Critical IV fluid manufacturing facility spared Hurricane Milton’s wrath

As the U.S. faces a shortage of IV fluid in the wake of Hurricane Helene, one major manufacturer was spared Hurricane Milton’s wrath . When Helene tore through North Carolina, it damaged Baxter International, a company that makes IV fluids which are critical for hospitals to fully function .

Baxter is the biggest supplier of IV bags in the country, so the hit was especially devastating, forcing hospitals to turn to other suppliers to fill the gap. One of those suppliers is B. Braun Medical in Daytona Beach. Before Hurricane Milton, the federal government helped the company move more than 60 truckloads, or about 1.5 million bags of IV solution to north Florida, where the storm’s impacts were minor.

Officials with Braun said the Daytona Beach facility was not seriously impacted by Milton and it reopened Friday, Oct. 11. The IV bags that it moved out of the storm's path are also being returned to the facility.

Baxter started limiting customer orders after Helene. Hospitals also started conserving IV fluids and delaying some nonemergency surgeries that would require it. The Daytona Beach site is a key part of the plan to address the IV fluid shortage. Braun also said it is increasing production at its factory in Irvine, California.

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