Know your risks
Make a short list of what in your parent's home depends on electricity.
- Cooling: fan, cooler, air conditioner.
- Lighting, including the way to the toilet.
- Communication: phone charger, router, cordless phone, alarm base units; see panic pendant buying guide.
- Medical equipment: oxygen concentrator, nebuliser, suction, hospital bed, air mattress pump, feeding pump, CPAP; see hospital beds and power cuts and oxygen and power cuts.
- Refrigeration: insulin and some medicines, food.
- Water: pumps and geysers.
- Lift: for those who live on upper floors.
- Security: door locks, intercom, cameras, gate.
- Cooking: induction hobs and electric kettles.
For each, ask what happens in a cut, how long your parent can cope, and what the backup is.
Before: prepare a power-cut kit and plan
Light - Two torches or rechargeable lanterns, tested each month, kept in known places: bedside, kitchen, near the door. - Battery or rechargeable night lights along the route to the bathroom; see motion-sensor night lights. - Spare batteries stored properly. - Avoid candles and oil lamps near bedding, curtains and clothes; if used, place them in stable holders on non-flammable surfaces, never unattended, never near oxygen.
Power for phones and alarms - Power banks charged regularly, with cables. - A basic phone with a long battery life, kept charged. - Backup for the router or SIM-based alarms. - A pendant or watch with its own battery, charged on a schedule; see fall detection watch guide. - Check how your alarm base unit behaves in a cut; see how an emergency alert system works and safety device batteries and checks.
Cooling - A battery or rechargeable fan, a hand fan and a spray bottle. - An inverter or battery backup connected to a fan and a light in the sickroom or bedroom, sized by an electrician; see the notes below. - Water storage and ice or frozen water bottles if there is a freezer. - Lightweight cotton clothing and sheets; see bed linen and fabrics for sensitive older skin.
Water and food - Stored drinking water for several days, including oral rehydration solution if the doctor advises. - Dry foods that need no cooking. - A thermos for hot drinks.
Medicines - A week's supply of regular medicines, with a copy of prescriptions. - A cool box or insulated bag and ice packs for insulin and other medicines that need cold storage. Check the maker's instructions on how long they remain safe unrefrigerated. - A medicine list and emergency contact card; see emergency contact card and medical summary.
Plans - Know the supply schedule if load-shedding is announced, and plan baths, cooking, charging and equipment use around it. - Know the nearest cool, safe place such as a relative's home or a community centre. - Talk to neighbours and building security about residents who need help. - Plan for lifts: if your parent lives on an upper floor and needs a lift or has limited mobility, discuss with the society how help can be arranged in a cut; see safety in gated societies and apartments.
Backup power: sizing and safety
Backup power for essential items is worthwhile, particularly for oxygen, beds, mattresses and cooling in hot cities.
- List the devices you wish to run and their power ratings (watts), from the labels. Add them up, with allowance for motor starting surges.
- Choose an inverter and battery with capacity above the load and the number of hours you need. An electrician should size and install them. Do not guess when life-sustaining equipment is involved.
- Keep batteries and inverters in a ventilated place, away from the bedroom, water, flames and children.
- Do not overload extension boards. Use heavy-duty, earthed cables.
- Never run a generator indoors or in a closed space; exhaust contains carbon monoxide. Use an electrician-fitted changeover switch; see smoke and gas safety for older adults.
- Service and test monthly. Replace old batteries.
- Solar and portable power stations are alternatives; check ratings.
During a power cut: what to do
First minutes 1. Check on your parent by phone or in person. Stay calm. 2. Use a torch, not a candle. Move carefully to avoid falls. 3. Check life-critical equipment such as oxygen, and activate backup. 4. Check the pendant and phone battery. 5. Open windows if the room heats up and it is cooler outside; close blinds against the sun. 6. Offer water and encourage regular sips.
Staying cool in the heat - Move to the coolest room, usually a lower floor, away from the sun. Open windows for cross-ventilation at night; see temperature and ventilation at home. - Wear light, loose cotton. - Use damp cloths on the neck, wrists, forehead and underarms, and sponge with lukewarm water. Do not use ice-cold water, which may cause shivering. - Fan gently, not directly all night. - Drink fluids regularly, unless the doctor has limited fluids; see hydration for older adults. - Avoid hot drinks, heavy meals and alcohol, and strenuous activity. - Check the person often, every hour in extreme heat, particularly if bedbound, confused or living alone; see keeping a bedridden parent cool in Indian summers.
