Power outages are a nuisance at the best of times, but with live-in care work and older clients it becomes quite important that we are prepared for them, should they happen.

Although it is common for power outages to take place during the winter, and when there is inclement weather, do not be fooled into thinking that they do not take place during the warmer months. It is quite possible that you may have a power failure at any time of the year.

There are some things we can do to be prepared for power failures. Possibly the first thing to do is to check that the house next door has power or is also without power. Right away this will give you an indication of whether the fault is localised to your client’s house, or further afield.

There is a number to call where you can find out about any power cuts in your area. Call 105 and they will ask your address to confirm an outage.

Other things to do if you suspect you may have power failures:

Torches and batteries

Keep a supply of them in a place where you can easily access them. It is better to use a torch instead of your mobile as your cell battery will run out quickly if you are using it as a torch. You may not want to use candles for elderly people as there is always a fire risk.

Check your mobile battery

If you have heard on the news that power failures are imminent then make sure your mobile battery is fully charged. Also keep your laptop fully charged and any equipment which your client uses requiring a battery.

Protect the food in the fridge and freezer

If the freezer stays closed the food will be safe for 48 hours, as per the Food Standards Agency. Anything in the fridge will be safe for up to four hours, so keep the door shut.

Have supplies at hand

Make sure that you have enough for yourself and your client to eat and drink which can also be left at room temperature. Whole milk will eventually go sour at room temperature, there are plenty of drinks which can be left outside of the fridge.

Turn off the cooker

This is so that when the power comes back on, the cooker does not start up without you knowing about it. Remove any pots and pans, unplug hair tongs and curlers, and anything that might come back on later without you realising it.

Leave a light on

This will let you know as soon as the power comes back on.

Fill a thermos

If it is very cold during the day then if you are expecting a power failure, you may want to make a thermos of soup or at the very least a hot drink for you and your client.

Keep warm

Have extra blankets at hand and close doors to keep the room warm where you and your client are sitting.

Make sure the car is full of fuel

Many petrol stations cannot function during a power outage so it is a good idea to check you have enough fuel in case of an emergency.

Final thoughts

While there may be nothing we can do to prevent power failures, we can at least be as prepared as possible for them. It is easy if you are forewarned about them, but many things can be already in place just in case one happens unexpectedly.

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