Power Loss

Prepare for Power Loss

Power outages can be scary, but having a plan and understanding what your options is the best way to navigate what can be a dangerous situation. Read more about how to stay safe during power loss.

Generators
Generator safety is an important part of preparing for power loss situations.
Resources & Helpful Links
Lee Health is here to help you find resources and information to stay safe in emergent situations.

Take Action When You Lose Power:

To reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, use generators, grills, pressure washers, or other items that emit carbon monoxide outdoors only. Generators should always be at least 20 feet away from your home.
Check your food and throw away anything that may not be safe to eat.
Check with local authorities to be sure your water is safe to drink and determine if there is a boil water notice for your area.
In hot weather, hydrate and stay cool. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke or dehydration.
In cold weather, prepare with dry layers of clothing to help you regulate your temperature and keep in body heat.
Avoid downed power lines, if you see a downed powerline anywhere in your area stay away. If you are in a vehicle and a power line falls on your car, stay inside the vehicle and contact emergency services.
Plan with your physician, if you have a medical condition that requires electricity to refrigeration of medication, or medical devices ensure you have a plan for power outages.

Contact Your Utility Providers

In case of a power outage, contact your electrical and water providers to ensure your safety and to stay up-to-date.

How to Store Your Medications

Medications can be difficult to stay on top of, “Especially when you’re taking a lot of medications, it’s important to stay organized with them and store them properly.” Lee Health Pharmacist Julianna Hennig said a pillbox is a great way to stay organized. “You can get Sunday through Saturday, once a day. There are small pillboxes. If you take medications more than one time a day, you should get a bigger pillbox. There are ones that have a.m. and then p.m., or a.m., noon, and p.m. I’ve even seen ones that have four times a day.”

Store your medication in a cool, dry, dark place. “Some people like to keep their medications in the bathroom; that’s really not the best place to keep your medication because when you’re showering it gets very humid in there, and that can affect the quality of your medication. It may not work as well anymore after that happens,” said Hennig.

You should also keep it somewhere where you’ll remember to take them. “Some patients like to keep their medication either on their bedside table if it’s an evening medication, maybe they keep it in the kitchen if they’re going to take it with their breakfast,” said Hennig.

However, it’s also critical that you keep them in a safe spot. “Keeping it on a higher-level maybe push back on the countertop, so that a child doesn’t get to it, or an animal doesn’t get your medication,” said Hennig. Always take your medications for as long as they’re prescribed. When traveling, take double what you need and put them in your carry on for safekeeping.

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Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care.

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Make a Plan with your Physician in Case of a Power Outage

FIND A DOCTOR

If you have a medical condition that requires ongoing treatment using medical equipment powered by electricity or medicines that require refrigeration, it is important to consult your physician BEFORE a loss of power.

Helpful Resources Related to Power Outages

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