As we enter the New Year, it is hard to believe that the nation is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

It appears that the country is still dealing with a shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids in the US, and the ongoing situation remains a critical issue for hospitals and healthcare providers nationwide.

In late September, the historic storm caused significant damage to Baxter International’s manufacturing facility in North Carolina. The manufacturer was responsible for about 60% of the IV fluids used by American hospitals, equivalent to about 1.5 million bags.

The problem was so severe that the Biden administration invoked the wartime powers of the Defense Production Act to speed the rebuilding of a major American factory of intravenous fluids in mid-October.