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dturm's avatar
dturm
Moderator
Nov 29, 2013

Interesting morning

First time in 35 years of practice we lost power while I was doing surgery. We've had minor circuit breaker trip for 10 or 15 seconds, but this was total loss in the whole area. We have backup lights (flash lights) and the anesthetic machine is manual while the monitors all have battery backup.

I was towards the end of a spay just getting ready to close. Everything went fine but this just reinforced how much we depend on electricity :B

Doug, DVM

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  • Deb_and_Ed_M's avatar
    Deb_and_Ed_M
    Explorer II
    Nov 29, 2013
    We lost power about a week ago, for a day and a half. I used my headlamp (flashlights that strap to your forehead, so they follow your line of sight) for EVERYTHING (cooking/reading, etc)!! Those things are worth their weight in gold when the power goes out! They are also invaluable for picking up dog poo after dark, since it's hard to have a flashlight, leash(es), and bluebag in your hands at the same time!
  • Pawz4me's avatar
    Pawz4me
    Explorer
    Nov 29, 2013
    Good thing it was a spay, and not something more complicated or potentially life threatening! :E
  • DOTLDaddy's avatar
    DOTLDaddy
    Nomad
    Nov 29, 2013
    Shoot Doug, I bet you could do a spay with the lights out and one arm tied behind your back. :W
  • nabi's avatar
    nabi
    Explorer
    Nov 29, 2013
    Very scary for you and the staff...glad all went well after.
  • CA_POPPY's avatar
    CA_POPPY
    Explorer
    Nov 29, 2013
    Early last year, our beloved longtime vet had a heart attack and died immediately following a spay surgery. I am sure he worried about this happening, as he had known heart problems. TG he got to finish stitching the kitty up, as his demise was almost instant. Major trauma for the vet tech and office girl and his hundreds of loyal patients and their owners.

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