Use Home Medical Devices? Here’s How to Prepare for a Power Outage

As power outages from extreme weather events become more frequent, individuals reliant on home medical devices face heightened risks. With 4.5 million Medicare recipients using electricity-dependent equipment, including ventilators and oxygen concentrators, these outages can significantly impact health. Climate change is intensifying weather-related disruptions, which now cause 80% of major outages.

These blackouts, often lasting over eight hours, disproportionately affect poorer communities with high medical equipment usage and limited backup power options. For those relying on such devices, it’s crucial to maintain backup batteries, communicate with local emergency services, and inform utility companies to prioritize power restoration. Read more from NPR here.