Category Archives: power outage

23Feb / 2023

Emergency Preparedness: Batteries Not Included

Stack of alkaline batteries size AAA with selective focus.

Batteries power many of the things we use and rely on every day. They might also be the only available power source in an emergency.

Being prepared to power your personal need devices—things like cellphones, medical devices, and assistive technologies—during a power outage is a step toward individual resilience.

Planning for power outages can include creating an emergency supply of batteries and other power sources. Here are some things to know about batteries that can help you create a supply that meets your needs.

Battery Types & Kinds

Contemporary batteries come in two primary types (primary and secondary) and kinds (alkaline and lithium).(1) Other kinds of batteries are available to power small and low-power devices.

Primary vs. Secondary

The defining difference between primary and secondary batteries is the number of uses you get from them.

You use a primary battery once and then throw it away.

Secondary typically cost more than primary batteries. However, the expense is offset by their longevity. You can recharge a secondary battery, which means fewer batteries to throw away.

Lithium vs. Alkaline

Lithium and alkaline batteries share similarities but there are also some important differences.

Both kinds of batteries come in standard sizes and can power a variety of household devices. The big difference between the two chemistries is their shelf life.

Lithium batteries store more energy for longer than alkaline batteries. Lithium batteries last about twice as long as alkaline batteries. Their shelf life makes them a great choice for your emergency supply.

Battery Sizes

Batteries come in different sizes. Here are some of the most common.

AA (or double A) batteries are the most popular size. They’re used in things like carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and television remotes.

AAA (or triple A) batteries are another popular size of battery. They are a smaller version of AA. AAA batteries are often used in devices like flashlights and thermometers.

C and D batteries are larger and weightier than AA and AAA batteries. They are often used to power heavy-duty flashlights, portable radios, and camping lanterns.

Button cell or coin style batteries are often used to power small items like car key fobs, hearing aids, garage door openers, and toys.

Batteries come in other less common sizes too. Some are used as a backup power source in electrical devices like home security systems and for electronic devices like cellphones.

Take inventory of all devices you’ll need to power during an emergency. They might include flashlights, cellphones, and medical devices. Then identify the kinds and sizes of power sources (e.g., batteries) you need to power those devices. For example, you may want to purchase extra button cell or coin style batteries if you wear a hearing aid.

Battery Storage & Disposal

How you store your batteries can affect their shelf life.

  • Keep batteries in their original packaging. Keeping batteries in their packaging will protect them from humidity and contact with other batteries. A battery can short-circuit if it comes in contact with another battery.
  • Separate batteries by age and type. Store new and used and different types of batteries in separate containers or plastic bags labeled with the date you bought them. It’s best to use batteries of the same age when powering a device.
  • Store batteries in a cool, dry place. Keeping batteries at room temperature or colder will increase lifespan and performance. Humidity can cause condensation, corrosion, and leakage. If you want to store your batteries in a fridge, keep them in a vapor-proof container. Let them acclimatize to room temperature for at least 24 hours before use.
  • Keep them away from metal objects. If batteries contact with metal, they could short-circuit. Store your batteries in a container made of plastic, glass, wood, or any material that’s not metal. You can also use a specialized battery storage box.(2)

Every year in the United States, millions of single-use and rechargeable batteries are bought, used, and recycled or thrown away. Dispose of batteries based on their type and chemistry. Some batteries can cause a risk to safety and health if mismanaged at the end of their lives.(3)

Battery types are identified by marking and labeling, not by the battery’s shape or the color of the label. Certain types should NOT go in household garbage or recycling bins. Do not put button cell, coin, or lithium single-use batteries (check for the word “lithium” marked on the battery) in the trash or recycling bin. Instead, find a recycling location near you:

Visit the Environmental Protection Agency website for more information on what to do with used household batteries.

Resources

References

  1. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/types-of-batteries/
  2. https://www.panasonic-batteries.com/en/news/how-store-batteries
  3. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

Posted by in alkaline, batteries, battery, emergency, General, lithium, Natural Disasters, personal health, power outage, power sources, Preparedness, Response

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18Oct / 2022

#PrepYourHealth for Power Outages

A young woman and boy make hand shadow puppets using a flashlight against a white wall.

