HOSPITALS SUFFERING A SHORTAGE OF BAKING SODA

Hospitals around the country are reporting a shortage of sodium bicarbonate. Also known as … baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate is vitally important for all kinds of patients whose blood has become too acidic. It is found on emergency crash carts and is used in open-heart surgery and as an antidote to certain poisons. Patients whose organs are failing are given the drug, and it is used in some types of chemotherapy. Hospitals have been struggling with a dwindling supply of the medicine for months – one of the suppliers, Pfizer, has said that it had a problem with an outside supplier but that the situation worsened a few weeks ago.
* Can’t Pfizer send a couple of goons over to the outside supplier, and y’know, break some kneecaps?
* Of course, “outside supplier” probably means China.
* Officials are blaming the shortage on an increase of baking soda-and-vinegar volcanoes for school science fairs.
* Open heart surgery??? “I’m opening the ribs. Gimme a clamp. Now suction. Forceps. Now sprinkle some baking soda in there.”
* Remember – if you’re going to the hospital, take along that box of baking soda from out of your refrigerator and keep it at your bedside.
* Hell, they can have my box of baking soda … if they pay hospital prices.
* My invoice would read: Sodium bicarbonate transfer fee, transportation costs, elastic container securing strap (that’s the rubber band that holds the flap closed): $300.
* Does anyone know why we use baking soda in cooking? Anyone? Bueller? When mixed with an acid, it spurs a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas and creates bubbles that cause baked goods to rise. You’ll always see baking soda in recipes that also include some sort of acidic ingredient, such as vinegar, yogurt, buttermilk, or cream of tartar.
* Mmmm … cream of tartar.