If you think backup generators can't fail, listen to my tale. In 1969, at the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, we had a power failure from a storm. But unlike previous failures, the generators didn't come on. At that time there were 6 different intensive care units. All 6,including neonatal, had life support systems (respirators/ventilators) going. Also, in addition to other surgeries that were taking place, there were two open heart surgeries going on, both aortic valve replacements. It is an 8 story hospital and it was as dark as a mine tunnel. All my therapists grabbed ambu bags and flashlights and took off for the various units.Having to run the stairs due to loss of elevators. I grabbed a flashlight and ran 6 flights upstairs to the heart surgery (8th floor if I remember right) where I handed the scrub nurse the flashlight, hooked on the hand crank and cranked the heart lung by pass machine for 45 minutes at 60 revolutions per minute. By the time we restarted the guy's heart again, his pupils were dilated and we figured we had a 'veggie' on our hands. I think my pupils were probably dilated too, as I literally collapsed from the strenuous effort. I have to admit that I had help too. The anesthesiologist and I traded postions about every 7 minutes. Much to our surprise the guy woke up later in ICU bright eyed and bushtailed. But I KNOW the ramifications of loss of power in a hospital. Make sure you have any elective surgeries before rollover.

Gotta Ambu bag? I do!!

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), June 18, 1999

Answers

I do contract work at two hospitals and two large health care facilities in an eastern state. The newer suburban hospital already had a huge diesel generating plant, as did the city hospital near by. However, of the two other facilities, one installed a large diesel generating unit within the past two weeks and the other has a new diesel generator sitting in it's maintenance barn waiting for installation.

Surprise, surprise.

-- Joe (rpja38a@prodigy.com), June 18, 1999.

I know I don't have an ambu bag, but tell us what it is anyway.

(Gee whiz... So many places not to be at the rollover: Elevators, airplanes, hospitals, Times Square... where WILL everyone be?)

-- persistant cookie (in@my.browser), June 18, 1999.

Like I allways have been, in the STICKS! I love it out here, we have the deer, squirrels and even a Owl and her 2 babys in a big tree out front :o) Wish I had some money for supplies though ):

-- Rooster Cogburn (Inthesticks@wondering.wow), June 18, 1999.

Cookie...an Ambu bag is the fairly large valved bag that they attach to the tube down your throat so they can fill your lungs with air by squeezing the bag. They also can be fitted with a face mask. If you can, get one. Nice to have and can be used also as a fire bellows if plumbed right. (Not a joke).

There were 72 deaths in 1997 attributible to power failures in metropolitan hospitals (over 250 beds). Source: US Government Hospital Statistics and Ratings for Medicare Purposes. Question is...Are these the ones they couldn't cover up?

-- Lobo (Atthelair@yahoo.com), June 19, 1999.