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    1. About Kidney Disease
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      3. Kidney Disease Stages
      4. What Is a Nephrologist?
      5. What to Expect with CKD
      6. Kidney Disease Management
      7. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
      8. How Kidneys Work
      9. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
    2. Treatments
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Dialysis Basics
      3. Benefits of Home Dialysis
      4. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
      5. Home Hemodialysis
      6. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
      7. In-Center Hemodialysis
      8. Transplant
      9. Insurance & Managing Costs
      10. Choosing Not to Treat
    3. Life On Dialysis
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Your Emotional Health While on Dialysis
      3. Staying Engaged
      4. Staying Healthy
      5. Dialysis Travel Services and Information
      6. Tips for Loved Ones
      7. PatientHub
    4. Recipes & Nutrition
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Recipes
      3. Managing Your Diet
      4. Fluid Management on Dialysis
      5. Dialysis Diet Planning
      6. Cookbooks
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    Find a Dialysis Center

    Find a Dialysis Center

    Find a Dialysis Center
    Permission to detect location was denied Current location could not be determined
      Try a detailed search

      Need help? Call 1-888-373-1470

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      1. About Kidney Disease
        1. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
          1. Symptoms
          2. Risk Factors
          3. Causes
          4. Diagnosis and Testing
          5. GFR Calculator
        2. Kidney Disease Stages
          1. Stage 1
          2. Stage 2
          3. Stage 3
          4. Stage 4
          5. Stage 5
        3. What Is a Nephrologist?
        4. What to Expect with CKD
        5. Kidney Disease Management
          1. Kidney Diet Basics
          2. CKD Medications
          3. Your Kidney Care Team
          4. Diabetes
          5. High Blood Pressure
        6. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
          1. Acute Kidney Injury Treatment and Recovery
        7. How Kidneys Work
        8. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
      2. Treatments
        1. Dialysis Basics
          1. How Does a Hemodialysis Machine Work
          2. Starting Dialysis
          3. Types of Dialysis Access
          4. Your Care Plan
          5. Dialysis Medications
          6. Monitoring Your Lab Results
        2. Benefits of Home Dialysis
        3. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. PD Access
          4. PD Training
          5. PD Monitoring
          6. Your Care Team
        4. Home Hemodialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. HD Training
          4. HD Monitoring
          5. Your Care Team
        5. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
        6. In-Center Hemodialysis
          1. In-Center Treatment Options
          2. What to Expect
          3. Types of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
          4. Your Care Team
          5. How to Choose a Center
        7. Transplant
          1. Finding a Kidney Donor
          2. Considering Kidney Donation
        8. Insurance & Managing Costs
          1. Understanding Medicare Coverage
          2. Understanding Medicare Advantage
          3. Understanding Employer Plans
        9. Choosing Not to Treat
      3. Life On Dialysis
        1. Your Emotional Health While on Dialysis
          1. Managing Your Emotions
          2. Talking About Dialysis
          3. Intimacy
          4. Body Image and Dialysis
          5. Building Your Dialysis Support Network
        2. Staying Engaged
          1. Tips for Working While on Dialysis
          2. In-Center Activities
          3. Hobbies
        3. Staying Healthy
          1. Managing Your Time on Dialysis
          2. Dialysis & Exercise
          3. Weight Management
          4. Avoiding Infection
          5. Managing Multiple Conditions
          6. Fighting the Flu
        4. Dialysis Travel Services and Information
        5. Tips for Loved Ones
          1. In-Center Hemodialysis
          2. At-Home Hemodialysis
          3. At-Home Peritoneal Dialysis
        6. PatientHub
      4. Recipes & Nutrition
        1. Recipes
        2. Managing Your Diet
          1. Eating Well on a CKD Diet
          2. Eating Well on a Dialysis Diet
          3. Salt and Kidney Disease
          4. Potassium and Kidney Disease
          5. Phosphorus and Kidney Disease
          6. Talking With Your Dietitian
        3. Fluid Management on Dialysis
        4. Dialysis Diet Planning
          1. Kidney-Friendly Shopping
          2. Eating Out
          3. Holiday Diet Tips
          4. A Chef’s Advice | Chef Aaron McCargo on Kidney Friendly Meals
        5. Cookbooks
      5. Thrive Central
        1. CKD
        2. Dialysis
        3. Diet & Nutrition
        4. Stories
        5. Wellness
        6. See All
      1. Home
      2. Treatments
      3. Disaster Preparation

      How To Prepare in Case of Emergency

      Share:
      By planning ahead and having an emergency kit on hand, you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way. Disasters of all kinds can wreak havoc on the lives of people affected—but for 450,000+ people on dialysis in the US, emergency situations can pose a different kind of danger. Closed roads, power outages and other fallout can prove life-threatening when they prevent someone from receiving dialysis.

