Delaware hospitals and paramedics seeing a shortage of IV bags

The flu season is more active this year and the use of IV's are in high demand. 

But there has been a recent shortage causing serious issues for Delaware hospitals and paramedics. 

The supply chain has actually been affected by the hurricanes that ravaged Puerto Rico.

47 ABC spoke to the EMS Medical Director of New Castle County who says they are changing protocols. 

We also learned that health officials have noticed that the IV fluid never gets utilized and goes to waste for some patients.

So for now, they have a replacement of an IV catheter with a cap to the IV line.

They say they will give guidance for what patients to do that on, which will likely be their most stable patients. As for their sicker patients, nothing has changed for them.

By not creating a new protocol, health officials say they are just contributing to the problem.