Contingency planning as blackouts in the UK becoming more of a possibility amid ongoing energy crisis
Following another stark warning from the National Grid this week, England, Scotland and Wales are braced for the very real possibility of rolling power blackouts this winter.
Naturally, as a care provider your concerns will be mounting around the wellbeing of your residents, the use and dependence on air mattresses, as well as the increased risk of pressure ulcer development in the event of a power cut or total blackout.
In the current energy and cost-of-living crisis, OSKA has got your back. That’s why we’ve put together some information around the top 5 questions we’re being asked daily by care operator groups across the UK.
We’re supporting care operators with their contingency planning to provide alternative solutions designed to lower these substantial risks, so read on for the Top 5 questions we’re being asked…
- Will our air mattresses deflate when the power goes off?
In the event of a power failure, in all likelihood, yes, the mattress will deflate. In most cases, an alarm will sound when the power fails, or if the pressure is too low, alerting care givers of deflation / air loss so that it can be remedied as quickly as possible. However, the OSKA Series3 Auto, has a 2-part cell system meaning the bottom layer of cells will remain fully inflated providing protection during a power cut.
2. Can we prevent our air mattress from deflating?
In the event of a power failure, depending on which air mattress you have, the answer is most likely, no. Unless you have the OSKA Series3 Auto. The 2-part cell system means the bottom layer of cells will remain fully inflated providing protection during a power cut and providing care givers with enough time to move a resident or patient to an alternative pressure care surface. As part of your contingency planning consider the OSKA Series4 non-powered hybrid with self-adjusting air cell technology, or the OSKA Series6 OneSurface™mattress. Without the pump and in the event of a power failure, the Series6 OneSurface™ continues to provide outstanding immersion and envelopment, enabling it to be used as an aid in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers up to and including category 4.
3. How can we mitigate the risk with suitable alternatives?
With 85% of all pressure ulcers being a Category 1 or 2, consider reducing overuse and dependence of an alternating air mattress by replacing up to 85% of your air mattresses with the OSKA Series2 high specification foam mattress, or an OSKA Series4 non-powered hybrid with self-adjusting air cell technology combined with high specification foam.
Without the pump and in the event of a power failure, the Series6 OneSurface™ mattress continues to provide outstanding immersion and envelopment, enabling it to be used as an aid in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers up to and including category 4.
With all three options, not only will you be cutting your energy bill, but you are also reassured your residents’ clinical needs and comfort are being met without compromise.
4. What if my resident is immobile and cannot be moved from their bed?
In many care settings, there is often an overuse and dependence on air mattresses simply as a precautionary measure. Whilst prevention is better than cure, in many cases, your residents will not need to be placed on an air mattress, so as part of your contingency planning, consider other alternatives. For those residents/patients at very high risk or with existing pressure ulcers, they will need to be placed on a dynamic surface which will require power.
Consider using the OSKA Series6 OneSurface™ mattress offering a single mattress strategy. Without the pump and in the event of a power failure, the Series6 OneSurface™ will continue to provide outstanding immersion and envelopment, enabling it to be used as an aid in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers up to and including category 4.
For those at very high risk or with existing pressure damage, once the power is restored simply add a pump to provide active therapy for the management of the most complex category 3 & 4 pressure ulcers.
5. What if my resident in unable to sleep on a static mattress because of their risk of pressure ulcers?
For those residents/patients at very high risk or with existing pressure ulcers, they will need to be placed on a dynamic surface which will require power. As blackouts across the UK becoming more of a possibility amid the ongoing energy crisis, review your contingency planning now. If your nursing and care home does not have a backup generator, in the event of rolling power cuts or a complete blackout, when the power is out, it’s out.
However, the OSKA Series6 OneSurface™ mattress does offer a single mattress strategy. Without the pump and in the event of a power failure, the Series6 OneSurface™ will continue to provide outstanding immersion and envelopment, enabling it to be used as an aid in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers up to and including category 4.
This can be stepped up simply by adding a pump when power is restored to provide active therapy for the management of the most complex category 3 & 4 pressure ulcers.
Finally, in the event this winter does lead to power cuts or worse still complete blackouts, let’s look at what must happen to ensure patients and residents are not laying on deflated air mattresses and suffering pressure damage with every passing minute the power is off.
With warnings issued by energy officials National Grid of a potential energy crisis that could cripple the country, the government has revealed its strategy to conserve energy this winter. It is called ‘The Electricity Supply Emergency Code’ which involves a number of rolling blackouts across the country, especially during the much colder months of January and February 2023.
If your nursing and care home does not have a backup generator, in the event of rolling power cuts or a complete blackout, when the power is out, it’s out. The current indication is rolling power cuts could go on for hours, or even days should we experience extreme winter weather like Storms Malik and Carrie. With pressure ulcers developing in as little as 20 minutes, the damage that can be caused to a resident over hours or days can be irreversible and even lead to death.
Power cuts are unavoidable, but pressure ulcer development isn’t! When the power is cut, make sure you are doing everything possible to ensure your residents / patients are not laying on their bed frames due to a deflated alternating air mattress. If they are, try and get them off the bed frame surface as soon as possible and onto something to avoid any, or further, pressure damage.
Residents may have developed progressive pressure damage because their usual levels of care have been compromised by a power cut. It is very important to document this happening. The power may even come and go, causing a lot of disruption and trouble at the time meaning you don’t remember or don’t have time to document the power failure within a patient/resident’s individualised plan of care.
In one power cut incident, and only after a short time passed, a resident quickly developed two black necrotic pressure ulcers on their sacrum which ultimately led to their death. This immediately raised two questions; is this down to neglect, or, is it down to the fact there was a power cut and you did everything to prevent a pressure ulcer from forming…but failed to document the power cut?
In a Coroner’s Court, if the power cut wasn’t documented, did it even happen?
Book your Discovery Meeting with National Care Group Manager, Tom Carron, today to help understand and explore all other options and avenues to future proof your resident care ahead of these warnings from National Grid.
