Stuck in the dark: Health dangers when the power goes out

No matter what caused the power outage, whether it be bad weather or a random power cut, living without power creates real and dangerous health risks that you may not be prepared for.

Exposure: Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can take a toll on anyone. Those that are most at risk are young children, seniors and anyone who is already sick. In severe cases, exposure to extreme heat or cold can lead to serious health problems that may require hospitalization.

Food poisoning: Lack of refrigeration can quickly lead to food spoiling. Eating foods that have not been stored at proper temperatures can also cause food poisoning from salmonella and other bacteria.

Water hazards: One of the biggest dangers during a long power outage is contaminated water. Water treatment plants need power to run, and while they usually have backup generators, these may go out as well. Because of this, you could be exposed to toxins and illnesses.

Injury: During a power cut, you may have to do things you wouldn’t normally do, like operate a generator. If you get injured during a power cut it is more dangerous than usual because the medical system is already stretched thin.

Supply interruptions: You normally rely on regular trips to the grocery store for the supplies you need to maintain your health and hygiene. Power outages can lead to serious supply disruptions that could compromise any one of these areas.

Storms are only one of the causes of a power cut, load shedding could hit again when we are least expecting it. 

Make sure you are always prepared for the worst – invest in one of Off Grid’s load shedding solutions. Whether it be a power bank to charge your cellphone or a UPS system for your computer, Off Grid has the backup power devices that you need.

What could cause a power cut, besides load shedding?

An unexpected power failure can really ruin your day, cut an event short and put the dampers on an otherwise brilliant day. It can even be dangerous, which can be a huge problem!

There are lots of things you can do to prevent power cuts or minimize their impact, such as purchasing a backup power solution, like a UPS or power bank, from Off Grid. However, lets first look at what causes power cuts in the first place (besides load shedding):

     ·         Weather. The weather tends to cause the majority of power outages, with electrical storms being the number one factor that affects the power grid. A sudden rain storm can play havoc with your temporary power systems if the installation has not factored in waterproofing the equipment.

 

     ·         Poor Quality Equipment. Power generators, UPS devices and other equipment related to the provision of power need to be tested on a regular basis. If this isn’t done, faults can go undetected and these can sometimes cause problems in your power supply. Make sure you purchase high-quality backup power equipment that has been tried and tested – try Off Grid!

     ·         A power system can fail if it isn’t properly set up by a trained and experienced electrician or temporary power specialist. If you try to run an unbalanced load or too much equipment, lighting or appliances through a system that can’t handle it, you could end up with serious problems.

To prevent power outages that could cause inconvenience, make sure you use an expert in temporary power and choose equipment that is regularly tested and maintained.

10 things we miss the most when the electricity goes out

Going without electricity for a couple of hours is really bad, and it can be hell on earth for some people. Without electricity, even for a short time, these 10 things will be missed the most…

LIGHTS
The most basic luxury that electricity provides is our lights at night, and even during the day! Your candles and flashlights aren’t even close to the same thing.

CELLPHONES
Majority of our communications these days revolve around our phones. They are the centre of our world and the main way we communicate on social media and with our family and friends.

INTERNET AND COMPUTERS
This should go without saying, it is probably the thing we use the most in our modern lives. We can’t really get much done with our computer.

TELEVISION
The average person watches 4 hours of TV a day, while the average child actually watches 6 hours! It can be a shock to our emotional system when the power goes out and we can’t watch anymore.

iPODS, STEREO, MUSIC
So many people walk around with their earphones attached to their iPods and other devices, listening to music. It can be a little bit difficult to do this if there is no electricity to recharge these devices. Like TV, music is a major part of the background entertainment for people.

AIR CONDITIONING, FANS, HEAT
Now that the days are getting hotter, it is vital to have air conditioning and fans to keep cool. Even in the colder months, heaters are always on. We have lived so long with this convenience that being without it, even for a few hours is a shock.

REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER
Our fridges serve an important role in keeping your food fresh and cool. When the electricity goes out, it can be hard to find a cool glass of water and it can cause food to go off, especially if the power is cut for a long period of time.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES
How will you handle it if you can’t make a fresh cup of coffee, or a nice piece of toast? Think about it, all your kitchen appliances run on electricity, so when the power is cut, you can’t use much in the kitchen!

STOVE, OVEN AND MICROWAVE
Let this sink in, all of us cook our food in the oven, microwave or on the stove, we won’t be able to cook any dinner if there is no power. Cold salads and sarmies are always an option though.

WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER
Washing your clothes is something that you may take for granted, and when the power goes out and you really need clean clothes for work the next day, it can be a real hassle.

Even though most of the time the power only goes out for a couple of hours, it can be annoying and a real shock on our emotional state when we can’t use the things we usually do! It is surprising how many things in our lives need electricity to function!

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and you can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet, cook meals and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Load Shedding and Safety

Most of us use a mixture of sources to get energy into our households. Because of load shedding, we can’t always rely on electricity to keep our homes powered. Alternatives include electricity, gas, coal, paraffin, firewood, candles and solar power to fulfill the job of lighting, cooking or heating.

What we don’t always consider with the alternatives we turn to is safety. Energy accidents are a global problem; and can cause accidents with children and adults. Education around energy safety not only helps you and your family but the community as a whole.

There are some preventative measures you can take to ensure that you and your family are always safe when load shedding prevents you from using electricity.

Preventative measures:

- Repair all damaged and broken wires in your home

- Never ever let children use appliances, paraffin stoves or candles unsupervised

- Turn off appliances when you are done using them

- Dangerous products, such as paraffin and matches should always be kept out of reach and properly sealed

- Make sure the container you use for storing paraffin is not used for anything else

- Have emergency numbers in highly visible places for children to call during a crisis

Dealing with the emergency

- Get yourself and others out of the situation

- Call for help

- Using sand to put out electrical and paraffin fires is far more effective than water

- All burns should be taken seriously, get the injured person to a hospital or clinic as fast as possible

Load shedding is not going away anytime soon. Because of this, we have been forced to use other ways to supply ourselves with power.

Although accidents do happen; we have to take extra measures to make sure that those dearest to us are safe and protected!

Off Grid can provide your home or your business with effective load shedding solutions. Don't get caught in the dark, purchase one of our many products today!

Five Power-Saving Myths Busted

Load shedding is a reality, and we have been told that it’s here to stay for most of 2015. Eskom needs to balance the scales and supply enough electricity to meet our needs. But we can also have a part in this by trying to save power as much as we can.

Here are some common power-saving myths that have been busted…

1. Turning the geyser off and on uses more power that simply leaving it on

TRUTH: Switching your geyser off and on again won’t actually save power overall, however it will help Eskom reduce demand during crucial periods.

To reheat the water to its set temperature, a geyser uses no more power than if it had just stayed switched on.

2. I have a geyser blanket, so I don’t need to switch my geyser off

TRUTH: A geyser blanket does help reduce heat loss and therefore can lead to small power savings, but you still need to switch off your geyser during peak times in order to help reduce demand.

3. Switching lights and appliances off and on uses more power than just leaving them on

TRUTH: Turning a light or an appliance on can lead to a small surge in power usage, but this is smaller than the amount of electricity needed to keep it on when it is not being used.

4. It uses less energy to leave my heater on, than to heat my room again

TRUTH: The fact is it takes less energy to warm up your room than leaving your heater on for long periods of time. Rather wear warm clothes or use a hot water bottle than to keep a heater on.

5. Setting the air conditioner to its lowest temperate will cool a room quicker

TRUTH: This won’t make your room cooler any quicker; it will just use much more power because the air con will be on for longer. The same goes for using an air con to heat a room.

6. Putting my TV or electrical devices on standby mode is the same as switching it off

TRUTH: Even on standby mode, an electrical appliance still draws power. Rather just switch it off completely or unplug it from the way.

