There’s an old saying, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” This is true in just about every aspect of life, but it is especially important for people living with chronic health issues like COPD. There have been several events over the past few years that have really highlighted the importance of making sure you have an action plan ready to go in case of emergency. If possible, you should have more than one, because disasters can take many forms.
I remember one of these events quite well. In February 2021, I had been with the Foundation and the Oxygen360 project for only a few months. Suddenly, a record-setting winter storm hit North America. This storm brought tornadoes to the southeastern United States brought record lows, tremendous snowfall, and even ice to Texas and Oklahoma. Unlike my home state of Michigan, those southern states did not have much experience dealing with severe winter weather. Over 3.5 million people in Texas lost power, including some of our own advocacy captains. When I spoke to them, they told me conditions were grim, especially for those on oxygen therapy. Remember, in ice storms and blackouts, not only do homes lose power, but so do businesses.
Including oxygen suppliers.
I heard multiple stories about how people tried to get in contact with their oxygen company, only to be told they were not available. One person even said they were told to call the nearest open branch office…three states away. Some people were able to leave to stay with family outside the area. Others had to stay and try to charge their oxygen equipment with their cars or try to find a hospital or other facility (along with everyone else who needed medical attention). Of course, this was in addition to problems that EVERYONE faced, such as water main breaks and bottled water shortages.
These kinds of stories highlight the need to be ready BEFORE emergencies pop up. It is very easy to get comfortable and think things like “that can never happen here” or “that can never happen again.” Unfortunately, natural disasters and other crises seem to be happening more and more often. Now is a great time to think about what you might need to have ready in case of a blackout, flood, or other disaster. The COPD Foundation’s Disaster Preparedness Plan booklet (available in English and Spanish and built into the Pocket Consultant Guide) has a lot of great resources for you to use. You can also get started by thinking of a few key points:
Electricity
Many people with COPD rely on electrical devices to stay healthy. These include things like oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, and nebulizers. If your home loses power, you may not be able to use these tools. You may want to consider getting a generator that can at least power a few circuits of your home. Small generators can cost as little as a few hundred dollars, which may be much cheaper than a long hotel stay or travel to friends or family. In some cases, utility companies can also put you on a priority list to restore power more quickly.
Medication
This can be complicated in an era of refill limits and other restrictions. However, having an emergency reserve of medications on hand is important. The last thing you need during an emergency is trying to find a pharmacy that can refill your prescriptions urgently. Even if you only have a reserve of short-acting meds, they may mean the difference between getting by and getting admitted. Also, don’t forget about oxygen! Work with your DME supplier to try and have an extra supply of oxygen tanks available if your concentrator stops working.
Resilience
Next week’s check-in will go into more detail about this, but it really cannot be said enough. Emergencies are very, very stressful and during that time it is easy to forget to do things like drink enough water. It can also be more difficult to get enough sleep. Still, it is important to try to keep doing the things that keep you healthy, like getting exercise. When you can, stop to take a break from dealing with the crisis at hand, take a few breaths, and think about a more relaxing situation. That can make a big difference in your ability to handle the situation.
Of course, these items barely scratch the surface of a good disaster plan. Don’t forget to check out that Disaster Preparedness Plan, but in the meantime, I want to hear from you. Have you gone through a disaster? What got you through? What do you wish you had known beforehand? Let us know in the comments!