Oxygen Therapy Safety – What to Do If You Lose Electricity

Oxygen Therapy Safety – What to Do If You Lose Electricity

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If you rely on an oxygen concentrator unit (or a CPAP machine), you must take action and prepare for a power outage. Losing electricity could mean temporarily losing your oxygen- unless you prepare for it.

The right backup plan will keep you safe until emergency personnel arrives or the electricity comes back on.

Keep your cell phone charged

Most people own a cell phone these days. If you don’t have one, consider getting one, even if it’s only for emergencies. Many house phones don’t work without electricity.

Be sure your cell phone remains charged. Power outages can happen anytime, so avoid waiting for storms to charge your cell phone. If you lose power, you’ll need your phone to contact the electric company to let them know your electricity is out. Having a charged cell phone allows you to call for emergency medical help.

Keep Extra Batteries Charged

If you use a portable oxygen concentrator (POC), you can plug it into the wall and use your generator or a charged backup battery. Keeping an extra concentrator batteries fully charged will give you oxygen for longer if you lose power.

If possible, keep enough fully-charged batteries to last a couple of days. Contact your medical supply company if you’re unsure how many extra batteries you should have.

Get a Backup Generator

Oxygen concentrators run on an outlet, so having a generator is crucial if you require home oxygen. Not only does a generator keep your oxygen concentrator running, but it also lets you use other appliances that require electricity, like a refrigerator.

Also, let your electric company know that you rely on home oxygen. Some electric companies might give you a backup generator and make you a higher priority when you call to let them know you lost power.

Keep Extra Oxygen Tanks on Hand

Some people use oxygen tanks regularly. It’s crucial for people who use tanks to keep extra full tanks on hand. But people with oxygen concentrators should consider having a backup supply of oxygen that doesn’t require power. You can talk with your doctor about using an oxygen tank as a backup oxygen delivery method.

If you store oxygen tanks, never keep them near smoke, open flames, or gas.

Limit Physical Activity During a Power Outage

For people using portable oxygen concentrators, limiting physical activity during a power outage can be helpful, especially if your oxygen is running on batteries. Reducing activity levels can help reduce the amount of oxygen you require.

Have an Escape Plan

Not everyone has access to or can afford a backup generator. If you don’t have a generator during a power outage, call the local police or fire department for help. Some departments will either let you come to the station to use theirs or come pick you up if you don’t have a vehicle.

It helps to have a backup place to go during a power outage, whether it’s a local hotel or someone’s home. Make sure neighbors or nearby family members know you rely on home oxygen, and develop a plan with them in case you lose power. Then, when you lose power, use your cell phone to call them for help.

If you don’t have anyone to help, contact emergency medical personnel.

Updated: February 6, 2023
Published: August 5, 2013

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Kristina Diaz, RRT, is a health writer and registered respiratory therapist with over a decade of emergency and critical care experience. She earned respiratory care and journalism degrees in Michigan, where she was born and raised. She now resides in Florida, where she works as a full-time freelance writer and part-time respiratory therapist.

Kristina began her respiratory career in 2011 in Saginaw, Michigan. She now works in Lakeland, Florida, in one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation, treating people with various lung conditions, like COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea, among others. She maintains her Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification and is a member of the trauma team at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Her favorite part of being a respiratory therapist is providing relief to people struggling to breathe.

Kristina began freelance health writing in 2014, and her work is published on multiple websites, including Philips Respironics, the American Sleep Association, the Sleep Doctor, and more. She writes about lung health, sleep disorders, nutrition, and other health-related topics. Since she was a child, she’s always wanted to write, and now she gets to combine her passion for writing with the knowledge obtained from her respiratory career.

About Kristina Diaz, RRT:

Kristina Diaz, RRT, is a health writer and registered respiratory therapist with over a decade of emergency and critical care experience. She earned respiratory care and journalism degrees in Michigan, where she was born and raised. She now resides in Florida, where she works as a full-time freelance writer and part-time respiratory therapist. Kristina began her respiratory career in 2011 in Saginaw, Michigan. She now works in Lakeland, Florida, in one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation, treating people with various lung conditions, like COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea, among others. She maintains her Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification and is a member of the trauma team at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Her favorite part of being a respiratory therapist is providing relief to people struggling to breathe. Kristina began freelance health writing in 2014, and her work is published on multiple websites, including Philips Respironics, the American Sleep Association, the Sleep Doctor, and more. She writes about lung health, sleep disorders, nutrition, and other health-related topics. Since she was a child, she’s always wanted to write, and now she gets to combine her passion for writing with the knowledge obtained from her respiratory career.

11 thoughts on “Oxygen Therapy Safety – What to Do If You Lose Electricity

      • My pulse ox says it’s only at 92 with 3 liters of o2. Is my Inogen working correctly? Thank you awaiting your reply. Diane

        • A pulse oximeter reading of 92% with 3 liters per minute (LPM) of oxygen from your Inogen portable oxygen concentrator may be within the expected range for some individuals, but it’s essential to consider your specific medical condition and oxygen therapy requirements.
          Kindly consult with your healthcare provider. They can assess your specific medical condition, oxygen therapy needs, and the accuracy of your Inogen device to ensure that you are receiving the appropriate oxygen levels to support your health and well-being.

    • Call your electric provider and tell them that she is oxygen dependent get paperwork from them and have her doctor fill it out and fax it to them. That’s what I did and oncor has me as an critical patient so they know that I’m on oxygen when the electricity goes out. Hope this helps.

    • I too, an 81 year old, am VERY concerned, especially if I lose electricity when I am sound asleep,live alone, and my Inogen concentrator stops working due to loss of electricity AND DOES NOT come back on automatically if/when electricity is restored UNLESS …..I physically get up and turn it back on !!!! What if I don’t wake up when the electricity stops I’m on my bed and my oxygen level is getting so low I am becoming unconscious and can’t call anyone for help? Even having a generator will not turn my concentrator back on.!!!!

  1. What is the best solar generator to run an oxygen concentrator of 1-7Lpm as I need to invest in one for myself. Thanks

    • 1. You need to determine what the power of your device is;
      2. You need to determine how many hours you need to power it every day;
      3. Then determine how much solar generator you need;
      4. Find the brand and price range; (It is best to refer to the guidance on how to choose a solar generator)

  2. Depending on the brand of concentrator you have,you can call the company and get back up batteries!!Always keep several on hand and fully charged as they only last about an hour or so:)Hope this helps other O2 dependents!!

    • Thank you for sharing this helpful tip with other oxygen-dependent individuals! Yes, it’s a good idea to keep backup batteries for your oxygen concentrator, especially if you rely on it for your daily activities. Contacting the manufacturer or us at (877) 644-4581 is a great way to obtain additional batteries and ensure they are compatible with your specific device. Keeping the batteries fully charged and in good condition is important to ensure they last as long as possible when needed.

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