What’s on the Horizon for Public Health

By Marcia Schroeder, RN, Horizon Public Health

It’s time to plan for another cold Minnesota winter. I’ve been winterizing my home; I’m sure you have too. It’s also time to think about energy and all the things in our homes that won’t work without electricity. Power outages during the winter can cause a variety of problems.  Besides being inconvenient, we lose the ability to heat our homes and access to water (if you have your own well). We also lose the ability to charge our phones and our freezers and refrigerators quit working. See the following suggestions to get you thinking about what you need to do, to keep yourself and your family warm and safe.

Fully charge your cellphone, battery-powered medical devices and backup power sources if a blizzard or ice storm is predicted. Fill your vehicle’s gas tank and check your home’s gas tank too. Supply your pantry with non-perishable food items and bottled water. 

For some people, a power outage means the loss of ability to use durable medical equipment like breathing machines, power wheelchairs and scooters, oxygen, suctioning devices or home dialysis equipment. Some liquid medications also require refrigeration.

If you rely on medical equipment, know the model and serial numbers of your medical devices. Read the user manual or contact the manufacturer to find out if your device is compatible with batteries or a generator. If possible, have manual alternatives for your electric devices like a manual wheelchair, walker or cane as a backup for an electric scooter. Checklists can be a great way to break large jobs down into smaller chores. Additionally, if the power is out for one day or longer, throw away any medication that requires refrigeration, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. When exposed to extreme temperatures, some medications can become less effective. This website will be a helpful resource: https://adata.org/factsheet/emergency-power. 

The effects of a power outage are experienced differently by different people, but everyone experiences some type of risk. Some individuals may be at immediate risk because of a health need. Other risks could include possible food poisoning from inadequate refrigeration or carbon monoxide poisoning from using inappropriate heating or cooking sources.   

To be safe and warm, identify emergency lighting, safe heating alternatives and backup power sources for mobile devices, appliances and medical equipment. Be prepared to be without electricity, possibly for several days. 

As a rural population, we are known for our self-sufficiency, but we still need to prepare. Check out these resources to help you weather another Minnesota winter: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather and https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/winterweather/index.html