A power outage can be hard to deal with. If you’re not prepared for one, it can be twice as hard. There are some steps you can take, though, to safely deal with a power outage at home.
Prepare a Kit
Having a kit in an easy to access location can help you make sure you’re safe in a power outage. The kit doesn’t have to be excessive, but it should have things like external batteries for electronics and other things you can use while the power is out.
Don’t Touch Electric
If the power outage is due to a downed wire or some other issues, don’t touch the wire. Be safe about the electricity and don’t go near it if it seems like it’s live. Even though you may think that your breaker is flipped, you should be careful. If it’s a power outage and you flip your breaker without flipping it back, there could be a big surge when the power comes back on.
It’s not always easy to deal with a power outage, but if you pay for generator installation well in advance of the season where power outages are the most common, you’re going to be covered. Just don’t touch the electrics by yourself, it’s always better to have a professional come in and do it for you.
Know Where You’re Going
Adding something like an inspection penlight to your power outage kit can help you stay safe. The inspection light can guide you to different places in your home and you can use it if you need to see anything. Having one in your kit is valuable because the batteries last for a long time and they’re often very bright.
Don’t Open the Fridge!
While the power is out, your refrigerator can stay cold for a certain period of time. Think of it light a cooler: as long as it’s closed, the things inside should stay cold. A good preventative tip to find out how safe your food in your freezer is to eat after a power outage is to use a quarter. Fill a small paper cup with water. Freeze it and put a quarter on top once it’s frozen. If you open your freezer after the power outage and your quarter is inside of the ice at all, your food thawed out.
Stay Temperature Safe
If it’s hot or cold and you’re heating or cooling system is off for a long time, find somewhere else to go. Heat and cold can be dangerous. Don’t risk it during a power outage.
While power outages are generally quick and don’t pose a lot of risk to your safety, there are things you can do to protect yourself. Don’t get caught in a power outage without having important things. Always stay safe.
