DENVER— DaVita is reminding patients and their families to prepare for weather-related emergencies by creating kits stocked with medication and emergency diet provisions.
“Kidney disease doesn’t take vacations or stop when winter weather hits," said Richard Bruner, division vice president of DaVita and member of DaVita’s emergency response team, DaVERT. “Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment and, because of that, encouraging our patients to adequately prepare for any kind of disaster is of high importance for DaVita."
Dialysis patients require treatments at least three times per week and are at high risk during natural disasters and weather-related emergencies. DaVita recommends patients create an emergency kit that includes phone numbers for doctors and their dialysis center; three days’ worth of medications with a list of the dosage amounts; clean water, food, a can opener, first aid supplies, a battery-operated flashlight and radio; and, if diabetic, a week’s worth of related medical supplies.
For short-term emergencies such as snow and ice buildup, patients should follow their regular diet closely for one to two days; however, when a widespread emergency or disaster happens, patients are encouraged to immediately begin a three-day emergency diet to limit the amount of fluid and waste their body accumulates. DaVita also recommends that patients keep a copy of the diet with emergency supplies as a guide.
The DaVita.com website includes information on a full three-day emergency diet and additional emergency preparedness information, including:
* Emergency preparedness for people with kidney disease
* Preparing for the unexpected with home dialysis
* Diabetes Emergency Plan
