‘Code Grey’ at CHEO after watermain break

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The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario was without water for most of the day Tuesday after a watermain break near its main entrance, and parts of the hospital also lost air conditioning in the middle of a heat wave.

Tammy DeGiovanni, senior vice-president of clinical services and chief nursing executive, said the watermain break occurred around 12 noon and a “code grey” was declared shortly after that.

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An online notice posted by the hospital said the watermain break occurred “during construction-related activity close the main doors of the building.

“This incident has disrupted our access to water for clinical care, cooling, drinking water and restroom facilities,” the notice added.

DeGiovanni said air conditioning wasn’t impacted in the hospital’s emergency room and intensive-care units, but other areas, including operating rooms and in-patient units, were without air conditioning.

The entire hospital was without water, though.

“Temperatures are starting to stabilize within the hospital, will be working through the evening to make sure we have a stable system,” DeGiovanni said around 5 p.m., adding that portable air conditioning units, dehumidifiers and “cooling stations” had been set up around the hospital.

CHEO cancelled elective surgeries and some clinic visits for the remainder of the day starting at around 2 p.m., DeGiovanni said, “out of an abundance of caution,” and as part of the hospital’s plan to conserve water.

DeGiovanni said she didn’t know how many elective surgeries or appointments had been cancelled, but noted the hospital was typically less busy later in each day.

The online notice also said CHEO was working on solutions “with our hospital and other local partners to help resolve this situation and reduce the impact on patients and their families.”

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