The destruction of a key manufacturing plant in North Carolina that produces 60% of intravenous fluids in the U.S. is the root cause of this patient-impacting crisis.

For hospitals across the country, access to intravenous fluids and other supplies are harder to come by after Hurricane Helene destroyed a bridge in western North Carolina.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton could have a major impact on hospitals and fire departments across the country as the nation’s two biggest suppliers of IV fluids have been shut down. IV bags with fluids like saline solution are standard equipment at hospitals and nursing homes and for paramedics and EMTs.