In the early 19th century, power cuts were something that used to constantly happen, but nowadays, when we experience electrical issues, it seems like the world stops. Most of the appliances we use, including our smartphones, laptops, and even kitchen appliances need the power to work. When there is an outage, nothing that we are used to using works, and we usually feel the rush of fear of the unknown. The great thing about these outages is that they rarely happen, and there are things that can be done to check the problem, and possibly find a way to fix it with ease.
In some parts of the world, these outages happen more frequently than in others. While you wait for the issue to get fixed, and for the services to arrive, there are some things that you should do as soon as the power is out.
Continue reading, if you want to learn not only how to get the power back on faster, but also how to protect your home, family members, and belongings.
Switch off all electrical appliances
According to Prominence Support, a home emergency cover insurance company, when the light goes off, the first thing you should do is switch off your household appliance immediately or unplug from the switch. Know that the light can come back almost immediately, and it might affect your devices badly. Home appliances can be affected majorly by power inputs; when the power comes in, it could cause an electrical surge or even overload.
Check to see if the problem occurs in your household only
Check to make sure you aren’t the only one having a power cut from around your neighborhood. Sometimes it might be just a power cut caused by a fuse break in your home or any other related causes. But once you’ve confirmed that it’s a general issue, you can first rest assured it will be resolved.
If the issue is in your household only, then you may need to check the fuse box and see if something needs to be changed or repaired. If you don’t have the needed tools, skills, or knowledge, don’t try to fix issues on your own. Instead, contact an electrician and know that there are services that work 24/7, so you won’t have to wait until the next day to report the problem.
Check your neighbors’ safety
Make sure to check on your neighbors, especially the elders around; they are more prone to injuries and more exposed to domestic accidents. You can help set things in place, helm them around the house, and complete interrupted tasks due to power failure.
Know that by doing these things you will be safe as well. Having someone around you, especially during outages can be beneficial for both, or all of you. You can keep each other company, and make sure that you all stay safe.
Use external, rechargeable batteries if possible
A power cut could occur at night, And at that point, you could use an external battery if you are already prepared for the power outage. Still, if not, you might have to do with candles, which must be used with caution. Make sure when batteries are not available, and you have to make do with candles, use proper candle stands, and don’t place your candles on or around flammable materials in the house.
Know that having power banks are beneficial, no matter if you are at an outage or not. They can help you charge all of your devices, so no matter how long the outage lasts, you can still contact emergency services if needed, or just check up on your friends or family members.
Don’t panic and stay alert
If there is a power outage in a railway station or a public place, do not panic but be alert. Things can easily go wrong because of a power cut or darkness if a power outage occurred at night. Ensure you stay safe, and you’re in a place where safety is more visible or guaranteed.
In case you are in a public space, find a place where you can comfortably sit down, and wait for the outage to get fixed. If you are stuck in an elevator or trapped somewhere else, just breathe, contact the emergency services and try to stay calm. In case you can freely move around, make sure you are safe, and go to a place where there isn’t an outage. Call a cab, or use public transportation that isn’t affected by the outage.
Check with your Electricity Distributor
Contact your distributor network to know what went wrong and get prioritized on their list, especially if you’re running a hospital that works a lot with gadgets and other business outlets that use electricity for significant operations.
The same goes for private properties. In case you are the only one in your street that is experiencing this issue, you should let the authorities know. In most cases, you can easily reach them throughout the day or night, and a team should be with you in less than an hour. In case they are already working to fix the problem, you will get notified.
Keep a light on to know when the light is back
Keep your light indicator on; the power might be back on before you say never. Usually, unless it is a major cause of damage, it shouldn’t take too much time for the power to be restored.
Just to be on the safe side, never keep the light on in the room you chose to spend the time waiting for the power to be back on. In some cases, the light bulb may explode, so you want to be away from harm’s way. In case the outage persists, make sure you contact the electricians and the electricity provider as well.
Sometimes power cut can occur suddenly; that is why you should always make sure there is a power cut provision. You can say you might need it earlier than you have imagined. Prepare for a power outage next time.
In case it turns out that the outage is going to last longer than expected, and if there is major damage, make sure you empty your freezer, throw away items that will get affected by the warm temperature, and try to keep the fridge doors closed. If possible, go to a friend’s or another family member’s home and stay there until the issue is fixed in your house.
