HPN Emergency Preparedness

Disasters often happen quickly and without warning. In BC and the Yukon, a variety of disasters can occur. Disasters include earthquakes, floods, landslides, forest fires, avalanches, tsunamis, storms and hazardous material spills. A disaster is a major event that directly affects you and your ability to give yourself Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) at home.

You are at risk during a disaster because you need power to keep your HPN solutions cold and operate your infusion pump. You also need water for washing your hands. Power and water may not be available for many days in a disaster. Also, telephones may not work, roads and bridges may be blocked and hospitals as well as emergency rooms may be crowded with injured people.

Being prepared for a disaster is a shared responsibility. Don’t be caught off-guard!

Adult HPN Patients

The BC HPN Program has developed a booklet to teach adult patients and their families how to be prepared for a disaster – My Emergency Preparedness Plan: Information For and About Adult Patients of the BC Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) Program. You can print either the booklet in full or specific pages contained within.

Pediatric HPN Patients

A booklet for pediatric patients and their families in under development. Check back at a later date.