Sprinkler break floods Valley Regional

BY JOHN DECOSTE

NovaNewsNow.com

Valley Regional Hospital remained closed to visitors and open for emergency services only on Wednesday following a flood as a result of a broken sprinkler pipe late Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly before 4 p.m., a sprinkler pipe released on Level 3 of the regional facility, flooding a portion of that level as well as much of the main lobby.

Valley Regional Health Authority spokesperson Jan MacKinnon confirmed Wednesday morning that approximately 20,000 gallons of water was released as a result of the break.

The pipe was quickly repaired, and clean-up work commenced immediately.

There were no injuries as a result of the mishap, and while there were fears for a while that part of the building would need to be evacuated, the inpatient areea was not affected and no inpatients ended up having to be moved.

“We were very lucky,” MacKinnon said. “Our first concern was the flooding in the main lobby area, so the hospital has been closed to visitors.” As of Wednesday morning, that closure remained in place, and was likely to continue for most of the day.

For those requiring urgent medical attention, the VRH is open for emergency services. The public is encouraged to visit the community health centres in Wolfville or Berwick for non-urgent health issues.

People with family members in the hospital are advised that inpatient phones are still operational. Updates on the situation can be obtained at 1-866-430-4AVH (4284).

MacKinnon had no estimate of the flood damage, or of how long the hospital might remain closed. Cleanup work was on-going, and she suggested Wednesday morning that the situation “may change by later in the day.”

Firefighters and equipment from Kentville, New Minas, Wolfville and Waterville and District, including the joint emergency response team, responded to the scene, which, while there was no fire, certainly qualified as an emergency.

“We had wonderful support from all the volunteer firefighters,” MacKinnon said. Firefighters employed large vacuum cleaners and pumping equipment to help clean up the flood, and also helped deliver the suppertime meal to some inpatients.

The firefighters also brought in mobile lighting, as the electricity in the affected area had to be shut off as a precaution, and “we were literally in the dark.”

As well, given the real possibility at least a partial evacuation might have to take place, Emergency Health Services had a fleet of ambulances on site, warmed up and ready in case they were needed.

“It’s a remarkable partnership we have here,” MacKinnon said of all the emergency response personnel. “We had a real sense that we weren’t in this alone.”

Chemotherapy, medical oncology, same-day and day surgeries were all open on Wednesday. However, all ambulatory clinics, ortho and surgical clinics and procedures were closed; patients were asked to contact their doctor’s office to reschedule.

Blood collection for urgent and emergency cases was being done in the lab area on Level 1. Non-urgent blood collection was being rerouted to Wolfville or Berwick.