October is Energy Awareness Month

Power outages (i.e., when the electrical power goes out unexpectedly) and precautionary power shutoffs are happening more often because of and to prevent emergencies. These emergencies include disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says, on average, U.S. electricity customers experienced just over 8 hours of electric power interruptions in 2020. That was the most since EIA began collecting electricity reliability data in 2013.(1)

The EIA further reported that customers in Alabama, Iowa, Connecticut, Oklahoma, and Louisiana experienced the most time with interrupted power in 2020. Severe weather was a factor in all these states.

  • Alabama experienced several hurricanes, including a direct hit from Hurricane Sally.
  • Tropical Storm Isaias left about 750,000 electricity customers in Connecticut without power. Some didn’t have power for over a week.
  • A derecho affected Iowa and other parts of the Midwest. It caused widespread power outages, damaged grid infrastructure, and forced the early retirement of Iowa’s only nuclear power plant.
  • An ice storm in October was to blame for widespread power outages across Oklahoma.
  • Louisiana experienced three hurricanes and two tropical storms.(1)

The impacts of power outages and power shutoffs are felt by everyone. Here are some ways you can prepare your health for a power outage.

Be Power Prepared

Be prepared to be without electricity during an emergency and, possibly, for several days after.

A power outage can affect people’s ability to use devices and the availability of refrigeration. This makes it especially important that people who rely on durable medical equipment and refrigerated medicines like insulin take steps to prepare. For example:

  • Identify emergency lighting, safe heating alternatives, and backup power sources for your mobile devices, appliances, and medical equipment.
  • Create an emergency power plan that includes model and serial numbers for your medical devices.
  • Read the user manual or contact the manufacturer to find out if your medical device is compatible with batteries or a generator.
  • Fully charge your cellphone, battery-powered medical devices, and backup power sources if you know a disaster, such as a hurricane, is coming.
  • If possible, buy manual alternatives for your electric devices that are portable, dependable, and durable. For example, a manual wheelchair, walker, or cane as a backup for an electric scooter.

Power outages can also put people at increased risk for post-disaster hazards, such as food and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The effects of emergencies, such as power outages, are experienced differently by different populations.

The places of our lives, including our neighborhoods and built environment, can influence our experience with emergencies.(2)

People who live in rural areas and places with an aging infrastructure may experience more frequent and longer-lasting power outages and face greater adversity because of it. They may also have limited access to the supplies they need to prepare for power outages.

Planning for Power Outages

People who use electricity- and battery-dependent assistive technology and medical devices must have an emergency power plan in case of a power outage.

Checklists are a way to break large jobs down into smaller chores. They can help you pack for a trip, grocery shop, and even prepare for emergencies.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network’s emergency power planning checklist is for people who use electricity and battery-dependent assistive technology and medical devices. These include:

  • Breathing machines (e.g., respirators and ventilators).
  • Power wheelchairs and scooters.
  • Oxygen, suction, or home dialysis equipment.

The Food and Drug Administration’s “How to Prepare for and Handle Power Outages” guide for home medical device users is another useful planning resource. Use it to organize your medical device information, identify the supplies for the operation of your device, and know where to go or what to do during a power outage.

Health Care Preparedness

A power outage or shutoff can limit the operations of hospitals, outpatient clinics, pharmacies, and other patient-care facilities.

Healthcare facilities need electricity to care for patients, provide services, and “keep the lights on.” Since many facilities have resident populations, hygiene and feeding are also part of the electrical demand.

Resilience to power outages begins with the leadership at the facility. Here are some resources to help healthcare facilities plan for and respond to public health emergencies.

Additional resources to help healthcare systems and hospitals plan for public health emergencies are available on the CDC website.

Resources

References

  1. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50316
  2. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/howdoesPlaceaffectHealth.html

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

Posted by in assistive technology, derecho, disaster readiness, durable medical equipment, electricity, emergency preparedness, General, hurricane, insulin, medicine, power outage, power shutoff, power sources, Prepare Your Health, refrigeration, wildfire

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20Sep / 2022

10 Questions to Ask Your Pharmacist

Female pharmacist helping a senior customer.

