How to Manage Dialysis during Indonesia Earthquake

A powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia on 11 April. It took way many lives in a quite short time. For the patients on dialysis, it is a bigger challenge for them to survive this disaster. Then how to manage dialysis during earthquake?

Most of the patients with End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF) rely on dialysis to maintain the life. The treatment is used to depend on power and water. However, after earthquake happens, the very utilities may go down in the. It usually takes 72 hours for the critical services are resorted. Therefore, the patients should know how to spend this period without dialysis.

1. You should stay at home unless you are hurt. It can help you keeps away from infections or other health problems.

2. Without dialysis, a lot of metabolic products will build up in body. To prevent this problem, you should begin a survival diet-two cups fluid per 24 hours, no fresh fruit or vegetables.

3. You should wait at home for instructions and details about your dialysis clinic on radio, messenger or phone.

4. You should wear a medical emblem identifying you as a dialysis patient. In this way, the medical workers will know you are a person on dialysis if you are injured or unable to communicate.

5. You should keep medicine, food and supplies on hand. Remember you should choose foods that are kidney friendly.

6. If you are taking dialysis, you should know how to get off the dialysis machine after the earthquake happens.

7. If possible, you can take peritoneal dialysis at home, which can help you survive the hard time.


The above article has introduced some instructions for dialysis patients during earthquake and we hope they are helpful to you.