No matter where you live, natural disasters are inevitable. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and more can destroy towns and leave communities without needed resources for days. As a dialysis patient, preparing and planning for a natural disease could save your life. Learn more about how you can plan for an emergency. 

How can I prepare for an emergency?

Failing to plan during an emergency can lead to added stress and be dangerous when you have end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Here are eight ways to help prevent this: 

• Keep a list of your medicines and dosages with you at all times. 
• Have a two-week supply of medication and diet needs at home.
• Get a landline phone at home that will work when you lose power
• Learn how to send a text message as they use less phone battery and will more likely go through when the cell network is busy. 
• Keep a phone charger in your car so you can recharge your cell phone.
• Have an updated copy of important medical and insurance information at your home and job. 
• Wear a medical emblem bracelet or necklace that tells emergency medical staff your health conditions and special needs.
• Keep emergency supplies (such as a battery-powered AM/FM radio, flashlights with extra batteries, candles with matches, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and an emergency phone list) in a safe place. 

What if my dialysis facility is closed?

In the event your dialysis clinic is closed, you may be able to dialyze at a different facility. Have a list of dialysis clinics in your area available. Your local National Kidney Foundation (NKF) office may be able to help you find the names, locations, and phone numbers of backup dialysis units and hospitals in your area to get treatment. 

Community transportation services may not be working during an emergency, so be ready to make other arrangements to get to a facility. You can contact the policy or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for transportation help. 

How should I prepare if I do dialysis at home?

Whether you do home hemodialysis (HHD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD), there are some recommended steps to take before an emergency. These include:

• Keeping a two-week stock of dialysis supplies in case you are stuck at home for a while. Check the expiration dates of your supplies regularly and replace them as needed. 
• Speak with your local water and power companies, so they will be aware of your need to get services restored as soon as possible. 

For HHD patients, you should also: 

• Have a list of dialysis units in your area available to you
• Learn to stay calm taking yourself off the dialysis machine during an emergency
• Follow the directions for stopping dialysis given to you by your dialysis clinic staff during an emergency
• Contact your dialysis registered nurse (RN) if you are unable to do your treatments so other arrangements can be made

For PD patients, you should also: 

• Have a five-day supply of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor in case you develop an infection or peritonitis 
• If you use a cycler, you should also learn how to do CAPD exchanges in case you are unable to use the cycler
• If you lose power while dialyzing with a cycler, follow the instructions given to you by your PD nurse or staff 

Where can I learn more?

Your dialysis nurse or teammates should provide an emergency packet that holds all of your dialysis information, including your treatment orders and all of your medications. If you have to receive treatment in a new clinic or the hospital, this packet will allow them to know what your doctor’s orders are.

In addition, NKF created a brochure called Planning for Emergencies, which provides more details on emergency planning, what to eat during an emergency, and important contact information. 

*Planning for Emergencies for People with Kidney Disease. (2022, August 29). National Kidney Foundation. https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/disasterbrochurefacilities