Welcome to Millinocket Regional Hospital

Failure of Major Utilities

POLICY:
The Millinocket Regional Hospital shall have a written course of action to be followed in the event of a major utility failure.  Major utilities include:

1.  Electricity
a.  Standby emergency generator

2.  Water supply
3.  Low pressure boilers

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
To ensure that patient safety and comfort are maintained at all times.  To provide a contingency plan in the event of backup emergency generator failure.

PROCEDURE:

1.  In the event of an electrical power failure, the backup emergency generator will provide power to the critical, life safety and equipment distribution panels.  Refer to “Emergency Generator” policy.

a.  In the event of an emergency backup generator failure, the following critical systems will be inoperable:

all electrical outlets

all lighting

all boilers
-  heat
-  hot water
-  sterilization steam

vacuum

medical air

phones

RN Call System

elevators

b. The following steps shall be taken during a generator failure:

If surgery is in progress, the Maintenance Department will bring the hospital's portable generator to the OR Emergency Exit where it will be connected to two 100 ft. leader cords to supply power to the OR

The portable exam light will be brought to the OR from the Minor procedure room

A portable space light will be brought from Maintenance to the OR

If there is no surgery in progress, the generator shall be brought to the Dr's. Exit at the patient floor to provide lighting power.

Contact Bangor Hydro Electric Company to ascertain status of power outage. If the outage is expected to be prolonged, inform Administration who may invoke the Disaster and Evacuation Plans.

Contact a generator repair service for emergency service:

-  Bangor Generator 947-2440
-  Cummins 941-1061
-  Electrical Power System 843-7250
-  David Beaumont 746-5459

Extract any persons trapped in the elevators by using the key provided at each first floor elevator entrance. If unable to extract, contact Otis Elevator: 800-233-6847.

The Cardiopulmonary Department will supply portable medical air to patients utilizing ventilators.

Note: The O2 System is unaffected by a power outage. No vacuum will be available during a generator failure.

Refer to “Telephone Failure” policy

Refer to “Nurse Call System Failure” policy

2.  In the event of a failure of the hospital water supply system, the following critical systems will be inoperable:

a.  Vacuum compressor
b.  Drinking water
c.  Domestic hot water

There are two types of water system failure. A break or freeze of both water mains into the hospital would constitute a local failure. During a local failure water is available at the Medical Office buildings adjacent to the hospital. A loss of water from the utility would eliminate the availability of water at the Medical Office buildings.

In the event of a failure of the hospital water supply system, the following steps should be taken:

-   Ascertain the type of water problem, i.e. local or utility.  If the problem is local, affect repairs and call Water Company, 723-8731.
-   Inform hospital personnel of situation via the PA system
-   Shut down vacuum compressor and coordinate portable suction with Nursing service.  There are five portable suction machines available at the ED, OR, and equipment storage room.
-   Contact the local National Guard (see Attachment I), who can provide up to forty five gallon containers for drinking water.
-   Maintenance personnel shall fill drinking water containers at the Dr's. office buildings.  (Keys available in the Maintenance key locker).  Water will be delivered to the Dietary Department for heating and to the following departments:  OR, ED, M&S, SCU, and others as needed
-    If the water loss is anticipated to be for a prolonged period, Administration may invoke the Disaster or Evacuation Plans.

If the Utility Water System fails:

-   Determine anticipated length of outage
-   Inform hospital personnel of situation via the PA system
-   Shut down vacuum compressor and coordinate portable suction with Nursing Service
-   Contact National Guard for drinking containers
-   Contact Fire Department, 723-7026, who will provide two seven hundred and fifty gallon pumper trucks
-   Maintenance Department to fill containers and deliver to areas stated above
-   If water loss is anticipated for a prolonged period, Administration may invoke the Disaster or Evacuation Plans

Notes:  Other key systems affected by loss of Water Systems:

-  X-Ray film developers
-  Boilers (water can be added manually if needed)
-  Toilets and hoppers
-  Laboratory test equipment
-  Dish and clothes washers

3.  In the event of a failure of both low pressure boilers, the hospital will loose it's heating and hot water availability.  In the event of a failure, the following  steps should be taken:

a.  Affect repairs as soon as possible.  Contact outside service if required.

-  Penobscot Temp. Controls
Phone:  884-8296
Pager:  758-4792

-  Mechanical Services
Phone:  947-6250

b.  Inform all departments via the PA system of the potential loss of heat and hot water.
c.  If the outage is anticipated to be for an extended period, Administration may invoke the Disaster or Evacuation Plans.

Considerations:

1.  This policy shall be incorporated into the Hospital Disaster Plan
2.  Verification of the availability of all outside parties referred to in this policy shall be performed annually.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207