Preparing for a Natural Disaster
Natural disasters can happen anytime, so it's important to be ready. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy if you need dialysis and there is a disaster.
Plan Ahead
A plan made ahead of time is easier to follow than one made in the middle of a storm, whether it's a hurricane, wildfire, or winter storm. These steps are the foundation of a solid dialysis emergency plan for every patient, whether in-center or at home.
- Get dialysis before the storm arrives.
- Consider a medical alert bracelet.
- Talk to your dietitian about meal planning and power outages.
- If you dialyze at home, ask your provider for special instructions.
- Write down your medications, providers, clinic, pharmacy, and emergency contacts.
- Know your evacuation routes and public transportation options.
- If evacuation means switching to a new center, it helps to know the process ahead of time.
- Tell utility companies you need power and water for medical reasons.
- Register for updates through your ESRD Network and sign up for alerts so you know your options as a disaster approaches.
Once your plan is in place — whether it's an in-center routine or a home dialysis emergency plan — the next step is making sure you have the right supplies.
Build a Disaster Prep Kit
A disaster prep kit for dialysis patients starts with the basics everyone needs, with a few additions specific to your care.
- Water: To stay hydrated, plan one gallon per person per day, for at least three days.
- Non-perishable food: To sustain you for least three days.
- First aid kit and local maps: To treat minor injuries and navigate if you need to evacuate.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio: To stay informed; include a NOAA Weather Radio receiver and extra batteries for both.
- Flashlight and extra batteries: To see and signal for help in the dark.
- Whistle: To signal for help.
- Dust mask, plastic sheeting, and duct tape: To shelter in place.
A well-stocked kit covers the basics. Managing your health if treatment gets delayed takes a bit more planning.
Managing Your Health If Treatment Is Delayed
If a disaster delays your treatment, managing your fluid intake becomes especially important. These guidelines can help until you're able to reach your care team.
- Limit fluids to 2 cups a day for 3 days: This helps prevent shortness of breath and fluid buildup while you wait for treatment.
- Drink 4 oz. of fluid with meals: That totals about 1.5 cups across your three meals for the day.
- Drink the remaining ½ cup for medications and phosphate binders
- Keep medications and phosphate binders with your kit: Pack these with your emergency supplies so you have them if you need to evacuate.
- Call your care team as soon as it's safe: If treatment is missed or delayed, reach out right away so your care team can help you plan next steps.
What Caregivers Can Do
Caregivers play a role in all of this too, often before the patient even realizes a storm is coming.
If you support someone on dialysis, your preparation matters as much as theirs. This dialysis caregiver checklist covers the basics, and a little planning on your part can prevent a stressful situation from becoming an emergency.
- Build a go-bag: Pack medical information, a medication list, and insurance details together in a bag that's easy to grab.
- Know the treatment schedule: Understand when and how often your loved one needs dialysis so you can plan travel or shelter accordingly.
- Keep emergency contacts handy: Store clinic, physician, and insurance contact information somewhere accessible, even if a phone loses signal or power.
Why Innovative Renal Care
At Innovative Renal Care, we are committed to delivering a dialysis experience that goes beyond the treatment itself. As a physician-partnered and nurse-led organization, our focus is on collaboration, innovation, and data driven care.
Learn more about our ongoing commitment to deliver more tomorrows to our patients, their families, and friends.
