Helene ravaged the NC plant that makes 60% of the country’s IV fluid supply

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Flux_State@reddit

If one plant makes 60% of the supply, does that mean one other plant makes the rest? We're one cruise missiles or truck bomb away from having no supply? The world's too dangerous for having all of our eggs in one basket.

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alkbch@reddit

Who’s going to send that cruise missile?

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Flux_State@reddit

You act like the US doesn't have a bunch of enemies with a bunch of missiles.

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alkbch@reddit

You act as if the U.S. is regularly the target of cruise missiles. The U.S. has never been the target of cruise missiles.

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Flux_State@reddit

You act like no one's ever set off a truck bomb in the US

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alkbch@reddit

Ah yes because setting off a truck bomb is similar to sending ballistics missiles now... LOL

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Flux_State@reddit

I listed both things. And yes, they are similar: both are things that can level buildings.

Look man, it's not to late for you to go and get your GED

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alkbch@reddit

Keep deflecting. People like you almost always resort to character attacks once they are shown they were wrong, instead of, you know, owning up to their mistake and moving on...

Look, the point of the matter is the risk anyone sending a ballistic missile on the continental U.S. is slim to none.

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Sharukurusu@reddit

Loony Christian preppers in the air force?

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beavertonaintsobad@reddit

Why the fuck is our national supply of IV fluid allowed to be consolidated to one facility producing 60%. Seems like a national security vulnerability?

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noodlenerd@reddit

Just like the baby formula- it’s very difficult to produce these products safely. There’s only a few places that can do it, this plant being one that has achieved it.

Source- used to work there.

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beavertonaintsobad@reddit

If that plant can figure it out then so can others. Consolidation is rarely a result of legitimate proprietary tech or knowledge. Instead it more often the result of unregulated capitalism via buyouts and mergers.

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noodlenerd@reddit

While I agree, it is stupidly hard to keep everything as clean as it needs to be throughout the process. Also, the reason the plant is in WNC is because of the water, like so many other companies there.

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beavertonaintsobad@reddit

Don't dispute your expertise, just saying despite the challenges this seems to be the type of vulnerability we could definitely solve at a national level if we chose to do so.

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lilith_-_-@reddit

It’s not too profitable and they dominated the market

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arappmem@reddit

It's a lot more prevalent than you think.

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Tenableg@reddit

Why is one stateside plant making 60% of a critical supply in healthcare? As bad as Abbot .

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Flipfivefive@reddit (OP)

I work at a level one trauma center in a medium sized Midwestern city. We got an email yesterday about this situation, asking us to be mindful of our fluid usage (more so than usual) and to consider alternate therapy.

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irrision@reddit

Can confirm, similar message sent out at the Midwest hospital I work at.

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Typical_Elevator6337@reddit

I wonder how long it will be until we can count the preventable deaths this shortage will cause or influence.

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Downtown_Holiday_966@reddit

The same people crying about the shortages are the same that demanded cheap healthcare that caused this concentration of manufacturing to achieve economies of scale. Can't have the cake and eat it too.

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Inner-Confidence99@reddit

The same thing was said when I think it was Maria hit Puerto Rico. Said 90% of IV bags were made there. They need more than 2 or 3 backups for when shit like this happens.

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skunimatrix@reddit

One of major blood pressure medications was only made in Puerto Rico and left my father in a lurch as the other option never did work for him that well.

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Inner-Confidence99@reddit

Look into herbalism they have a thread on here. I’ve found out a lot of good things there.

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WaterBottleFull@reddit

It's definitely not the time to experiment with inconsistently dosed natural products with unknown MOA, please take it elsewhere

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mission_opossumable@reddit

Yep. My first thought was: "did we ever get th PR plant running fully after Maria?"

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kitarotamoko@reddit

Too bad capitalism is about efficient profit, not redundant safety..

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sovietshark2@reddit

But something something that wouldn't be economically sustainable with a for profit model. We totally can't and shouldn't pursue that /s

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AurorasHomestead@reddit

Came here to comment this

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philoveritas@reddit

Same for my resource hospital.

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Kevinsito92@reddit

Can u respike a bag to use whatever’s leftover?

