Importance of Backup Generators for HME

KENT, Wash. (Feb. 5, 2014)—Home medical devices require electricity to perform as they should; therefore, power outages can be detrimental to those depending on such equipment. With this in mind, Sea-Tac Electric founder Tom Hargreaves has launched a campaign to emphasize the importance of backup generators for patients relying on home medical equipment. Hargreaves stated, "Power outages are frustrating for everyone. An outage can bring entire cities to a standstill. For those in need of home life- sustaining equipment, though, losing power is much more than an inconvenience; it can be a matter of life or death." Patients now have a wide range of equipment available to them including heart monitors, oxygen generation systems, sleep apnea apparatuses, home dialysis machines, nebulizers and numerous other devices. Some conditions warrant the necessity of heating and air conditioning for patient survival. While many medical devices feature battery backups for emergencies, those measures may not last the duration of a power outage. A generator installed by a residential electrician can eliminate the danger of being deprived of the functionality of medical equipment when a home loses power. Hargreaves noted some factors to consider when determining the appropriate generator, explaining that homeowners may choose between a system they manually switch on, or one offering automatic backup when the home's primary power source fails. Whether the homeowner wishes to power the entire home or only a few key circuits is also a deciding factor. "As vital as having a generator is for those relying on home medical equipment, ensuring the home's primary power system is able to support the extra load created by such devices is equally important,” Hargreaves concluded. “ Patients bringing life sustaining tools into their home for the first time may want to consider having a residential electrical technician perform an inspection to determine if their electrical system needs an upgrade to facilitate operating such equipment."