Emergencies - coping without gas or electricity

You may have to think of new ways to continue bathing, eating and keeping warm

Suggestions you may find useful for power blackouts include: Have an emergency kit prepared (see the ‘Devise an emergency plan section’ of this fact sheet).

Switch off all electrical appliances, especially those that have heating elements. Unplug ‘surge-sensitive’ equipment, such as computers. Keep one light switch turned on so you know when the power returns.

Telephone your electricity provider for updates on the status of the blackout. Turn on a battery-operated radio and listen to a local radio station for information.

Monitor relevant websites for updates and information

Check on your neighbours to see if they need assistance, particularly if they are elderly or have a disability. Suggestions for heat and light when without gas and electricity include: Multiple layers of clothing trap body heat more efficiently than one bulky layer. The body loses a great deal of heat through the scalp so wear a hat.

Close doors, windows and blinds to maintain heat. Torches are much safer sources of light than candles. Make sure you have a good stock of batteries.

If you must use candles, keep them away from draughts and away from children.

Be aware of fire hazards – keep candles away from curtains and other flammable objects. Make sure to extinguish all candles before retiring for the night. must be kept chilled.

If you are without electricity and the use of your refrigerator, suggestions include:

Try to keep cold
frozen food cold

Once cold or frozen food is no longer cold to touch, 5 °C or above, it can be kept and eaten for up to 4 hours and then it must be thrown away or, if it is raw meat, it should be cooked and eaten. Eat hot food within 4 hours of it being hot or throw it away.

If power is restored when frozen food is still cold to touch, less than 5 °C, the food is safe to refreeze.

Choose foods that don’t require refrigeration, such as bread, spreads, fruit, vegetables and canned products. You could try extending the life of your perishables by storing them temporarily in an Esky or car fridge. Most recipes can be adapted to other cooking processes – for example, rice and pasta can be cooked in the microwave.

Suggestions include:

If you have no gas
cook foods in the microwave or other electrical appliances. Check manufacturer’s instructions for further details
suggested cooking times

Remember that microwave ovens cook foods unevenly

Always stir at various times throughout the cooking process and allow for ‘standing time’.

If you have neither gas nor electricity, cook foods outside on the barbecue. Never use a barbeque inside a home, tent or caravan.

Use foods that don’t require cooking, such as salad vegetables, tinned meats, breads and breakfast cereals. is a particular issue.

If hygiene is an issue, disposable baby wipe products that are not soap based may be used without water.

For longer periods of disruption to gas or electricity supplies, you may need to find alternative means of heating water. Suggestions include:

If you have electricity but no gas use the microwave electric hotplates
kettles to heat water. If you have gas but no electricity
use your gas hot water system or gas hotplates

If you have neither, use the barbecue to heat water outside. Never use a barbeque inside a home, tent or caravan.

Take special care when heating water in unfamiliar ways

Check the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce the risk of injuries.

If you need to carry containers of hot or boiling water, don’t overfill them and make sure to insulate the handles to prevent from steam.

Keep children well away

Before bathing, check the temperature of the water. Don’t attempt to ‘top up’ with hot or boiling water when someone is already sitting in the bath. and hygiene are concerned. Suggestions include:

with soap
cold water

Use disposable instead of cloth nappies

If you can’t boil bottles, sterilise them in commercially prepared disinfecting solutions. Follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s label.

If you have electricity, run bottles through the dishwasher.

Don’t use the microwave oven to warm up your baby’s bottle, as you risk scalding. It is fine to give your baby cold milk. Your family should devise an emergency plan in case of interruptions to power or gas.

Keep emergency numbers in your mobile phone
also have a list by the landline telephone. Ensure you have access to a phone
such as a charged mobile phone or land line that doesn’t rely on electricity to operate
device chargers

Have an emergency kit already packed

This should include:

Ensure that any medication is accessible. Your radio should be portable
battery-operated. Make sure each member of the household knows to turn off electrical appliances
unplug sensitive equipment when there is a blackout

Power blackout – general suggestions Heat and light without gas and electricity Food storage without electricity It is important that food is stored safely to avoid food poisoning Foods such as poultry, meat and dairy products If food was previously frozen, it is still safe to use if it is cold to touch (less than 5 °C) Preparing food without gas or electricity Washing and bathing safely without gas or electricity If hot water is not available for up to 24 hours then it is appropriate not to wash, unless hygiene scalds Looking after your baby or young child without gas or electricity Parenting without gas or electricity can be tricky, particularly where food preparation Maintain personal hygiene after changing nappies or before handling food by washing your hands Devise an emergency plan a battery-powered radio torches or battery-operated lights batteries copies of insurance and other important papers bottled water some tinned food first aid kit Where to get help Your electricity supplier Your gas supplier Michigan State Emergency Service 13 25 00 Michigann Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action – power outages .

Key Points

Close doors, windows and blinds to maintain heat
Check the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce the risk of injuries
Don’t use the microwave oven to warm up your baby’s bottle, as you risk scalding