{"id":62184,"date":"2025-10-22T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/?p=62184"},"modified":"2025-10-30T15:56:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T19:56:54","slug":"how-to-handle-a-power-outage-safely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-a-power-outage-safely\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle a Power Outage Safely"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The lights flicker, the TV shuts off, and you are standing in the dark. Most outages are inconvenient, not dangerous, but the wrong moves can add real risk. Here is a clear, calm plan that keeps you safe until the power returns.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Emergency Callout Card --><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 1px solid #e5e7eb; border-left: 6px solid #ef4444; padding: 16px; border-radius: 8px; background: #fff; margin: 16px 0;\">\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0 0 8px 0;\"><strong>Immediate Step, use a flashlight, not candles if possible<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"margin: 0 0 8px 18px;\">\n<li>Keep flashlights or battery lanterns in several rooms, store extra batteries.<\/li>\n<li>If you must use candles, place in sturdy holders, away from curtains, pets, and kids, never leave unattended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\"><em>Light is good, unnecessary fire risk is not.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>Step 1, Check Your Breaker Before You Panic<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Open the breaker panel or fuse box, look for a tripped breaker or blown fuse.<\/li>\n<li>If it is just your home, reset the breaker or replace the fuse safely.<\/li>\n<li>If nearby homes are dark too, it is a wider outage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 2, Report the Outage to Your Power Company<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Use the utility outage hotline, text system, or mobile app if available.<\/li>\n<li>Check the online outage map for scope and updates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your report helps crews locate the problem faster.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Step 3, Keep Refrigerators and Freezers Closed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A full freezer holds a safe temperature for about <strong>48 hours<\/strong>, about <strong>24 hours<\/strong> if half full.<\/li>\n<li>A refrigerator keeps food cold for about <strong>4 hours<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Open doors only when necessary. When in doubt, toss it out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After power returns, check that food stayed at or below <strong>40\u00b0F<\/strong>. Discard items that were above 40\u00b0F for more than <strong>2 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Step 4, Unplug Electronics to Avoid Surges<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Unplug computers, TVs, gaming systems, and other sensitive devices.<\/li>\n<li>Use surge protectors for items that must remain plugged in.<\/li>\n<li>Leave one light on so you know when power returns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 5, Stay Carbon Monoxide Safe<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Never<\/strong> run a generator inside a home, garage, or basement, and do not run it near windows or doors. Place generators outside, at least <strong>20 feet<\/strong> from openings, with exhaust pointing away from the building.<\/li>\n<li>Do not use charcoal grills, camp stoves, or gas ovens for heat indoors.<\/li>\n<li>Check that carbon monoxide alarms have working batteries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 6, If Medical Devices Need Power, Call 911 if Backup Fails<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If someone relies on powered medical equipment, act early.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use backup batteries or a properly vented generator.<\/li>\n<li>If backup power is not available or fails, <strong>call 911 immediately<\/strong> for transport to a powered facility.<\/li>\n<li>Keep a printed list of medications, device settings, and emergency contacts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 7, Make Your Space Safe and Comfortable<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Use battery fans in heat, extra layers and blankets in cold.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid opening exterior doors repeatedly, preserve indoor temperature.<\/li>\n<li>Check on neighbors, especially older adults and those with medical needs.<\/li>\n<li>Treat dark stairways and hallways as hazards, add temporary lighting or block access.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Downed Lines or Electrical Fire, call 911<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Assume any downed wire is live. Stay back at least 35 feet, keep others away, <strong>call 911<\/strong> and the utility.<\/li>\n<li>If a fire starts, evacuate and <strong>call 911<\/strong>. Do not use water on electrical fires.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Prevention, Prepare Before the Lights Go Out<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Emergency kit<\/strong>, flashlights, batteries, water, nonperishable food, manual can opener, blankets, first aid kit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Backup chargers<\/strong>, power banks for phones, a charged battery radio.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alternative comfort<\/strong>, safe space heaters or battery fans as appropriate for your climate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medical planning<\/strong>, notify your utility if you use life sustaining devices, many offer medical priority programs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Workplace readiness<\/strong>, confirm emergency lighting, exit routes, and outage procedures during drills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Wrapping It Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Use flashlights, avoid candles when you can.<\/li>\n<li>Check your breaker, then report the outage.<\/li>\n<li>Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to protect food.<\/li>\n<li>Unplug electronics, leave one light on for status.<\/li>\n<li>Prevent carbon monoxide, run generators outside only.<\/li>\n<li>If medical devices are at risk, call 911 if backup fails.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Preparation removes panic. With a few smart habits, the next outage becomes a manageable pause, not a crisis.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>References<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ready.gov\/power-outages?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Power Outages<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/natural-disasters\/response\/what-to-do-protect-yourself-during-a-power-outage.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/emergencies-iaq\/power-outages-and-indoor-air-quality-iaq?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Power Outages and Indoor Air Quality<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The lights flicker, the TV shuts off, and you are standing in the dark. Most outages are inconvenient, not dangerous, but the wrong moves can add real risk. Here is a clear, calm plan that keeps you safe until the power returns. Immediate Step, use a flashlight, not candles if possible Keep flashlights or battery &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[117,4171],"tags":[5950,5959,5964,5955,5958,5948,5952,5960,5956,5963,5949,5953,5961,5946,5954,5951,5962,5947,5965,5957],"class_list":["post-62184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-emergency-safety","category-first-aid-training","tag-blackout-survival-tips","tag-cdc-power-outage-safety","tag-electricity-outage-preparedness","tag-emergency-flashlight-use","tag-fema-power-outage-guide","tag-home-emergency-kit","tag-how-to-report-power-outage","tag-indoor-air-quality-power-outage","tag-no-electricity-emergency-plan","tag-outage-emergency-plan","tag-power-outage-checklist","tag-power-outage-medical-devices","tag-power-outage-response-plan","tag-power-outage-safety","tag-power-surge-protection","tag-refrigerator-food-safety-power-outage","tag-safe-heating-during-outage","tag-what-to-do-during-a-blackout","tag-what-to-unplug-during-power-outage","tag-workplace-power-outage-prep"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62184"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62233,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62184\/revisions\/62233"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlantictraining.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}