September 25 is World Pharmacists Day

Pharmacists are a bridge between you and your doctor. Your pharmacist might also be the health professional you see and talk to most often about your health.(1)

Pharmacists are trained to help you manage and improve your health every day. Your pharmacist—along with your doctor or nurse—can give you patient-centered answers to questions on many topics, including medicines and immunizations. They can also teach you practical skills, including how to use blood glucose monitors and asthma inhalers, and advise ways you can prepare your health for emergencies.What is patient-centered communication? Patient-centered communication acknowledges the whole person, their personality, life history, and social structure to develop a shared understanding of the problem, the goals of treatment, and the barriers to that treatment and wellness.

Here are some example questions you might ask your pharmacist the next time you visit the pharmacy.

  1. How do I prepare an emergency supply of medicines? Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how you can create an emergency supply of medicines. Some states have emergency prescription refill laws that authorize pharmacists to refill a prescription before it’s due when under an emergency declaration. These laws vary by state. Learn more about the law where you live.
  2. What type of over-the-counter drugs should I include in my emergency supplies? Maintain an emergency supply of over-the-counter medicines, including pain and fever relievers, cough and cold suppressants, antihistamines, and antidiarrheal medicines in age-appropriate strengths.
  3. What kind of records should I keep with my important paperwork? Keep copies of all your prescriptions. You may need them in case you lose, run out, or damage your medicine. Having written records of your prescriptions makes it easier for another doctor to write a refill if you can’t reach your doctor or pharmacy during an evacuation or emergency.(2)
  4. How do I travel (e.g., evacuate) with medicine? Do not keep medicines in the glove compartment of your car. Keep them in their original containers. Keep the containers away from and out of sight of children and pets.(3, 4)
  5. How do I take care of my medicine during an emergency? Keep your medicines in a cool, dry place away from heat, air, light, and moisture.
  6. How do I store medicines safely at home and when traveling (e.g., evacuating) with children and pets? Any medicine, including those you buy without a prescription, can cause harm if taken in the wrong way or by the wrong person or a pet. Put your medicines up and away and out of reach and sight to prevent adverse drug effects.
  7. How do I keep medicines cold during a power outage? Use a cooler, ice, and chemical ice packs. If you use insulin to manage diabetes, try to keep your insulin as cool as possible without freezing it. Insulin that has been frozen can break down and is less effective. You can use insulin in opened or unopened vials that have been stored at room temperature (between 59°F and 86°F) for up to 4 weeks.(5)
  8. How do I judge the safety of medicine after an emergency? Do not take medicine that has changed color, texture, or smell, regardless of its expiration date. Also, do not take pills that stick together, are harder or softer than normal, or are cracked or chipped. Contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you are unsure about a drug’s safety. When in doubt, throw it out.(6)
  9. How do I safely dispose of expired, unwanted, unused, or damaged prescription medicines? The best way to dispose of most types of medicines is to drop them off at a drug take-back location.(7) This may be your local pharmacy or police station.
  10. What can I do if I am unable to take my medicine as prescribed because it was damaged? Can I share medicines with a friend or family member if they take the same kind? Medicines are only safe to use by the person whose name is on the prescription. You could experience an allergic reaction, an interaction with other medications, or other serious side effects from using someone else’s prescription medicine. People who share their drugs may experience side effects if they ration their supply to share with others.(8)

Make your pharmacist an important member of your healthcare team. Contact your local pharmacist or the FDA if you have questions about medicine.

FDA’s Division of Drug Information has pharmacists available to answer questions about drug use and safety. You contact them at 1-855-543-3784, druginfo@fda.hhs.gov, and on Twitter at @FDA_Drug_Info.

Learn more ways to prepare your medicine cabinet for emergencies.

References

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/pharmacist.htm
  2. https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2017/10/preparing-your-medicine-cabinet-for-an-emergency/
  3. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000534.htm
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/protect/campaign.html
  5. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/managing-insulin-emergency.html
  6. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergency-preparedness-drugs/safe-drug-use-after-natural-disaster
  7. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know
  8. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/safety/use-medicines-safely

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

Posted by in & Prevention, disaster readiness, emergency preparedness, General, insulin, medication safety, personal health, pharmacist, pharmacy, power outage, Preparedness, prescription medicine

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