Healthy Start coalition of Flagler & Volusia Counties, Inc

Any number of things can cause a power outage during the winter months. Most probably it is weather-related. If it is caused by the weather, the outage could be wide-spread or it could be localized.

First check to make sure you have not blown a circuit or a fuse. Check the circuit breakers or fuses in your home's electrical panel.

If power is out in your entire neighborhood, call your local utility company to report the outage. The phone number should be on your electricity bill, or check the white pages in your phone book.

If power is out over a widespread area, it may take a longer time to restore power everywhere. Sometimes it can be out for days.

A Warning About HYPOTHERMIA - Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminsitration

The human body loses heat during the winter due to the conduction and convection of heat from the skin to nearby air, due to evaporation of moisture from the skin surface, and due to normal respiration. To compensate for this heat loss, the body burns energy to produce heat to keep the body temperature at a relatively constant level. If, however, a body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, the body temperature will cool to below normal levels, a medical condition known as hypothermia.

Hypothermia will gradually worsen unless the overall rate of heat loss can be stopped. The warning signs for hypothermia may start with shivering and shaking and may end in death. Initially, as the body temperature starts to drop, shivering begins. At the same time, the brain begins to reduce the amount of blood that is circulated to the extremities of the body in order to conserve heat for the vital organs near the body's central core. If the central core of the body continues to cool, uncontrollable shaking, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion may develop. These are all signs of a very serious situation. If the body core temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, just 4 degrees below normal, immediate care is needed, as the person will likely become irrational. Once the body core temperature drops below 90 degrees, the person loses muscle control, and outside help is the person's only hope for survival. If that help is not available, heart and/or respiratory failure and death will eventually follow as the core temperature continues to drop.

If a person is suffering from hypothermia, it's critically important that the person be warmed properly. If warmed improperly, death may result. In a hypothermic person, cold blood is concentrated in the extremities. If these extremities are warmed too quickly, this cold blood will be released into the body's central core, possibly lowering the central core temperature to a fatal level. Use the following steps to raise the core temperature of a hypothermic person.

Power Outage - Summer - What to do if the Power Goes Out in the Summer (source California Energy Comission)

There are many things that can cause a power outage during warmer months. It could be that a car accident has taken out the power lines in your neighborhood, or it's some other man-made problem. It could be an animal shorting out the power lines. Or, it could be bad weather. Whatever the cause, there is no need to panic.

The first thing you should do is to determine whether you are the only one without power. If you know where your fuse box is, check for tripped switches or blown fuses. If that is the problem, reset the breaker or replace the fuse. If the problem is more widespread, call your local electricity company. The phone number is in your phone book, and it is also on your electricity bill.

Keep these tips in mind:

UNLESS there is an emergency, do not call 9-1-1. That number should ONLY be used if there is an emergency, or if someone is injured or in danger.
If there are downed power lines in your neighborhood, do not go near them. Call 9-1-1 first to report the emergency. Then call your electricity company. Check to make sure that no children or animals go near the wires - they could still be electrictrified and are lethal.
A rolling blackout during warm weather will most likely occur during the evening peak hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Because it may be dark in rooms with no lights, keep flashlights handy. To avoid a power surge when the electricity returns, turn off computers, TVs, stereos and other unnecessary electronic equipment at the power strip.
Drink plenty of water. You will prespire and lose water, so stay hydrated.
Dress to stay cool - wear layers that can be removed if you get hot.
Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer as much as possible. Food inside should stay cold for hours if the door is left closed.
If you're hot, take a cool shower to reduce your body temperature.
If you have a pool or a neighbor with a pool, it's s good time to take a dip. The cooler water will bring your body temperature down and help you to stay cool.
Check on your elderly neighbors or those who may have medical conditions or use medical machinery that operates on electricity. Make sure they are dressed appropriately and are staying cool.
Drive carefully. Remember that traffic signals may be out in a rolling blackout. Consider each intersection to be a four-way stop and drive defensively.

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Power Outage Winter - What To Do If The Power Goes Out In The Winter (source California Energy Comission)

Power Outage - Summer - What to do if the Power Goes Out in the Summer (source California Energy Comission)

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