Winter Haven (Fla.) Hospital was sent into darkness for more than three hours during Hurricane Irma, leaving hospital staff to care for roughly 300 patients by flashlight, according to The Ledger.
The hospital lost power at 1 a.m. on September 11, initiating the backup generator. The generator worked for three hours before shutting off at 4 a.m. due to problems with the generator's secondary fuel tank. Respirators and other equipment continued to run thanks to backup battery power. The hospital regained power at 7:30 a.m. No patients died as a result of the power outage.
One surgeon continued to do emergency surgeries throughout the storm, sometimes by flashlight, including appendectomy, gall bladder and colon procedures.
"I am so proud of the team, the employees and the doctors and the lineman; it was humanity at work. They are good people doing heroic things," said Steve Nierman, president of Winter Haven Hospital.
More Articles on Facilities Management:
Rady Children's Hospital to use $6M in donations to establish psychiatric ED
United Hospital unveils $1.4M ED expansion
Methodist Women's Hospital nearly doubles number of NICU beds with $19.3M expansion