Power Blackouts Can Be Dangerous Any Time of the Year
The recent power blackouts in Puerto Rico and Florida have affected millions of citizens in those states. Although Hurricanes Fiona and Ian caused the power blackouts in those states, there are many other events that can cause power blackouts. Examples of such events are earthquakes, floods, extreme temperatures, wildfires, power grid breakdowns, and terrorism.
While power blackouts are most dangerous in the winter and summer, this article will also discuss why they also can be dangerous even in the fall and spring. Power blackouts can occur any time of year, and they can bring with them many types of dangers. One example of such dangers is the risk of increased skin infections.
Power blackouts in the winter are obviously serious. They can mean there is no electricity to run the fans that blow heated air all over the house. A cold house can cause frozen water pipes. Especially very young and very old family members are not as able to tolerate extremes of temperature. Family members who are not in good physical shape might have a heart attack or stroke when shoveling snow or chopping wood for their fireplace.
Power blackouts in the summer are even worse. It is easier to get warm when too cold than it is to get cool when too hot. An indoor warming tent or a some extra, thick blankets or clothing can help to raise body temperature.
No cooling techniques make it as easy to cool down a person during a power blackout. In the summer, without electricity, there is no air conditioning and only small, battery-operated fans might be available. Can you stay with friends or relatives who still have electricity? That might be hard to do if the power blackout is regional. Can you “tough it out” until the power is available again? If you are lucky, the power might be out only for hours. It will be hard to “tough it out,” however, if the power outage lasts for days, weeks, or even months. If you live in the country, you will not have your electrical power restored before city dwellers, or even suburban dwellers. Call your electrical company for updates.
Even if the power blackout occurs in the fall or spring, however, there still will be problems. At night, lighting will be dim, even with candles, with battery powered lanterns, or with headlamps. This dim lighting can increase the chances of accidents at a time when hospitals are overwhelmed. In the case of candles, there is a greater chance of fire. Therefore, training in first aid skills is recommended.
With no electricity, if there is no electronic entertainment, there is a chance of family members suffering from sensory deprivation and anxiety. There are, however, commercial products to help your family to retain the potential for some electronic entertainment.
Try not to look only at the negative effects of the power blackout. With less electronic entertainment, there will be increased chances for family members to engage in more face-to-face intimacy. After the power blackout has ended, your family members most likely will be more appreciative of all the modern, electronic dependent conveniences they have.
