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Planning for Emergencies When You Have Kidney Disease  

Prepare now, so you are ready when an emergency or disaster hits.

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Natural disasters (blizzards, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.) or electrical power blackouts can disrupt health care services, such as dialysis treatment. The aim of the information is to help you prepare for possible emergencies. By knowing what to do and preparing ahead, you can feel secure if an emergency should occur.

You may want to print this article and keep it in a place where you can find it easily. Leave copies at your workplace and at home and take it with you when you travel. Tell your family members where it is.

Planning for An Emergency

  1. Keep a current list of your medicines and dosages and carry it with you. Also, keep a two-week supply of medicines and diet needs at home. Check expiration dates every so often and replace items when needed. If you work outside the home, keep an extra supply of medicines at your job.
  2. You should have a landline phone in your home; choose a model and phone service that will work if you lose power (for example, cordless phones and cable phone service may not work in a power outage). You may or may not lose cell phone service. Learn how to send a text message. Texts use less battery power and are more likely to go through when the cell network is very busy. Learn ways to keep your cell phone charged longer. If you have a car, you can also use a car charger to recharge your cell phone.
  3. Keep a copy of important medical and insurance information at your home and at your job, if you work outside the home. Update the information often. If needed, ask your healthcare staff for this information.
  4. You should get and wear a medical emblem. This has very important information about your medical condition and treatment and tells medical staff about your special needs. If you need help in getting one, ask your social worker.
  5. Keep the following emergency supplies in a safe place (contact your local police or fire department for a complete list of items needed):
    • A battery-powered AM/FM radio and extra batteries. Find out what the emergency broadcast radio station is in your area for up-to-date information on what’s happening.
    • Flashlights with plenty of extra batteries or candles and matches. (Remember never to use matches until you have checked for gas leaks.)
    • A first-aid kit.
    • A fire extinguisher. Check regularly to make sure it is full.
    • An emergency phone list
  6. Ask the staff in your apartment unit for a copy of their disaster plan and read it carefully.

Hemodialysis

If a natural disaster occurs in your area, stay indoors and listen to your emergency broadcast radio station for information about what to do. Your local National Kidney Foundation office may be able to help you find out if your regular dialysis unit is open. If your unit is not open or if you are not able to reach the unit, you may be able to dialyze at a different unit. Make sure you have the names, locations and phone numbers of back-up dialysis units and hospitals in your area. Since regular community transportation services may not be working, be ready to make other arrangements for getting to dialysis. Contact the police or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to tell them that you need help.

In a large-scale disaster, you may not be able to get to a dialysis unit for a period of time. You should be ready to manage without dialysis for a few days by following an emergency diet (see “Emergency Meal Planning” below).

Dialysis Emergency Procedures

In a severe disaster, dialysis staff may not be able to continue your individual dialysis schedule and orders. They may need to use emergency procedures, which may include a standard dialyzer and a shorter treatment time. Dialysis staff will make every attempt to give you the best treatment possible.

Your dialysis unit has a procedure for emergency evacuation. The dialysis staff will help you get off the dialysis machine as quickly as possible. The staff will direct or help you to a chosen gathering place.

If no one is available to help you, your dialysis unit has an emergency procedure you can use to get off the dialysis machine safely. Speak to the dialysis team at your unit about the steps for getting yourself off the dialysis machine in case a situation occurs, and the staff cannot help you.

Preparing for an Emergency for Home Hemodialysis

  1. Keep a list of dialysis units in your area at home and at your workplace.
  2. Keep a two-week stock of dialysis supplies. Check expiration dates regularly and replace supplies when needed.
  3. Register with your local water and power companies, so they will be aware of your need to get service restored as soon as possible.
  4. Learn to be comfortable taking yourself off the dialysis machine in an emergency.
  5. During the emergency, if you lose power while dialyzing, follow the directions for stopping dialysis given to you by your home training staff.
  6. If you are not able to continue your treatments at home during the emergency, contact the home training staff to make other arrangements.

Peritoneal Dialysis

CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis) or CCPD/APD (continuous cycling/automated peritoneal dialysis)

  1. Keep a two-week stock of peritoneal dialysis supplies. Check expiration dates regularly and replace supplies when needed. If you use an ultraviolet device, keep the battery charged.
  2. Include in your emergency medication pack a five-day supply of the antibiotic that your doctor orders for peritonitis. If a disaster occurs, it may be difficult to keep a clean environment and your chances of getting peritonitis may be higher.
  3. Register with your local water and power companies, so they will be aware of your need to get service restored as soon as possible.
  4. If you use a cycler, you should also know how to do CAPD exchanges in case you are unable to use the cycler.
  5. If you use a cycler and you lose power while dialyzing, follow the instructions given to you by the PD staff for stopping dialysis in an emergency.

Transplant Recipients

  1. Know your medicines and keep a two-week extra supply in their original bottles, if possible. If you need to evacuate, original bottles will give the necessary information when you get to your destination.
  2. A backpack with a waterproof pouch packed with key items (listed in #3 below) should weigh about 10 pounds. Wear good shoes when you carry this backpack, leaving your hands free if you should need to evacuate.
  3. Pack key information (medicine list, doctor, transplant coordinator, pharmacist, and insurance information) in a waterproof bag; you can add to the key information as specific to your health. Pack several 8-ounce bottles of water, a hand-operated can opener, hand sanitizer, travel-size toiletries, disposable wipes, toilet paper, sunscreen, a miniature flashlight, a mask, gloves, a thermometer, batteries, matches and candles. Stock disposable eating utensils and canned and packaged rations of foods, such as peanut butter, saltines, tuna, juices—several days’ worth, if possible. Include some dry clothes. If you have diabetes, follow guidelines on diabetic food choices. Bring any supplies you might need to treat diabetes or other conditions.
  4. If you are in a shelter or in contact with emergency personnel, let them know you are a transplant recipient and need to take medications regularly and on time. If possible, limit your exposure to infections. Sanitizers, gloves and a mask can help. Using common sense and remaining positive will also help.
  5. Ask your transplant health care team about precautions, additional medications, and preparations that they recommend. You can find a list of transplant centers around the country from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network website at optn.transplant.hrsa.gov and search for Member Directory.

Diabetes

  1. Make sure you have extra insulin and syringes.
  2. Keep a supply of sugar, honey, instant glucose or glucose tablets, low-potassium juices, sugared low phosphorus beverages and hard candy in case of low blood sugar reactions.
  3. Keep extra batteries, so you can check your blood sugar if you have a blood sugar monitoring device (glucometer).

Copyright by the National Kidney Foundation. All rights reserved.

The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs and to determine whether making a lifestyle change or decision based on this information is appropriate for you. Some treatments mentioned may not be covered by your health plan. Please refer to your benefit plan documents for information about coverage.