Disasters can affect anybody, anywhere, at any time. A sudden power outage due to a severe storm or nearby accident might be a real pain, but what if it dragged on through the weekend or longer? Yes, the Wi-Fi will be down, but what about your health?
Experts on emergency preparedness and response say having an action plan is critical for everyone, especially older adults and people with health conditions such as diabetes, respiratory diseases and those who require electricity to keep medical devices running or medications in a cool, dry place.
A new study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology indicates that many of these vulnerable groups are unprepared. Dr. James Winchester, a nephrologist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York, and other researchers analyzed how ready 357 adults on dialysis machines — which rid the body of waste or unwanted water for those with failed or damaged kidneys — were when Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New York City in October 2012 at five outpatient centers where the electricity was compromised.
Of those scheduled to have dialysis during the storm’s landfall at the clinics where the power had gone out, 26.3 percent missed their treatment — a dangerous situation that can lead to fluid overload, heart problems and permanent damage — and 66.1 percent received it in a different location than usual. Other findings showed that 75.9 percent carried their insurance card and 44.3 percent kept a list of their medications on hand. People whose dialysis centers offered an emergency packet complete with a patient’s medication information, dialysis schedule, other health conditions and the location of alternative dialysis centers after the storm were more likely to have a copy of their medical records at home in case of an emergency.
Keeping these items handy is just one way to prepare for a storm and potential power outage. Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Nicole Lurie says the first priority should be to have a plan before an emergency happens.
“Talk with your family and friends about what you’re going to do when the power goes out. If you have equipment, you’re elderly or have an elderly parent, be sure there’s a system in place for someone check on you,” Lurie says.
Keep your cellphone charged so somebody can reach you or you can call for help if needed, she adds. “It’s always good to have three to five friends, whether they’re neighbors, family or friends, to count on in a pinch, including hopefully a place to go in case you can’t stay at home,” Lurie says.
Those whose devices are battery-operated should have a backup battery and shouldn’t wait until the battery level drops to get help. “Because by then, it can be too late,” Lurie says, adding that the last thing anybody wants is to wind up in the emergency room due to a lack of preparation.
Lurie says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services works with local health departments and emergency responders to track how many electrically dependent people live in a given community. That knowledge can be invaluable when disaster strikes.
David Haley, an EMT at Brookhaven Borough Fire Department in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, says July has brought damaging storms, leaving many in the dark for three days or more. He and his borough’s response teams checked in with at-risk residents, such as those who require electrically powered oxygen tanks. “If they are not in distress to the point they need to go to the hospital, we’ll just leave a large tank that doesn’t need electricity with them, and check on them until they get through it,” Haley explains.
But that safety net may not always exist, so it’s important for people to think through every possible step to keep those with vulnerabilities in the household safe, spelling out what needs to happen if the power quits for a few days or more, says Julie Fischer, co-director of the global health security program at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University in the District of Columbia.
“The first [step] is to do an informed assessment: If the power went out, what would I have to do to maintain my health for three days or a week, assuming I might not be able to drive anywhere, and my social network might not be able to provide me with the support I am used to?” Fischer says.
The next step is to determine personal needs for food, water and medical treatment. The rule of thumb is to have a gallon of safe drinking water per person for each day. Food that is easily prepared or can be immediately eaten is ideal. “But when we start talking about medical needs, it’s just one more step. It’s not complicated,” she says.
If the power goes out, a refrigerator should generally hold its temperature for two to four hours, Fischer explains. If medications require refrigeration, leaving them inside is the easiest and safest thing to do, she adds. Empty your ice into a cooler so that after four hours, medication can be moved into the cooler for the next few days. After that, storing medication in coolers with dry ice packs may be a better option until the power returns.
If medical equipment requires a backup battery, keep extras stocked in the house. However, if the medical equipment requires electricity, it’s important to consider investing in a portable generator and knowing how to use it safely. Fischer recommends asking someone who knows how to use generators safely to teach you the mechanics and help you determine if the generator is compatible with the medical device it will need to power.
The American Red Cross warns to never use a portable generator inside a garage, carport, basement, crawl space or other enclosed or partially enclosed area, even with ventilation. That’s because the primary hazard of a generator is carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust, even if you can’t smell any fumes. (Carbon monoxide is odorless.)
Generators run off gasoline, and the exhaust they give off is not unlike that of a car. Uninformed users keep them in their garages, which is a serious health hazard, Haley explains. “We went on two calls this past storm where we probably saved their lives because there were deadly levels of carbon monoxide in the home. The family’s alarm was going off, and they ignored it. A family of six would have been dead the next morning.”
If a generator is needed, use it 5 to 10 feet outside of the home, not near an open window or cracked garage door, Haley says, adding: “People are dying after storms because of this.”
To find more ways to stay healthy when the power goes out, visit redcross.org for a printable checklist.
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Your Health When the Power Goes Out originally appeared on usnews.com
