Emergency preparedness for power outages in healthcare facilities, including long-term care centers, hospitals, and dialysis centers, is crucial to ensuring patient safety and continuity of care. Here are some key considerations and practices:
- Immediate Actions During a Power Outage:
- Identify Critical Patients: Immediately identify residents or patients who require life support equipment, such as oxygen concentrators. Move them to areas supplied with emergency power (usually marked by red outlets).
- Supply Flashlights and Essentials: Gather flashlights and other necessary supplies to ensure staff and patients have adequate lighting and essential items during the outage1.
- Healthcare Facility Preparedness:
- Understand the challenges specific to healthcare resilience during power outages.
- Implement good practices to overcome these challenges.
- Familiarize yourself with emergency preparedness regulations, codes, and standards applicable to healthcare facilities2.
- Integration of Emergency Preparedness Efforts:
- Collaborate with the entire community to enhance preparedness.
- Explore opportunities for collaboration beyond healthcare facilities to strengthen overall resilience2.
- Prioritizing Assistance During Response:
- Define roles and responsibilities for prioritizing assistance to healthcare facilities.
- Use community lifelines to prioritize assistance effectively2.
Remember that preparedness planning should be comprehensive and involve all relevant stakeholders. If you need more detailed guidance, consider referring to resources provided by FEMA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other reputable sources.
For additional information, download IPRO’s Emergency Preparedness Plans – A Compendium.
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