Staying warm in the cold - Layer clothing, use blankets and a cap and socks. - Never use charcoal or coal braziers or generators in closed rooms; carbon monoxide can kill. - Keep hot drinks and light meals. - See cold weather health risks for seniors.
Medicines and food - Keep insulin and other refrigerated medicines in a cool box if the cut is long; check the instructions. - Avoid eating food that may have spoiled. - Do not skip medicines.
Staying in contact - Use a power bank for phones; send short messages. - Do not rely on wifi; use mobile data and calls. - Tell a neighbour or family member that you are alone.
Security - Lock doors, as digital locks and cameras may fail. Tell building security if the lift is out and someone needs help on the stairs.
Recognising heat illness
Older adults are at higher risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Know the signs.
Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, pale and cold skin, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, muscle cramps, fast pulse. Move to a cool place, loosen clothes, give sips of water, cool with damp cloths and rest. If symptoms do not improve in about 30 minutes, or worsen, seek medical help.
Heat stroke (an emergency): high body temperature (about 40 degrees Celsius or more), hot, dry or sweaty skin, confusion, slurred speech, unusual drowsiness, fits or fainting, rapid pulse. Call 112 at once. Move the person to a cool place, remove excess clothing, cool them with damp cloths and fanning, and give sips of water only if fully alert, until help arrives.
Dehydration signs: dry mouth, dark urine, little urine, dizziness, confusion, weakness; see heat stroke and dehydration in seniors and diarrhoea and dehydration in seniors.
People on certain medicines (water tablets, some blood pressure, psychiatric and Parkinson's medicines) and those with heart, kidney or lung disease or dementia are at greater risk. Ask the doctor for advice on heat, and about fluids.
After the power returns
- Wait a minute or two before switching appliances on, to avoid surges.
- Check medical equipment and settings; see hospital beds and power cuts.
- Recharge torches, power banks, pendants and phones.
- Check refrigerated medicines and food.
- Check on your parent's health.
- Review what went well and what failed, and improve the plan.
Think about the building
In apartments, lifts, water pumps and gate systems depend on power. Ask the society about generator backup, lift rescue procedures and how residents who need help are supported. Keep a list of vulnerable residents with the security desk, with their consent. See lifts and apartment living for seniors and safety in gated societies and apartments.
When to ask a professional
Ask a doctor for advice on heat, fluids and medicines before the hot season, and on keeping insulin safely. An electrician should size and install backup power. A nurse can advise on caring for someone who is bedridden in heat. For information about services for senior citizens, call Elderline 14567. If someone shows signs of heat stroke or any emergency, call 112.
Equipment mentioned in this guide
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important thing during a long power cut in summer?
Keep your parent cool and hydrated: move to the coolest room, use damp cloths and gentle fanning, offer regular sips of water and check often for signs of heat illness.
Can I use candles for light during a power cut?
Avoid them near bedding, curtains and oxygen. Use torches or rechargeable lights, and if you must use a flame, place it securely and never leave it unattended.
What should I do if my mother's oxygen concentrator stops?
Switch to the backup cylinder or battery as instructed by the supplier, and call for help if she is breathless. Prepare this plan before any power cut; see the oxygen guides.
How do I keep insulin safe in a power cut?
Keep it in a cool box with ice packs and follow the manufacturer's instructions about how long it can be stored unrefrigerated. Ask the doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Sources and further reading
- National Disaster Management Authority (India), guidelines on preparation of action plans for prevention and management of heat waves
- World Health Organization, information on heat and health
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, information on Elderline, the national helpline for senior citizens (14567)
- World Health Organization, World report on ageing and health (2015)
Tags: power cut elderlyload sheddingheat wave safetybackup powerinverterheat stroke preventionSafety and alert devicesMotion-sensor night lightBathroom and toilet safetyHealth monitoring devices
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Speak to your doctor before changing your exercise, diet or medicines.
