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Published on :

July 6, 2025

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Why Every Home Healthcare Patient Needs a Power Outage Plan: It’s More Critical Than You Think

In Australia, power outages aren’t just an inconvenience — they can be a critical threat for anyone who depends on medical devices at home.

Whether it’s a sudden blackout, a bushfire-related disconnection, or planned grid maintenance, being without power can instantly disrupt essential care. Here at Aushertech, we’ve seen firsthand how a clear, proactive plan and the right backup solution can be the difference-maker, actively protecting lives, preserving independence, and providing invaluable peace of mind for families.

The Escalating Risk of Power Disruption

Our energy landscape is changing. Extreme weather events, rising demand, and crucial infrastructure upgrades are making blackouts more frequent — and often longer — than we’re used to.

Alarmingly, the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements highlighted a stark reality: the number of medically vulnerable households at risk during outages is increasing, yet fewer than 1 in 10 homes with life-support needs currently have reliable backup power in place. This gap presents a significant challenge that demands our attention.

What’s Truly at Stake When Power Goes Out?

When power is lost, some medical devices stop working within seconds. For those relying on them, this can lead to immediate and severe consequences:

  • Avoidable hospital admissions: Increased strain on healthcare systems during local or widespread outages.
  • Interrupted breathing support: Critical for oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and BiPAP/CPAP machines.
  • Compromised medication: Essential medicines can spoil due to failed refrigeration.
  • Loss of mobility: Electric wheelchairs and scooters become inaccessible.
  • Disrupted therapy: Vital sleep therapy (CPAP, BiPAP) ceases.

Why Your Personal Plan Matters (Even with Provider Registration)

While registering as a “Life Support Customer” with your energy provider is an important first step, it’s crucial to understand: there’s no absolute guarantee of uninterrupted power. Grid limitations, widespread emergencies, or unexpected faults can still leave you in the dark.

This is precisely why having your own comprehensive, personalized power outage plan is so empowering. It gives you direct control and a clear roadmap, helping you to:

  • Maintain uninterrupted medical care for your loved one.
  • Significantly reduce risks in the event of grid failure.
  • Eliminate the panic of last-minute, emergency evacuations.
  • Keep vital assistive technology running safely — especially during the night or when alone.

(Looking for practical steps? Check out our guide: Your Personal Power Outage Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide for Medically Vulnerable Homes) status alone does not guarantee continuous power. Your own preparation is critical.

What Makes a Backup System Truly Safe for Medical Use?

This is a critical distinction. When you plug a medical device into any external backup battery or UPS, the two together transform into a Medical Electrical (ME) System. This changes the safety requirements fundamentally.

To be genuinely safe and reliable for this critical application, your backup system must be:

  • Built in accordance with IEC 60601-1 & IEC 60601-1-2: These are the gold standards for electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility specifically for medical equipment.
  • Rigorously fire-tested to UL 9540A standards: Essential for a device used within your home, minimizing thermal and fire risks.
  • Capable of safe pass-through charging and fast UPS switchover: Ensuring continuous power to devices even while charging, and seamless transition during outages.

Be aware: Many general-purpose batteries on the market aren’t specifically designed, tested, or certified for this kind of critical medical use—even if they appear powerful enough on paper. Your choice matters.

How Aushertech Steps In: A Solution Built for You

The AusherMed 2400 was developed from the ground up, specifically for use with medically prescribed assistive technology in Australian homes. It’s not just a battery; it’s a solution meticulously designed to comply with all relevant medical electrical safety standards and deliver fast, quiet, uninterrupted power during blackouts — with scalable runtime precisely tailored to your needs.

We’ve engineered the AusherMed 2400 to be:

  • Backed by Expertise & Empathy: Our design process is informed by lived experience, invaluable occupational therapist (OT) feedback, and rigorous real-world testing.
  • Truly Plug-and-Play: Simple to set up, no complex installation required.
  • Bedroom-Safe: Designed for quiet, odour-free operation for sensitive environments.
  • ME System Compatible: Validated for safe integration into a Medical Electrical System.

Your Next Step: Be Prepared, Not Scared.

The rising risk of power disruptions means proactive planning isn’t just wise; it’s essential for the safety and continuity of care for medically vulnerable individuals. Don’t leave it to chance.

Choose a system that is demonstrably designed for medical use, adheres to the highest electrical and safety standards, and provides the peace of mind you deserve.

(Ready to explore your options or have questions? Learn how to choose the right system for your setup here: How to Choose the Right Backup Power for Your Home Medical Setup)