Load shedding is basically the result of bad planning and poor management, however we still need to do our part and try to save power. We don’t want load shedding to carry on for the rest of our lives!

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Load Shedding and Road Safety

Most South Africans have experienced the inconvenience of a break in power supply. Power cuts are unfortunately going to be a reality for years to come. 

There is also the impact of load shedding on road safety. We need to address load shedding and learn how to protect ourselves from the risks posed by load shedding

Impact of load shedding on road safety

- There is not much that the average person can do about power failures affecting traffic lights and traffic flow – the correct driving attitude can however go a long way in preventing accidents.

- It is suggested, where possible, that drivers plan their routes and leave early to try and avoid the heavy traffic periods, this may also reduce the urge to rush.

- Many people are impatient because they are late due to the load shedding conditions and may take unnecessary risks , you should be extra cautious at faulty traffic lights. 

- Many other motorists are also delayed and may be using their cell phones and possibly not concentrating fully on the road. Always make sure other vehicles are stationary before you pull away from the four way stop.

Always remember to concentrate fully on the road during load shedding. Load shedding is bad enough as it is, let’s not make it worse.

Off Grid provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

Load Shedding can cause Health Dangers

Our load shedding crisis is not only annoying, but it can be downright dangerous to your health too. Here’s how to protect yourself when darkness falls…

Power outages and public health facilities

While businesses and households struggle to deal with rolling black outs, the risks it poses for hospital patients are far greater.

Electricity is essential for public health facilities so when the supply is unstable it could be fatal for patients undergoing emergency treatment, surgery and those in intensive care. Furthermore, organs, vaccines and medication that need to be refrigerated can also spoil or become ineffective.

Tip: keep a two-plate gas stove at hand to boil water to sterilise baby bottles.

How to prevent health issues during load shedding: Keep your first aid kit close by in case any accidents happen in the dark, especially if you have children or older people living with you.

Dangers to health equipment

For those who suffer from emphysema, make sure that portable respirators are always charged.

Asthmatics should also keep their nebulisers charged.

Anyone who uses oxygen, such as those suffering from chronic bronchitis, sleep apnoea and other restrictive lung diseases, should keep an extra oxygen tank so they can keep breathing easily.

Dangers in the dark that affect all of us

Switch off all electronics and appliances during power outages. At times when power is restored there is the potential for it to come back with a spike in the voltage. Any sparks resulting from this could lead to burns and cuts and it can also damage electronic devices like computers, televisions and DVD players.

Being in the dark also can also be a health hazard for the small children and the elderly, who could trip and fall, especially when climbing stairs. Injuries resulting from falls can be as simple as ankle sprains to very serious hip fractures, which are all very common injuries for the elderly.

Safe heating alternatives

If you have a fireplace, make sure you have plenty of wood and keep the matches nearby.

Gas heaters are great for heating. Make sure you are stocked up with gas and heat only one room where everyone can gather together.

Ensure all windows and doors are closed to keep the heat in.

Place extra blankets and duvets in an easy-to-reach cupboard.

Load shedding is a nuisance and has forced us to prepare to install backup power solutions and keep torches and candles close at hand. Being engulfed in darkness for hours also comes with a  lot of health risks – so be prepared.

Need backup power for your home or business? Order from Off Grid and we can provide you with all you need, from power banks to UPS.

Affordable Ways to Fight Eskom’s Load Shedding

Load shedding isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, it has even been said that it will continue for at least three more years.

Advice like keeping your smartphone, laptop and tablet charged and planning your day around load shedding does little to decrease the impact of not having electricity.

The good news is that there are many ways to lessen the pain that load shedding brings, without having the break the bank!

Emergency Lights – ±R200
Emergency lights have built-in batteries, and switch on automatically when the power goes off. If you are looking for a solution that uses solar energy, you can also purchase solar emergency lamps.

Power Banks – Contact for Price
Portable power banks allow you to charge your smartphone or tablet with a USB charger when the power gets cut. The prices will differ based on the capacity.

