I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Rerun on January 10, 2008, 05:56:40 PM

Title: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: Rerun on January 10, 2008, 05:56:40 PM
On Tuesday at my center the techs and nurses started running all over turning off our machines.  I was busy watching my movie so I didn't hear any thing about what was going on.  I guess the city flushed the water system due to all the rain and so our system could not strip it out.  They had us go home and reschedule.  It took 4 hours to get things straightened out.  This affected 7 dialysis centers and 2 major hospitals.  The City got in a lot of trouble for not notifying everyone. 

I guess if chlorine gets in our blood stream during dialysis it splits the red blood cells and potassium runs rampant.  We could have gotten violently ill or even died.

I'm surprised they caught it actually!
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: goofynina on January 10, 2008, 07:04:38 PM
Quote from: Rerun on January 10, 2008, 05:56:40 PM

I'm surprised they caught it actually!

Are you kidding?  Thank God they caught it  :bow; :bow; :bow;  I would hate the thought of you and everyone else being sick over something like that.  ;)
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: Sluff on January 11, 2008, 12:54:59 AM
Nothing like a warm welcome home.  :sarcasm;  Glad the caught it.
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: donnia on January 11, 2008, 06:44:14 AM
dang, that is a major screw up by the city!!!  Glad your unit caught it!
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: qwerty on January 11, 2008, 08:51:28 AM
OUr unit checks the water for chlorine every 4 hours routinely and it is done by a licensed staff. If it's over the limit then it's checked every 2 hours if it's converted to what the call a DI tank. If it's not on a DI system then they shut it down. The city was in error not to notify the clinics and hospitals but it does happen. I know where I am at it's happened at least 3 times in the last year. Good for your unit they actually keep on top of thier water checks as it is a real big deal to do and maintain for patient safety.
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: Hawkeye on January 11, 2008, 12:22:41 PM
Good for them catching it and taking the action to keep the patients safe.
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: boxman55 on January 11, 2008, 05:02:54 PM
After reading this post my curiosity was peaked so at dialysis today I asked about their water system. To my surprise it was very extensive and kept up continuously. Did you know that we use up about 150 gallons plus of purified (they said about 97% pure) water for each dialysis sitting. That sounds like a lot but that was their guess...Boxman
Title: Re: Too Much Chlorine In The Water??
Post by: qwerty on January 11, 2008, 07:33:57 PM
You can also request to view thier system in your clinic. If nothing to hide then they should have no problem giving you a short tour. At the same time you can see that there is much more to what the nurses do behind the scenes then what you see them doing in the clinic area. I know when new patients come to our clinic I give them a tour of the RO system also. It's all part of the clinic.