14 Things You Should Never Do During a Power Outage
Do not delay calling it in! Power companies need to know when your service has been interrupted, and the sooner the better. Even if you think the outage is widespread and it’s probably been phoned it, it’s best to assume otherwise and make the call yourself.
It’s possible the outage is localized, and if you don’t phone it in, no one will. Fallen trees landing on power lines, broken poles during a windstorm, and other weather-related equipment failures can lead to small, localized outages. Always best to let the power company know ASAP.
Do not light candles! Surprisingly, you shouldn’t resort to 18th century lighting methods when the power is out. “Candles are wonderful, but they tip over, and they can cause a fire,” says Jim Judge, EMT-P, CEM, member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory. They also don’t provide strong light, he says, so you’re better off sticking with a bright lantern.
Do not let your phone die! When you can’t watch TV and have barely enough light to read a book, playing on your phone or iPad for hours might seem like the only appealing option. But you should put it down to preserve the battery, says Ed Lounsbury, a licensed electrician with T. Webber Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric.
“Save your phone until you need it,” he says. “If the power goes out for a few days you might need it for emergency services.” If you can’t resist opening apps, make sure you juice up a portable phone charger in case your lifeline runs out of battery.
