Hurricane Helene Causes IV Fluid Shortage

Hurricane Helene has severely disrupted the supply of life-saving IV fluids and peritoneal dialysis solutions across the United States due to extensive damage to Baxter International's manufacturing facility in North Carolina, which produces 60% of these essential products. The Fort Smith Regional Dialysis Center is currently receiving only 50% of its saline supply, forcing them to reduce treatment frequency for over 400 patients. Other hospitals are also facing shortages, with some resorting to administering Gatorade as a temporary solution for patients needing electrolytes. The American Hospital Association has urged immediate federal action to prevent these shortages from escalating into a healthcare crisis, highlighting the urgent need for alternative solutions and the potential declaration of a national emergency. Efforts are underway to resume production, but there is no clear timeline for when supplies will return to normal levels. As hospitals assess their inventory daily, some are postponing non-emergent procedures to conserve resources.