A factory in Florida that produces intravenous (IV) fluids essential to healthcare facilities across the country is set to resume operations on Friday morning. The facility temporarily halted production as Hurricane Milton passed through the region.
According to a spokesperson for B. Braun Medical, Allison Longenhagen, the manufacturing plant and distribution center located in Daytona Beach did not suffer significant damage from the hurricane, and fortunately, there were no reported injuries among staff members.
Before the hurricane struck, the company collaborated with federal authorities to relocate over 60 truckloads of IV solution inventory out of Florida. Longenhagen confirmed that these supplies are expected to be returned to their distribution point.
The federal Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response assisted in organizing the transportation of these goods, which involved nearly 1.5 million bags of IV solutions, as noted by a representative on Thursday.
B. Braun’s factory is considered a vital provider of sterile IV fluid supplies, especially following Hurricane Helene, which recently impacted Florida and other states. The previous storm led to Baxter International shutting down a North Carolina facility responsible for approximately 60% of the nation’s IV fluid production.
This particular plant also manufactures fluids required for patients undergoing home kidney dialysis treatments. Following the storm, Baxter began to limit customer orders to manage its inventory, prompting health systems to conserve IV fluids and postpone several non-essential surgeries.
Baxter announced on Wednesday that it is ramping up production at different facilities and is gradually lifting some restrictions on customer orders. The company also stated on its website that it is collaborating with the federal government to temporarily bring in products from other sources.
Baxter aims to gradually resume operations at the North Carolina plant by the end of the year, with the potential to lift restrictions on certain IV solutions by that time. In the interim, the company believes that maintaining limits will help prevent stockpiling and promote fair access among healthcare providers.
B. Braun has indicated that the Daytona Beach factory plays a crucial role in its strategy to mitigate the impact of Baxter’s North Carolina closure. Additionally, B. Braun has announced increased production at its facility in Irvine, California.
