PKD Life - Summer 2020 - 9

Ages & Stages

PKD DAY TO DAY

Emergency
Planning
Having PKD or another
chronic illness requires
special preparations.
By Christina Frank

COVID-19 crisis has made it
T heabundantly
clear: Preparing for

emergency situations is crucial. And it's
not just viral outbreaks we need to worry
about. In 2019 alone, the United States
experienced 14 catastrophic climate
and weather-related events, including
hurricanes, storms, floods, and wildfires-
and the intensity and frequency of these
disasters is only expected to increase.
Here's some key advice for those with
PKD and their caregivers:

BE PREPARED

GEARSTD/GETTY IMAGES

"The most important thing for patients
to know about how to prepare is that
they should prepare," says Teri Browne,
Ph.D., associate dean for faculty and
research at the University of South
Carolina College of Social Work.
If you rely on medications, reach out
to your pharmacy to make sure you have
enough to get you through an emergency. It can be helpful to keep a waterproof kit in your home that contains the
numbers for your doctors and kidney
disease team, water, and dry or canned
foods, Dr. Browne says. You should
also include an updated list of all your
medications in case you need to leave
your home. (It is also a good idea to wear
a medical alert bracelet to alert professionals about your medical needs.)
In the case of an epidemic, such as
the COVID-19 crisis, your illness puts

Wear a medical
alert bracelet
in case of
emergencies.
you at higher risk, so consult
with your doctor about any
precautions to take.

KNOW WHAT TO DO
IN AN EMERGENCY

If you're caught in an emergency, contact your kidney
disease treatment team
for help; your local department of health or police
department can also provide guidance.
"I worked as a dialysis
social worker in Buffalo, and
there were many times that
the snow was too bad for us
to be open or for patients
to get to the dialysis unit,"
Dr. Browne says. "Local fire

departments and volunteers
who had four-wheel-drive
vehicles drove some patients
in for dialysis when they
could not get there. Dialysis
companies usually have
plans in place to get dialysis to the people who need
it, even if the center itself
is closed."

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR
EMOTIONAL NEEDS

Although tending to your
physical health is critical, you
must also consider your mental health, Dr. Browne says.
Emergencies are scary and
can be overwhelming. "Every
dialysis and transplant center
in this country has a social
worker who is trained to help
you with your emotional
needs," she says.

HELP FROM THE FOUNDATION

The PKD HOPE line is answered by a support team that
can address a variety of PKD-related questions, direct
you to helpful resources, and comfort you in times of
uncertainty. Call 844-PKD-HOPE (844-753-4673)
or email pkdconnect@pkdcure.org to connect
with trained and knowledgeable staff.

P K D C U R E .O R G

http://www.PKDCURE.ORG

PKD Life - Summer 2020

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