If you rely on an oxygen concentrator, plan ahead with your provider, register with your utility, and know your backup options before power fails.
- Ask your oxygen provider what backup they supply and how long it lasts.
- Register with your utility's medical needs program if one exists.
- Keep flames away from oxygen and call 911 if breathing becomes difficult.
An oxygen concentrator needs electricity to work. If you or someone you care for relies on one, a power outage is not just an inconvenience. It needs a plan made well before the lights go out. This guide covers the general planning steps. It is not medical advice. Your doctor, respiratory therapist and oxygen supplier are the right people to tell you what is safe and sufficient for your situation.
Talk to your provider first
Call your oxygen supplier and your healthcare team and ask specific questions. Write the answers down and keep them with the equipment.
- What is my backup plan if power fails? Do I get backup cylinders, and how many?
- How long will each backup last at my prescribed flow setting?
- Who do I call, day or night, if the concentrator stops or the backup runs low?
- Can the supplier deliver cylinders during a storm or a long outage?
- Is it safe to power my concentrator from a battery or generator, and which models are approved by the maker?
- When should I go to a hospital or emergency centre instead of waiting at home?
Do not change your prescribed oxygen settings or rely on a guess about how long a backup will last. Use only the numbers your provider gives you.
Register with your utility
Many electric utilities keep a register of customers with medical needs and may offer priority notifications or restoration planning. In Canada and the US, programs and names vary by utility and region, so check your provider's website or call them. Registration does not guarantee fast restoration, so do not rely on it alone, but it helps your utility know where vulnerable customers live. Also report outages promptly (see alerts and outage reporting).
Backup oxygen and power options
Common backup options include portable oxygen cylinders supplied by your provider, a portable concentrator with spare batteries, and, in some cases, a battery or power station that the equipment maker confirms is compatible. Never assume a generic power source will work. Ask the maker or provider about wattage, plug type and the kind of power output the device needs. Our guide on CPAP and medical devices in a power outage covers how to think about device power, and what size power station do I need explains the basic math. Make sure any fuel powered generator stays outdoors, far from windows and doors (see generator safety).
Build a simple action plan
- Keep a printed card with your oxygen prescription, supplier phone number, doctor contact, utility number and emergency contacts.
- Know where your backup cylinders are, keep them secured upright as your supplier instructs, and check them regularly.
- Keep spare tubing, masks and cannulas where you can find them in the dark.
- Have a flashlight and a charged phone with a power bank (see keeping phones charged).
- Tell family and neighbours that you use oxygen, and ask someone to check on you in an outage. See neighbour check-ins.
- Plan a place to go, such as a friend's home with power, and how you will get there. Ask your provider about traveling with oxygen.
During the outage
Switch to your backup as soon as the concentrator stops, following your provider's instructions. Stay calm, stay seated and rest. Keep track of when you started using the backup so you know how much time remains. Call your supplier early rather than late if power is not back, since delivery can be delayed in storms or on icy roads.
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have trouble breathing, feel confused, very drowsy or dizzy, or your lips or fingertips look bluish, or if your backup is running out and you cannot reach help. Do not wait. If you live with a caregiver, make sure they know these steps and where the supplies are.
Review every year
Update your plan when equipment, prescriptions or providers change. Test your backup battery on a schedule, and ask your supplier if any services change during storms. Our seniors outage prep guide and the main outage guide help with the rest of your household.
Quick answers
Can I run my oxygen concentrator on a power station?
Only if the equipment maker or your provider confirms it is compatible. Ask for wattage and power requirements in writing.
Should I use candles if I use oxygen?
No. Oxygen makes fire burn faster. Use battery powered lights and keep flames away from equipment.
When should I call emergency services?
If you have trouble breathing, confusion, extreme drowsiness, or your backup is running out and you cannot reach your provider.