Keeping Medical Devices Running in an Outage (CPAP, Oxygen, Alerts)
Last verified: August 2026
If someone in the house relies on a CPAP, oxygen, or a medical alert, a power outage isn't an inconvenience — it's a safety issue. Here's how to plan ahead calmly.
Planning for Medical Devices
Home medical devices have very different power needs, and getting this right matters. A CPAP machine is modest — usually 30 to 60 watts, needing roughly 240 to 480 watt-hours for a full night, so a power station around 450 to 650Wh comfortably covers one night (turning off the heated humidifier saves a lot of that). An oxygen concentrator is far hungrier — often several hundred watts continuously — and needs a much larger station and careful planning.
Before you rely on any of this, talk to your device's supplier or your doctor. Many CPAPs and concentrators have their own matched battery accessories, and your provider can tell you your device's exact draw and safe options. This guide helps you prepare, but your medical team's guidance comes first.
The goal is a plan you've tested before you need it — not scrambling in the dark. This is general information, not medical advice.
When to skip the DIY and just call: You want the right-size backup chosen and tested for your specific device · You need it set up so a spouse can start it in the dark · You want a written, printed plan by the bed.
Common Questions
1 How big a battery do I need for a CPAP?
- A CPAP typically draws 30–60 watts; over an 8-hour night that's roughly 240–480 watt-hours.
- A power station around 450–650Wh covers a night with margin.
- Turn OFF the heated humidifier and heated tubing during an outage — they use the most power (dropping the need to maybe 100–200Wh).
- Choose a station with "pure sine wave" output to protect the machine.
2 What about an oxygen concentrator?
- Concentrators draw much more — often 300–600 watts continuously — so they need a large station and drain it quickly.
- Talk to your oxygen provider about your unit's exact draw and about backup options like a portable concentrator or oxygen cylinders.
- For long outages, cylinders (tanks) may be the safer backup — your provider can advise.
- Do not guess with oxygen; plan it with your medical team.
3 How do I keep a medical alert working?
- Most medical-alert base units have their own internal backup battery — check yours and know how many hours it lasts.
- Keep any wearable pendant or watch charged.
- If the alert uses your home internet or a landline, a small UPS on the modem/router helps keep it connected.
- Cellular-based alerts keep working as long as the cell network is up.
4 What should be in my medical outage kit?
- A charged power station sized for your device, plus the right cords labeled.
- A flashlight or headlamp and spare batteries.
- A printed card listing devices, medications, doctors, and your power company's outage line.
- Your provider's phone number and any device battery accessories.
5 Should I tell my utility about medical needs?
- Yes — many utilities keep a medical-priority or life-support customer list; call your power company to ask about registering.
- It doesn't guarantee power, but it can affect restoration priority and notifications.
- Have a plan to relocate (to family or a facility) for a long outage if your device can't be sustained at home.
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