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BlackSupra@reddit

Same

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vampirelvr2023@reddit

I work in healthcare and confirm this

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greeneyedguru@reddit

Well this will be a good excuse to jack up the price of IV bags by 300%

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hedoesntgetanyone@reddit

It will never go back down

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TinyDogsRule@reddit

Only 300%? Optimist.

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VZR@reddit

Interestingly enough, there is a Pfizer plant in Rocky Mount, NC (Eastern NC) that is geared up to make IV solutions. Its has gone through major downsizing in the last 5-7 years due to IV solutions being relatively unprofitable. I'd be curious to see if any of those lines are spun back up in the next few months.

Source: Used to work at the Pfizer plant.

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Caledoniaa@reddit

Does the unprofitability of IV solutions in the business to business (health care) market have anything to do with the sharp and sudden increase in IV related products to the consumer? I'm seeing it in liquid form and more recently pill form. The pill is said to be around $150.

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WaterBottleFull@reddit

??? IV means intravenous. It can't be a pill

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theoryofdoom@reddit

there is a Pfizer plant in Rocky Mount, NC (Eastern NC) that is geared up to make IV solutions.

I've heard talk of that as well. It's possible, but I'd expect some of the other manufacturers in the United States to step up their production first.

Still . . . Baxter is probably going to significantly increase output from its other facilities in the US and around the world. But there will be some lead time in that transition, while Baxter's facility in Western NC is repaired.

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KJ6BWB@reddit

Baxter is probably going to significantly increase output from its other facilities in the US and around the world. But there will be some lead time in that transition, while Baxter's facility in Western NC is repaired.

They'll repair the NC facility, but it'll never be like it was. They'll increase production at other facilities because they won't want to lose too much market share. Then with production already ramped up at other facilities, why rebuild the NC facility back to where it was?

Anyone who worked at the NC facility should take whatever insurance money they can get, move elsewhere, then sell whatever land they have in NC after some basic infrastructure gets rebuilt.

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AnyKitchen5129@reddit

My mom works at Baxter. They surprisingly have been really great through this. They’ve been supplying all of their employees with generators, supplies, showers, and paying everyone their full paychecks even though no one is working. This article feels a little misleading in that the roads around Baxter are impassable at the moment, and the water supply is shaky, but the plant itself should be operational before too long. Obviously huge supply lines have rippling effects when down for a week or two, but this does not feel accurate to the situation. McDowell county was hit badly but Marion faired pretty well comparably. Their infrastructure is still largely in tact.

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Allprofile@reddit

These are things that should be produced/offered in widely spread out locations in the form of a government brand: medication, basic food goods, basic automobiles, home/auto insurance, and banking.

It would allow the private market to thrive by making it difficult for big brands to move in at bottom of barrel prices until mom & pops go under before raising prices back. It would also disincentivise big companies from price gouging and create a federal service job program a la consumer CCC.

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MrBobMintonRIP@reddit

If I steal this for the “solutions binder,” I will give you credit.

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Allprofile@reddit

I want no credit, only good.

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MrBobMintonRIP@reddit

I have a fantasy we all come together and sing Kumbaya with a “solutions binder.” Like a draft for a new constitution. Tuck the original constitution into the binder pocket to “honor it” but actually start fresh.

Worst case scenario, we revert back to the old constitution. Haha. My alt account is very active in the economic subs. Collecting ideas for dealing with the debt crisis.

A general store with necessities makes a lot of sense. I keep coming back to that idea.

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Allprofile@reddit

1000%

Doesn't even have to be a general store. Could limit distribution to grocers with less than 8 locations & also have necessities at the PO.

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MrBobMintonRIP@reddit

That makes sense. Encourage local and small distributors. I think the solution will be a public/private partnership.

Some areas don’t have small grocers though. Really depends where you are.

I think dealing with climate change will mean totally revamping our food and water distribution.

I’m also very serious about teaching people how to build their own resiliency with rain barrels, new roofs, canning/food storage, French drains, local gardens, ect. All of which will be supported and funded by government cash.

We ain’t bailing out any more big businesses. If a company wants a bailout, it becomes property of the American people.

We need to start bailing out individuals.

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MrBobMintonRIP@reddit

Would the items be sold at cost? A modest profit?

I think some things should be free, like meds.

Cars can be paid for. Or worked off.

I had the similar thought about a government general store.

