The wind has been rising all evening, and then the house goes dark. The hum you stopped hearing weeks ago is gone, and the quiet that takes its place feels loud. Your heart jumps. You look at the bed and the machine and the tubing, and you ask yourself what comes next.
Most people who care for someone at home meet this night, and few have a plan until it comes. Here is the short answer. Switch to your backup tank if the machine has stopped, and call the hospice line, day or night. The rest of this page is a calm plan you can set up now, while the sky is still clear, so you are not guessing in the dark.
What Should You Do First When the Power Goes Out?
Look at your loved one. If breathing looks easy and the face is calm, you have a moment to act without rushing. Next, check the machine. Many beep when the power fails, which is a normal alert.
If the machine has stopped, switch to the backup tank. If you are not sure how, call the hospice line right away, and the nurse can talk you through it while you work.
What Is a Backup Tank, and How Does It Work?
A backup tank holds oxygen and needs no power. People who use a home machine often keep a few tanks nearby for nights like this. Ask the hospice team to show you how to switch to it while things are calm, and do it once with them watching to get comfortable.
Ask how long a full tank lasts at your loved one’s setting, and write the answer on a card by the bed or taped to the machine. If you have no backup tank at all, tell the nurse right away.
How Do You Keep Oxygen Safe in the Dark?
Use a flashlight and never a candle. Oxygen makes fire burn faster and hotter, so keep flames and sparks well away from the tank and the tubing. No one should smoke in the house. Keep the tank upright and steady so it cannot fall.
Keep one flashlight in the room and a second by the door and make sure everyone knows where they are. Headlamp-style flashlights are particularly useful so you can keep your hands free.
What Happens to an Electric Bed When the Power Goes Out?
Some beds have a hand crank or a battery backup, so ask the hospice team to show you where it is and how it works before you need it. If the bed has a pad that fills with air, the pad may go soft once the power is off, so ask the nurse what to do.
If you must move your loved one, ask a family member or neighbor to help, since lifting alone can hurt you both.
What About Other Machines That Plug In?
Some people also use a pump or a suction machine. Ask the nurse which ones matter most if the power fails, and what to do for each. Write the answers on the same card by the bed.
Who Should You Call When the Power Goes Out?
Call the hospice line, day or night. The team knows your loved one’s plan and can guide you from there. Tell them the power is out and how your loved one looks. Keep the number on paper by the bed, since a phone can die or get lost in the dark.
How Can You Get Ready Before the Storm Comes?
Start with a quiet talk with the nurse, and ask what to do if the power goes out. Have them walk you through the tanks and the bed, and write down what they say. Charge your phone now, and keep a small power bank full. Ask a neighbor who lives close to look in on you during a storm, and give them your number. You can also ask the hospice team whether the power company keeps a list for homes that need power for health reasons.
What If the Phone Does Not Work?
Cell towers can fail in a big storm, and a cordless house phone stops when the power does. That is why the paper card and a neighbor matter so much. Ask the team ahead of time what you should do if you cannot reach them.
How Do You Keep Your Loved One Warm in the Dark?
Add blankets and a soft hat, and close the door to the room to hold in the warmth. Never use a stove or grill for heat, since flames near the tank can be deadly. If you run a small engine for power, keep it outside and far from the windows, since the fumes can harm you. Never run one in the house or the garage.
What About Medications That Need to Stay Cold?
Some pills and liquids must stay cold. Ask the nurse which ones, so you know before the lights go out. Keep the fridge door shut as much as you can. Consider having a small cooler and frozen ice packs handy so you can move the medications there so you don’t have to keep opening the fridge.
What If the Power Stays Out for a Long Time?
Hospitals may have some options for your loved one, or a hotel might be the answer. Ask the hospice team early what the plan would be. They can talk through the choices with you, which may include moving your loved one for a short time if that is right. You do not have to decide this in the middle of a storm.
What Should You Do When the Lights Come Back?
Check that the machine is running again and that the setting is where it should be. If you used the backup tank, let the team know so a new one can be set up. Tell the nurse what happened and how your loved one did. If something worked well or went wrong, write it on the card for next time.