Public Health Issues Related to Summertime Blackouts
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Power Outages
- Power Outages Home
- What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Summertime Blackouts
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Worker Safety
- Worker Safety in a Power Outage
- NIOSH Electrical Safety
- Worker Safety in Storm & Flood Cleanup
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Related
- Electrical Hazards
- Hurricanes
- Extreme Heat
- Floods
- Tornadoes
- Winter Weather
Personal preparation for blackouts is similar to preparation for natural disasters. We recommend that people develop an emergency plan that includes a disaster supply kit. This kit should include enough water, food, and emergency supplies for at least 3 days. Details on emergency plans and supply kits can be found at www.ready.gov.
Heat is the major public health problem related to blackouts for two reasons:
- Extreme heat causes most summertime blackouts
- In a blackout, the main public health intervention for heat-related illness (air conditioning) is unavailable – this represents “a disaster within a disaster”
Heat Facts
- Heat causes about 400 deaths per year in the U.S. – more than all other natural disasters combined
- During the Chicago heat wave of 1995, over 650 people died in under 2 weeks
- ALL HEAT-RELATED DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE
- The people most at-risk from heat include:
- The elderly
- The poor
- People in inner cities
- People with chronic illness
- Homebound people
- Children under the age of 5 years
RECOMMENDATIONS (in the absence of air conditioning):
- CHECK FREQUENTLY ON THOSE AT HIGH RISK
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids
- Reduce strenuous activities
- Take cool showers/baths frequently
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing
- Most importantly, cities should have in place a comprehensive Heat Emergency Response Plan
HEAT EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
- SHOULD BE IN PLACE FOR ALL AT-RISK CITIES
- Must have certain critical elements:
- Close coordination with National Weather Service
- Effective early warning
- Consistent, understandable messages directed towards high-risk groups
- Regular personal contact with at-risk individuals
- Availability of, and transportation to, emergency shelters
- Collaboration among municipal agencies, hospitals, industry, NGO’s, and others
- CDC is available to work with cities in the development of these plans
Page last modified August 15, 2006