More than 1 million visitors are expected to descend on Oregon for the solar eclipse and hospitals in its path are preparing for the onslaught, according to an article on the Oregon Live website.
"One of the key things that we learned (from hospitals that have already experienced the event) was that the need for acute care services oftentimes just mimics the increase in the population," said Dr. Jeff Absalon, executive vice president of St. Charles Health System in Bend.
Hospital systems have stocked up on supplies, buying everything from extra gauze and saline solution to pharmaceuticals. It also received extra blood from the Red Cross in Portland, nearly doubling its supply. St. Charles Health System also purchased extra antidote for rattlesnake bites.
"It's a little tricky because it has a short shelf life," said Lisa Goodman, spokeswoman for the hospital system.
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