Power outages can threaten the lives of medical device users – knowing who is most at risk will help cities respond

Premature deaths rise during long-term blackouts, and ERs fill up. Knowing who is at risk and some creative solutions can help.

By: Matthew D. Dean, University of California, Irvine and Katherine Asmussen, University of Tennessee, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 18, 2026

Words: 940

Last Updated: 4 months, 2 weeks ago

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By Matthew D. Dean, University of California, Irvine and Katherine Asmussen, University of Tennessee

When the power goes out and stays off for hours, the result can be more than just a hassle – for millions of Americans who rely on medical equipment, losing electricity can become a medical emergency.

Your neighbor might rely on an oxygen concentrator to breathe – a machine the size of a carry-on bag that hums quietly through the …

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