Living the Florida Lifestyle has its benefits but it also offers some challanges. Make sure you're prepared for this Hurricane Season!

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS

Typical Hurricane Schedule:

• Dialyze 12 -24 hours before the storm. Center will notify everyone of appointment time. Be aware that County Transportation will stop when wind speed reaches 35 mph.
• Day of hurricane-stay at home, stay safe
• Day after hurricane- stay at home, stay safe
• 2nd day after hurricane- call center to determine future schedule
• 3rd day after hurricane-dialyze at center as directed by staff

This is similar to a weekend schedule – patients may easily go 4-7 days without treatment if they have properly followed diet and fluid restrictions. Note: this applies only if the hurricane is known to be destructive with massive outages, etc.
A minimal storm without system failures should result in operations returning to normal immediately.

DO’s and DON’Ts

DO fill your car with gas prior to the storm. Locate gas stations with generators near your home PRIOR to the storm.

DO fill your prescriptions – make sure that you have at least 2 weeks worth of meds. Obtain other emergency items as needed (food, batteries, water, radio)

DO, if you have a cell phone, get a car charger or other means of keeping it charged in the event of power outage. Be sure the center has your numbers.

DO have available a standard, non-electric phone. Phones that are not electric will frequently still work even when the power is out. Bell South has several days battery backup and will work when FP&L is down.

DO make private transportation arrangements if you don’t drive, including a backup. Do not rely on county systems. Be prepared to travel in the dark.

DO follow your diet and fluid restrictions.

DO go to a dialysis-oriented shelter if you are in an evacuation zone or are elevator dependent in an apartment/condo building.

These shelters DO NOT provide dialysis, but will arrange transportation, etc. to meet the dialysis patient’s needs. They WILL NOT have medications, etc. Be sure to take them with you.

DO discuss special needs in advance with your social worker. She can register you at a special needs (oxygen, wheelchair, etc) shelter if necessary.

DO protect the medical information that you are given at the last dialysis received prior to the hurricane. This information will be vital in the event that you must dialyze at a different center after the storm.

DON’T go to the hospital after a storm unless you are very seriously ill. The hospitals are not equipped to handle dialysis patients. They will triage you to establish that you are not “sick” and then send you home or to a dialysis center.

You are responsible for your own health and safety. To assure care after the storm, call for information in this order:

1) Call your clinic: (click here for directory). If no answer due to damage, etc, call:
2) The backup center designated by your clinic, if no answer there, call:
3) KRU’s out-of-state toll free number: 1-888-257-5647.
4) If all of the above fail for any reason, call Broward County EOC:
(954) 831-4000. Dialysis personnel will be available to answer questions and direct you to the clinic closest to you that is open.
This may or may not be your regular center. Call this number last. We do not want to tie up emergency lines if information is available elsewhere.

DO learn the location of your back-up center and other centers in the area, so that you do not need to worry about directions in the post-storm confusion.

DON’T panic. A system is in place, but you must take responsibility for your own care by following the guidelines and recommendations discussed. There may be a certain degree of confusion and disorder, as power systems, phone systems, and routine activities are disrupted and both staff and patients struggle to restore order. This can’t be helped and complaints and discontent will only add to the problem. To the best of your ability, remain calm and most of all, patient.

Together, we can weather any storm!

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS:
KRU MEDICAL VENTURES, LLC
7061 Cypress Road
Suite 104
Plantation, FL 33317
Telephone: 954.474.7701
Fax: 954.474.7702