Power outages are disruptive and scary, whether they last for a few hours or a few days. Though it’s irksome to not have internet or phone service and to have to walk around with a flashlight in the middle of the night, protecting your health should be a priority. The electricity, water, and Wi-Fi service will come back on eventually, but the health consequences of a power outage can last. While it’s important to take preventative measures such as upgrading power poles and investing in new power grids, here are some ways to prioritize your health during a power outage.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
A power outage disables much of your HVAC system, and both extreme cold and extreme heat are dangerous to health. Exposure to cold can lead to hypothermia, which is a body temperature too low to sustain your bodily functions. It’s possible to stay warm around a fireplace, a wood stove, or a space heater that uses propane or kerosene, but you must make sure that these devices are vented to the outside. Improperly vented heat sources can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have a generator that can keep your power on for a while, never bring it indoors.
Even before an outage, you should stock up on blankets, winter clothing, and other apparel that can keep you warm. Don’t hesitate to wear them indoors or heap your bed with blankets if you can’t get to a warm shelter.
Excessive heat also has its dangers, including heat stroke. During heat stroke, the body temperature can spike to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, which can lead to death or permanent injury. If the power goes out during a heat wave, try to get to a shelter or anywhere where there’s air conditioning. Battery-operated fans feel good for a while, but in the end, they can’t be relied on to prevent heat-related injury.
Be Careful What You Eat and Drink
One of the most frustrating things about a long power outage is that you’ll probably have to throw out a lot of food that you paid a lot of money for. Still, it’s worth it if this prevents food poisoning.
The trick to keeping food cold is to simply not open the fridge or the freezer. If it’s kept closed, the refrigerator can keep food cold for around four hours. A freezer that’s kept closed can keep food for 48 hours if it’s full, and half that if it’s only half full. After that, you’ll need to throw out animal proteins. Check out this chart to know what to toss and what to keep.
As for water, you should always keep bottled water on hand in case of a power outage. Even after the power comes back on your local government may still recommend boiling water before you drink or cook with it. If a natural disaster floods your well on top of knocking out the power, have the well tested before you drink it. If it’s still contaminated, have it disinfected.
These are some of the things to consider when your power goes out. Planning ahead and knowing what to do can keep you healthy during an emergency power outage.
