How to Make your home safe, Power Outage Procedures, and emergency planning for homecare patients
Here at Wave Healthcare, our patients are always our priority. It is our aim to ensure patient safety in a homecare environment, and safety in the event of an emergency. This includes electrical blackouts, as power outages can pose a serious threat to those who rely on at-home medical devices.
It is important crucial that the families we serve remain prepared for sudden loss of power. Having a plan in place can be lifesaving. Follow the steps below to ensure you’re ready for a blackout.
- Prepare Documentation — Keep a printed file with the medical device(s) manufacturer, serial number, and photos of the device to provide to medical professionals who may assist you in an emergency. Friends and family members who may assist during an emergency should also have a copy of this file.
- Keep All Battery-Powered Devices Charged — If you have a battery-operated piece of equipment, such as a portable suction machine, it is important to keep the device plugged in and charging whenever you do have access to a functioning power source. This will ensure you have maximum battery life in case of a power outage.
- Research Auxiliary Power Sources — Find out if your medical device(s) works with a generator, and for how long.
- Keep Up Regular Maintenance — Our team at Wave Healthcare provides routine maintenance and necessary repairs for your at-home medical devices. Ensure you keep up with daily care and service requirements, such as cleaning your device, as instructed. Report any problems with your device in a timely manner.
- Evacuate When Necessary — Have a refuge location in mind in case of an emergency. This can be a family member's or friend's home in a nearby city, when their power is still operational. Cities and counties may also offer shelters in the event of a blackout. Keep a printed list of Inclement Weather Shelters in your area.
For more information, check out this article by the Baylor College of Medicine.
We encourage all of the families we serve to download and print the handouts below.
These documents provide standard information on making your home safe for your little ones, plus instructions to follow if you ever need to evacuate your home in case of an emergency.
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