If a person relies on an electricity-powered device to stay alive and it stops working, seek emergency services immediately. Follow the person’s care plan, explain which device is affected and how much backup power remains, and give responders the person’s location. For other situations, use only a power source approved for the specific device, contact the utility and care team, and move to an alternate care location if the outage makes the current setup unsafe.
What to do first when a device loses power
Act according to the consequences of the interruption, not just whether the lights are out. If a person depends on a medical device to keep them alive, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises seeking emergency services immediately. Do not wait for the utility to estimate when electricity will return. Tell responders which device is affected, whether it has stopped or is running on backup power, how much power remains if you know, and where the person is.
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Follow the individual’s existing care plan and the instructions from their clinician or device manufacturer. A general-purpose battery or portable power source is not automatically safe or compatible: devices can have specific electrical requirements, connectors, accessories, or operating instructions. Do not change treatment settings or improvise a connection to keep equipment running.
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- If electrical circuits or equipment have become wet, FDA guidance says to turn off power at the main breaker. Do not touch wet electrical equipment to reach a switch.
- Keep battery-powered flashlights or lanterns available. For households with oxygen equipment, FDA advises using these instead of gas lights or torches to reduce fire risk.
- If the device is damaged, wet, or behaving unexpectedly, contact its manufacturer or distributor before relying on it again.
In the United States, local utility, fire-department, emergency-management, and clinical instructions can differ. Follow local emergency directions where they apply.
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Prepare a backup plan for each device
Medical equipment, its accessories, and related supplies may have different power needs. Make a separate plan for each device rather than assuming one backup source will cover everything. FDA preparedness guidance recommends gathering information device by device; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends an emergency power plan and checking the user manual or manufacturer about battery and generator compatibility.
List what depends on electricity or temperature control
Write down the equipment and supplies that would be affected by an outage. Include accessories needed for the device to function, as well as medicines or supplies that must stay within a specified temperature range. Keep the list with the care plan and contact details so a caregiver or responder can find it.
Ask the care team and manufacturer specific questions
Before an outage, ask the device manufacturer and care team what happens if power fails during use or treatment, whether the particular model accepts a battery or generator, which adapters or other accessories are required, and how to obtain device-specific backup supplies. Ask the manufacturer about the device’s electrical requirements and operating instructions; ask the clinician what the interruption means for the person’s care and what alternate plan is appropriate.
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Record the answers in the manufacturer’s or clinician’s terms. If a device needs a particular voltage, wattage, connector, or other specification, use the value supplied for that device rather than selecting a backup by a broad product description. Ask how to determine whether the source is compatible and whether the device’s accessories also need backup power.
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Keep contacts and a destination plan ready
Tell the electric utility and fire department that someone in the household uses medical equipment requiring power. FDA specifically recommends notifying them. Ask the utility whether it offers assistance or priority-restoration programs and what registration requires; eligibility and services vary by location, and notification does not establish that power will be restored first.
Identify an alternate place to go if electricity cannot be restored in time or the home becomes unsafe, along with a support person outside the affected area who can help coordinate. Ask the care team which destination is appropriate for the person and equipment. Keep relevant contact information accessible rather than relying on a powered device or internet connection to retrieve it.
CDC reported in 2024 that, on average, people experience about four hours of power loss each year. That is a population-level average, not a prediction or maximum for a particular home; an individual outage may last longer. Plan for the consequences of an extended interruption rather than treating an average as a guarantee.
Choose and use backup power safely
There is no universal best backup battery or generator for medical equipment. A source must meet the specific device’s requirements and be practical for the expected outage and any evacuation. Confirm compatibility with the manufacturer and care team before buying or connecting equipment.
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| What to compare | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Device compatibility | Does the device manufacturer permit this type of source, and does it meet the device’s stated electrical and connector requirements? |
| Runtime | How long will the source run the actual device at its actual load? A general capacity label alone does not establish device runtime. |
| Recharge and replacement | How is the source recharged, and can the household obtain the required batteries or device-specific backup supplies? |
| Safe operation | What placement, ventilation, cord, and operating conditions are required, particularly for a generator? |
| Mobility | Can the source and equipment be moved safely if the household must leave? |
| Alternatives | Would a clinician-approved manual alternative or a different care location be more dependable for this person? |
Batteries and portable power sources
Keep compatible devices charged while electricity is available, and obtain backup batteries or supplies specified for the equipment. A product described generally as a “portable power station for medical device backup” is not necessarily suitable for any particular device. Before purchase or use, verify the exact device, accessories, connections, and operating requirements with the manufacturer and care team. The available federal guidance does not establish a universal power capacity or runtime for medical devices.
Generators
A generator is an option only if it is suitable for the device and can be operated safely. FEMA advises placing generators outdoors at least 20 feet from building openings. Never operate one in a home, garage, or other enclosed space. CDC lists outdoor-rated extension cords among preparedness supplies; use only cords and connections appropriate to the generator and device, following their instructions. Verify the medical device’s requirements before connecting it.
Do not bring a generator indoors or move it close to openings to make a cord reach. If the generator cannot be placed and operated safely while meeting the equipment’s requirements, use another plan, such as going to an appropriate alternate location. The household’s plan should cover safe operation and evacuation, not just whether a generator can produce electricity.
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Identify medicines and supplies that must be refrigerated before an outage, and read their product labeling for the required storage conditions. FDA advises keeping the refrigerator or freezer closed during a power interruption. Opening the door to check contents can undermine the effort to keep items at the required temperature.
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If an item must be removed, FDA advises maintaining its required temperature with ice or dry ice as directed. Use the product’s labeling for handling and storage instructions; do not assume that an insulated cooler, a cold pack, or a particular length of time makes a medicine safe.
If you do not know whether a medicine remained within its specified temperature range, contact a pharmacist, health care provider, or manufacturer before deciding whether it can still be used. Stability depends on the particular product and the conditions it experienced; there is no single safe time or temperature excursion that applies to all medicines.
If a life-sustaining medicine has no immediate replacement, FDA guidance recognizes that it may need to be used until a new supply is available. Arrange professional advice and replacement as soon as possible rather than treating that possibility as confirmation that the medicine is unaffected.
Plan for dialysis and interrupted treatment
Power loss can disrupt dialysis directly, but closed roads or an inaccessible clinic can also prevent treatment. CDC advises people receiving dialysis to keep contact information for both their regular and alternate dialysis centers, maintain a medicine list and emergency supply, and tell shelter staff about their dialysis needs. Keep the dialysis center’s contact details current so the patient or caregiver can reach the right team during an emergency.
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CDC also advises registering with water and power companies for special restoration priority. Check directly with the relevant companies about registration and available services; local eligibility and arrangements vary. People using home dialysis should consult their clinical team in advance about an individualized backup plan. CDC notes that some patients may be able to use manual exchanges or a small backup generator, but these are not universal instructions and should not be attempted without guidance for that patient and treatment.
What to check when power returns
Restored electricity does not by itself confirm that a medical device is ready to use as before. FDA warns that some devices may reset to a default mode after an interruption. Check the settings using the device’s instructions and the person’s care plan, and ask the clinician or manufacturer if anything is unclear.
If equipment became wet, appears damaged, or behaves unexpectedly, contact the manufacturer or distributor before relying on it. A device that powers on may still need assessment after exposure to water or an electrical problem. Do not reconnect wet equipment or resume use based only on the return of household power.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFor temperature-sensitive medicine, assess what happened during the outage against the product’s labeled storage requirements. If it may have been outside its specified temperature range, obtain advice from a pharmacist, health care provider, or manufacturer before deciding whether to use it.
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