Health effects of power outages in extreme events
Citation: Klinger C, Landeg O, Murray VM. Power outages, extreme events and health: a systematic review of the literature from 2011-2012. PLoS Currents. 2014;1:6.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes.
Funding sources: Public Health Adaptation Strategies to Extreme Weather Events – PHASE (EU).
What is this? In this systematic review, the authors searched for peer-reviewed studies that reported the health effects of power outages during extreme events. They restricted their searches to articles from 2011 and 2012. The authors included 20 peer-reviewed studies.
What was found: During extreme events, hospitals experienced an influx of additional patients. Medical technologies were inaccessible without power. Access to electronic patient records was an additional challenge, as well as the loss of light, and issues around food safety. Incorrect use of generators increased the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Implications: The authors of the review stated that hospitals needed resilient power supplies. The development of hospitals in low hazard regions should be considered to minimise the risk of power outages. Power companies should have a list of patients who use medical technologies in the community, to ensure that their needs can be prioritised during emergencies. Healthcare providers should be aware of alternative methods of care.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed some of their findings in the context of age and place of residence.
This summary was prepared by Briann Mensour, checked by Jawaria Karim, and finalized by William Summerskill.