I was also thinking it should include a tool library.

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Allprofile@reddit

I think of it similar to how the military operates as a service to society minus the contractors, but with a post office vibe a la we interact with them every day and they provide a visual service/presence.

When the items sell, they'd be exempt from VAT at point of sale since they're funded by tax dollars already, which would further limit the ability of private corporations to gouge.

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MrBobMintonRIP@reddit

Definitely a post office vibe.

Should have screens for paying taxes. Tap tap, print off your federal tax bill and set up a payment plan if needed. Renew passport. Send mail.

Schedule an appointment to talk with a social worker about healthcare and getting needs met.

Can even be combined with “village style” tiny home living. Or a recreational center with sleeping pods. Basic hot and healthy meals for cheap or free (depending on income level). At least build the kitchen and allow non-profits to operate it.

I’d probably also incorporate a community closet and pantry.

A bank function too. Non-profit, like a credit union.

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Instr-FTO@reddit

How are we supposed to recover from this?

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Intelligent_Cat1736@reddit

Oh, "we" will recover... as in the country. People will die, but that's acceptable to the United States Government, whose official policy is "Die Faster".

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Vegetable-Bobcat-992@reddit

While also barely allowing assisted suicide for terminal people who would love to choose it...

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escapefromburlington@reddit

Max profit must be extracted!

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Malcolm_Morin@reddit

But wait a gosh darn minute, I was told that FEMA and the American government heckin' CARE about us common folk and that average folks helping are just a buncha lil scoundrels! Why would the internet lie to me?!

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Instr-FTO@reddit

I actually knew that. It just seems ridiculous that we are in such a position but I expected nothing less from those in power. That why we prep.

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WebAccomplished9428@reddit

You better prep for a fuckin revolution my guy bc this level of disappointment and anger is gonna turn into frustration and desperation, and we can just look at the common history between peasants to see where that leads. Our government is raising that middle finger high and higher by the day

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Instr-FTO@reddit

I'm ready. Trust me...

Retired Force Recon Marine, sniper, and now SWAT instructor. Have been ready for all contingencies for about 8 months now in my rural ranch.

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MrBobMintonRIP@reddit

I still hope we help each other 😢

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Bigcockhoodstyle565@reddit

Time to clear it up and get it going

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arappmem@reddit

What company?

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toomanyusernames4rl@reddit

That’s going to help the world wide shortage /s.

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TinyEmergencyCake@reddit

I just got told by my primary that unless I'm absolutely desperate and dying I can't get fluids for my dehydration which is occurring because of my gastroparesis

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Morph-o-Ray@reddit

Absolutely nothing was learned by the pandemic. I'm not surprised I'm just disappointed.

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FenceSitterofLegend@reddit

Time to download the red cross app and donate some blood. Probably won't help in every situation, but perhaps it takes some pressure off the shortage

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stiffneck84@reddit

Very similar things happened after Maria struck the plants in PR that made sterile products. We got through it.

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AdBeautiful2175@reddit

Great time for war..

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Tulol@reddit

Against climate change..

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ASF2018@reddit

Against a shitty government uniparty

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Rare-Possession-8145@reddit

you know ball

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Pyratelife4me@reddit

Good info. This is the kind of prepper intel that I come here to see, not the political bullshit that seems all too common lately.

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EmberOnTheSea@reddit

My son, an EMT, just told me about this about 5 minutes ago. They just received an alert on it.

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Ash_Tray420@reddit

Yeah, I live in western NC. This is the last of my worries. I’m still doing tree work every damn day, sore as shit. Helping neighbors and friends and family. Every house is fucked, every factory, store….everything.

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_AndromedaDreams_@reddit

Yeah, I live in western NC. This is the last of my worries.

Ah, nobody shouid care about this, then. It’s not this guys problem, so who cares?

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saysee23@reddit

No one is blaming NC - at all. Just discussing the shortage and the fact there need to be more than a few places that supply a basic, sometimes critical medication. If you hurt yourself doing tree work that's a chance you might need those fluids. With the increased chances of infection in the storm damaged areas that's another need for IV fluids.

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SmokedUp_Corgi@reddit

I work in healthcare and I would bet a plan has already been in place to offset the product in pieces to other manufacturers around the country if not the world.