Gas Cooker – ±R500
Running an electric stove on backup power when load shedding hits is not sustainable. The best option is gas.

UPS – Contact for Price
An uninterruptable power supply makes it possible for you to run some of your electrical equipment like an ADSL router and your laptop.

Smart Energy Light – Contact for Price
A smart energy light will provide you with hours of light during load shedding; you can even adjust the brightness, making it last for up to seven hours.

Power Inverter System – Contact for Price
A power inverter system can offer enough power to run a few appliances when load shedding hits. Many of the systems are portable, which means it can be used when and where the power goes off.

Diesel or Petrol Generator – ±R4000
If you want to run many appliances for a few hours, then a generator is a great option, although you will have to put up with a lot of noise.

Eskom’s load shedding is here to stay, but there are many affordable ways to make life easier when the electricity goes off.

Off Grid Load Shedding Solutions provides backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run!

The Impact of Load Shedding on Consumers

Power outages continue to be a headache for South Africans. So how can we prevent load shedding from becoming even more disruptive and costly than necessary?

As if the regular power outages are not bad enough, now we have to deal with an even darker side of load shedding – blown out appliances and criminals targeting our homes when the lights are off and defences are down.

Having to sit in a cold dark house for hours will make anyone miserable, but our misery is being made worse by insurance companies refusing to pay for electrical appliances that are damaged by power surges when the lights come back on.

Avoid load shedding all together, including the disruption and costs, with Off Grid’s Load Shedding solutions. They provide backup power solutions that are both affordable and seamless to run; when the power goes out you are not inconvenienced and can continue to run your business, watch TV, surf the internet and all without worrying about when it’s coming back on again.

However, if your insurance company is giving you troubles, there are some quick, simple actions you can take to protect your appliances, the easiest of which is to unplug all electrical devices during a power cut.

According to the insurance company Santam, not only will this prevent damage to your appliances, but it will also help to minimise the risk of a fire caused by power surges. Santam also advises to install surge protectors that will protect your appliances.

The never-ending load shedding problem is a headache for everyone, but insurance companies and the police have also been affected. Police officers in the Western Cape have complained that they are unable to do their job effectively due to persistent power outages.

We all want to continue our normal lives when load shedding hits, this is where backup load shedding solutions are needed.

How to Survive Load Shedding in Cape Town

Someone who thinks of ways to deal with power cuts shouldn’t be needed in the 21^st century, what’s next someone who gives us tips on how to hunt and gather food? The thing is, load shedding is our current reality right now, so let’s look on the bright side.

Here is a list of things to do when you’re plunged into darkness and ways to cope when Eskom throws us back into the Stone Age (If all else fails you can always purchase backup power solutions from Off Grid!)

1. Engage in fun electricity-free activities that you’ve never had time for. Hike up Lions Head, Go caving, adventure through a forest, knit a blanket, hug a tree… there’s an endless list of lightless activities to do.

2. Take a drive up to an elevated point. Signal Hill is the best option as you can gaze out onto the patches of light and dark. Try to guess which suburb will be in darkness next, you could even turn it into a drinking game!

3. Have some fun taking long-exposure in the dark with some sparklers. You could try draw the outline of the mountains or short phrases, such as “Eskom Sucks!”

4. Catch up on Game of Thrones, Modern Family or Vikings. Just make sure your laptop is always charged before load shedding kicks in. Take it to the next level by inviting some friends over for a marathon.

5. If you’re not keen for lettuce and raw carrots of dinner, head to one of these Cape Town eateries, who have all made a plan to stay open during power cuts:

- Black Sheep Restaurant
- Beerhouse
- Castella Amare
- Charly’s Bakery
- The Bungalow
- El Burro
- Borage Bistro
- De Grendel
- Rick’s Café Americain
- Richard’s Supper Stage

6. Load shedding has one positive side; it makes our favourite pastime, braaing, very useful! So, step away from the stove and make your meals caveman-style.

These tips aren’t going to bring our lights back on when load shedding hits, but at the very least they could save our sanity!