures for intravenous fluids this week aft harm from Hurricane Helene forced the closure of the Baxter works successful North Carolina."

Ben Wiele with American Ambulance says they are grateful to beryllium alerted of a imaginable shortage.

The archetypal responder doesn't expect to acquisition a deficiency successful IV fluids but they are inactive pursuing the guidelines provided by the county.

"Rest assured that the ambulance that comes to you is going to beryllium supplied with the close medications astatine each times. So, if an ambulance is showing up to your location they person the supplies acceptable to go," said Wiele.

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