Wildfires and also winter storms bring power outages and health risks

Tens of thousands of people are currently without electricity California, Texas and Arkansas, As wildfires ravage the West and a winter storm hits the South.

Research shows that a power outage also increases the risk of a variety of health problems – from gastrointestinal illnesses to heart attacks to burns.

“We see a lot of things happen when the power goes out,” he says Joan Casey an associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and epidemiology at the University of Washington who studied the Health risks associated with power outages.

“We are seeing increases cardiorespiratory hospitalizations. We have seen an increase in carbon monoxide poisoning because people are using generators incorrectly. And our group has also seen an increase in injuries to children, including an increase in burns after power outages begin,” says Casey. This is probably due to people using candles for lighting or gas stoves for heat.

Motor vehicle accidents also tend to occur during power outages, probably because traffic lights and street lights are not working.

“We also know that people drive more erratically and have accidents more often when they are stressed,” she says.

When power outages extend over several days, gastrointestinal illnesses often occur, says Casey. A lack of electricity not only causes food to spoil in refrigerators, but can also lead to operational disruptions in water treatment plants and pumping stations.

She notes In addition to extreme weather events, power outages often occur or natural disasters such as forest fires. This type of double whammy increases the associated health risks.

“It’s this confluence of events that comes with climate change that is really blowing up these events and making them much, much worse than they would have been otherwise,” Casey says.

Human-caused climate change is leading to large, destructive forest fires rather because of the higher temperatures and drier vegetation.

While power outages affect everyone, those most affected tend to be young children, older adults, pregnant people and people who rely on power-dependent medical equipment such as oxygen or home dialysis machines, she says.

“What is kind of an inconvenience to me could be a life-threatening situation for someone who can’t breathe well without an oxygen concentrator at home,” notes Casey.

The best way to protect yourself in such situations is to plan ahead, he says Alyssa ProvencioAssociate Professor and Disaster Management Expert at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Here are some things to consider:

For people who rely on electrically powered medical devices

Check if the device has a battery backup that you can use if it is available. Contact your local utility company and let them know that you need a medical device.

“If that’s the case, it may actually be that power is restored sooner because they tend to prioritize those restorations,” Provencio says.

Some local utilities also offer programs that provide a battery power bank to people who use home medical devices.

If you have medications that need to be refrigerated

Provencio says most refrigerated medications are safe at room temperature for one to two days, although this can vary. Therefore, ask your doctor or pharmacist for your specific prescription. Storing in coolers can help maintain temperature, even without ice packs — but of course, use them if you have them, she says.

Have batteries and flashlights ready

Try to use battery-operated flashlights or lanterns and avoid using candles if possible. Candles can easily tip over and ignite flammable materials, making them a risky choice for lighting when the power goes out.

Try not to open the refrigerator too much

Provencio says food will generally last up to four hours if the refrigerator is not opened, and up to 48 hours in a full freezer or 24 hours in a half-full freezer.

“The more food you have in your freezer, the longer it stays cold because all the food is frozen,” she says.

If possible, have bottled water and canned food on hand.

Save heat as much as possible

If your home is heated by electricity, you can hunker down in a room with the rest of your family or roommates to lock in the heat and try not to open many doors. Have extra blankets, clothing, and sleeping bags on hand.

Sign up for emergency alerts

Provencio says most emergency alert systems are optional, so you’ll need to sign up to receive them.

“People don’t always know that,” she says. “They think they’re getting notifications automatically,” but that’s not always the case.

Don’t forget about emotional and mental well-being

“When there is a power outage, we often think that we need to be isolated,” says Provencio. “And we can still call or text on our phones to check on our loved ones, especially those who are most at risk, and to make sure they have everything they need.”

Therefore, always keep a portable battery charger fully charged. She says try to have puzzles, books, games and other activities that don’t rely on screen time on hand so you have something to keep you busy.

This story was edited by Jane Greenhalgh