For a dialysis patient, healthy veins are a lifeline.

That’s why B.C. Renal Agency and the Interior Health’s IV therapy team have created a Save the Veins bracelet for dialysis patients.

Sometimes when renal staff plan to create a permanent vascular access (called  an AV fistula) to facilitate the necessary blood flow for hemodialysis, they find a patient’s veins have been damaged from previous IVs or lab work.

“It is our hope that these (purple) bracelets will help with the flagging and education of pre-dialysis and hemodialysis patients and also empower patients in the protection of their own veins,” says Angela Romyn, Interior Health vascular access coordinator.

The bracelets are being distributed throughout Interior Health to all pre-dialysis and hemodialysis areas for patients who wish to wear one.

The bracelets are free of charge. They are not mandatory for patients to wear and they do not replace the B.C. Renal Agency wallet card.