      Plan ahead!

      The time to prepare for any disaster is when there’s not one—especially if you’re on dialysis. Take some simple steps now and you’ll have the tools and resources ready, should you ever need them. You’ll also have the peace of mind that comes with having a well-thought-out backup plan.

      Emergency kit: know what to pack

      You’ll need to take precautions and gather information and supplies to be ready in case of an emergency.
      Click here for a printable emergency kit checklist
      Dialysis emergency kit checklist


      1. An extra 3-day supply of all medicine (for dialysis and any other conditions)
      2. Necessary medical supplies and dialysis equipment
      3. A radio, flashlight and batteries so you can keep up with the news
      4. At least 3 days’ worth of food that fits the Emergency Eating Plan provided to you by your dietitian
      Keep emergency supplies and information in a backpack or duffel bag—something that’s easy to grab and go. Know where your emergency kit is at all times.
      Have up-to-date personal information—ID, medication and allergy lists, insurance card, emergency contact details, your doctor’s number, dialysis treatment information and the Fresenius Kidney Care Hotline number (1-800-626-1297). You’ll want a paper list so it’s easy to access.

      CREATE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION LIST WITH THIS FORM
      Update your contact information with your dialysis center—make sure your treatment team is able to reach you if there’s a need.
      Have an evacuation plan—if there’s an emergency or disaster in your area and you need to leave your home, have a destination and make an evacuation plan. Share your plan with friends and family—and let them know how they can help.
      Know your emergency medication adjustments—ask your doctor if any medications should be adjusted in extreme circumstances, especially if you have diabetes.
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      STARTING DIALYSIS? TAKE A FREE CLASS

      Learn how to feel your best and thrive on dialysis. Choose the class format that fits your life—educator-led or self-guided.
      Sign Up now

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      Don’t forget

      • If you’re getting treatment at a dialysis center—arrange with a friend, neighbor or family member for backup transportation to and from your clinic. Call the Fresenius Kidney Care Emergency Hotline at 1-800-626-1297.
      • If you’re getting treatment at home—be ready to follow all the directions given to you during home training for continuing dialysis in an emergency, and stay in contact with your nurse.

      CALL 911 FIRST IF YOU HAVE A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY


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      Stay aware

      Many emergencies are unpredictable, but you should be aware of any known situations that could potentially interrupt your treatment. Follow local TV and radio stations for severe weather warnings and delays around where you live and near your clinic. Our website will also broadcast emergency alerts.


      Priority: have the right food

      In case of disaster, you may not be able to cook or eat as you usually do. If you miss a dialysis treatment, you will need to follow a strict diet—especially if you have diabetes. 

      • Stick to your Emergency Eating Plan—and check in with your dietitian
      • If you lose power, most food in your refrigerator and freezer will be good for 1–2 days—if you aren’t sure of its freshness, don’t eat it 
      • Consume food from the fridge before shelf-stored food
      • Do not drink more than 2 cups of fluid a day—chewing gum can help relieve thirst
      • Do not use salt or salt substitutes
      • Stock canned food that fits your eating plan—choose no- or low-salt, no- or low-sugar and preservative-free options
      • Avoid high-potassium foods like potatoes, bananas and tomatoes
      • Supplies to keep on hand:
        • Bagged ice and a cooler—to help keep food cold longer in case of loss of power
        • 3 or more gallons of water for drinking, cooking and bathing
        • A can opener
        • 3 days’ worth of food from your Emergency Eating Plan

      DOING HOME DIALYSIS?

      Follow the emergency preparation instructions provided to you by your care team. Also, stay in touch with your nurse—and ask for help if you need it.

      Learn more about Fresenius Kidney Care's services and support.

      In case of emergency, call us

      The Fresenius Kidney Care Emergency Hotline is activated during disasters to help direct you. If you cannot reach your doctor or dialysis center, call our hotline at 1-800-626-1297. Remember, if you are having an emergency, call 911 first.
      Learn more here

      Find a dialysis center

      Looking for a dialysis center?

      If you need an alternate treatment facility during an emergency, find a Fresenius Kidney Care dialysis center here.
      Try our Center Locator
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