Seconds from disaster-crisis in critical care unit during tropical cyclone ‘Fani’

The balancing act of hospital medical oxygen demand and supply

“…Critical care beds: 30 COVID-ICU beds with HamiltonC3 ventilator (50 l/min flow rate), 20 HDU beds with HamiltonC3 ventilator (50 l/min flow rate), 10 ICU beds with Puritan Bennett™ 840 ventilators (100120 l/min flow rate), and ten emergency beds with eXtend XT ventilator beds (100120 l/min flow rate)[ 5 ]…”

“…The hospitals should have a primary, secondary, and reserve oxygen source in adequate volume with appropriate safety guidelines and at safe hospital locations to prevent any untoward incidents of supply failure, especially during natural disasters. [ 5 6 ] A logbook to be maintained to record the daily oxygen consumption and oxygen reserve. Appropriate alarm systems to indicate pressure changes in supply systems, trained personnel for proper monitoring, periodic mock drills to ensure the efficiency of support, and failure systems are essential for safe, reliable, and uninterrupted supply of oxygen in hospitals.…”

“…[ 3 ] It is a basic obligation of every hospital to ensure a safe, adequate, uninterrupted supply of medical gases, significantly oxygen. [ 4 5 ]…”

Medical gas pipeline system disruption during tropical cyclone 'Fani' – a clear and present danger of tropical cyclones: Are we prepared?

“…On 3 rd May 2019, it made landfall in the state of Odisha, India with a wind speed of more than 250 kmph creating huge devastation. [ 1 ] Anticipating any untoward event during the cyclone, the routine surgeries were deferred. However, emergency surgeries were going on.…”