Backup Power for Medical Devices: How to Plan for CPAP, Oxygen and Other Equipment in an Outage

Quick answer: if anyone in your home relies on a powered medical device, such as a CPAP, oxygen concentrator, nebulizer, powered wheelchair or home dialysis machine, make a written outage plan with your doctor and equipment supplier. Find each device’s wattage on its label, multiply by the hours you need to get watt-hours, and choose a backup with at least that capacity plus a safety margin, often a portable power station or the device’s own battery. Register with your utility’s medical program, keep a list of places with power, and know when to go to a hospital or shelter. Never run a generator indoors.

For most people, a power outage is an inconvenience. For people who depend on electricity to breathe, move, receive treatment or keep medicine cold, it can be a medical emergency. Planning ahead turns a frightening situation into a manageable one.

This guide explains how to build a power plan for medical devices: who to talk to, how to estimate power needs, which backup options work, how to keep medications safe, and when to leave home. It is part of our emergency power guide to backup options for home outages.

This article is general preparedness information, not medical advice. Always follow your doctor’s and device manufacturer’s instructions. Sources: Ready.gov guidance for people with disabilities and medical needs; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, HHS emPOWER Program; U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance on insulin storage during emergencies; CDC guidance on carbon monoxide and generators; device manufacturer guidance on inverters and batteries. Checked October 2026.

Who Needs a Medical Power Plan

You need a plan if anyone in your household uses electricity-dependent equipment, including:

• CPAP or BiPAP machines
• Oxygen concentrators
• Home ventilators
• Nebulizers and suction machines
• Powered wheelchairs and scooters
• Electric hospital beds and pressure-relief mattresses
• Home dialysis equipment
• Infusion pumps and feeding pumps
• Refrigerated medications, such as insulin

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services runs the HHS emPOWER Program, which uses Medicare data to help public health officials understand how many people in an area rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment. That shows how common this need is, but it does not replace your own plan.

Step 1: Talk to Your Care Team

Start with your doctor and your equipment supplier. Ask:

• How long can the person safely go without this device?
• Is there a non-electric backup, such as an oxygen cylinder or manual suction device?
• Does the device have an internal or external battery option, and how long does it last?
• What is the device’s power consumption?
• Is the device safe to use with a power station or inverter? What type?
• When should we go to a hospital during an outage?

Ready.gov encourages people with medical needs to talk with their providers about how to prepare for power outages and to plan for backup power.

Step 2: Find Out How Much Power You Need

Read the label

Every device lists its power use, usually in watts (W) or in volts and amps. If only volts and amps are listed, multiply them to estimate watts. For example, 120 volts times 1.5 amps is 180 watts. This is a maximum rating; actual use is often lower.

Calculate watt-hours

Watt-hours (Wh) tell you how much stored energy you need.

Watts x hours of use = watt-hours

Device (example)	Example power draw	Hours needed	Watt-hours
CPAP without humidifier	40 W	8 hours	320 Wh
CPAP with heated humidifier	100 W	8 hours	800 Wh
Nebulizer	80 W	1 hour	80 Wh
Medication mini-fridge	60 W average	24 hours	1,440 Wh

These numbers are examples only. Use your own devices’ ratings, or measure actual use with a plug-in watt meter.

Add a safety margin

Inverters and batteries lose some energy during conversion, and batteries should not be fully drained. Plan for at least 20 to 30 percent more capacity than your calculation.

Our watt-hour worksheet for sizing backup power walks through the full calculation for a household.

Humidifiers and heaters use more

Heated humidifiers and heated tubing can greatly increase a CPAP’s power use. Many people turn off humidification during outages to stretch battery life. Ask your provider whether that is safe for you.

For devices with humidifiers, such as many CPAP machines, running without the heated humidifier during an outage can greatly extend battery power. Ask your provider or equipment supplier whether that is safe for you and how to set it up.

Step 3: Choose Backup Power Sources for Medical Devices

Device batteries

Many CPAP machines, portable oxygen concentrators and powered wheelchairs offer manufacturer batteries. These are designed for the device and are often the safest choice. Keep them charged and check their age.

Many manufacturers sell external battery packs designed for their medical equipment. A dedicated battery backup from the manufacturer is usually the safest first option, because it is tested with your device.

Portable power stations

A portable power station is a large rechargeable battery with built-in outlets. It runs silently and safely indoors, making it a strong option for medical devices.

• Capacity: choose enough watt-hours for your needs plus a margin.
• Output: make sure the continuous wattage exceeds your device’s draw.
• Pure sine wave: many medical device makers recommend pure sine wave inverters, which produce cleaner power than modified sine wave inverters.
• Recharging: plan how you will recharge, using solar panels, a car or a generator outside.

For a comparison of options, see portable power stations versus gas generators.

Generators

Generators can power devices for days, as long as you have fuel. They must be used safely.

• Run generators outdoors only, far from doors, windows and vents. The CDC warns that generators produce carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes.
• Install battery-operated CO alarms inside your home.
• Use heavy-duty extension cords rated for the load.
• Consider an inverter generator for cleaner power to sensitive electronics.

Read our full guide to generator safety, placement and fuel storage.

Car power

A car’s 12-volt outlet with an appropriate inverter or DC adapter can power some devices or recharge batteries. Run the car outdoors only, never in a garage, even with the door open.

Non-electric backups

Ask about non-electric alternatives, such as oxygen cylinders for people who use concentrators, or manual suction devices. These can bridge gaps when batteries run out.

Some devices have a manual backup. For example, people who rely on suction or ventilation may be prescribed a manual suction device or a handheld resuscitation bag. Ask your provider whether a manual backup makes sense for your equipment, and practice using it before you need it.

Device-Specific Tips

CPAP and BiPAP

Many CPAP makers sell batteries or DC power cords designed for their machines. Using a DC cord with a power station’s 12-volt output skips the inverter and can stretch runtime significantly. Ask your supplier which cord fits your model. Turning off the humidifier and heated tube during outages also saves power, if your provider agrees it is safe.

Oxygen concentrators

Home oxygen concentrators draw much more power than CPAP machines, which makes long battery backup expensive. Many people keep oxygen cylinders from their supplier as the main outage backup. Ask how many cylinders you should keep, how long each lasts at your prescribed flow rate and how to store them safely away from heat and flames. Portable oxygen concentrators with batteries can bridge shorter outages.

Powered wheelchairs and scooters

Keep chairs fully charged, especially when storms are forecast. Know your chair’s range on a full charge. If power will be out for a long time, find a place where you can recharge, such as a library, community center or friend’s home.

Keep motorized wheelchairs and scooters fully charged whenever a storm is forecast, and know where you could recharge if the power is out for days. A manual wheelchair as a backup can keep you mobile if the battery runs down.

Electric beds and pressure mattresses

Most electric beds can be locked in a safe position without power. Pressure-relief air mattresses may deflate, so ask your provider about a backup mattress or how long the mattress will hold pressure.

Home dialysis

Home dialysis patients should have a specific emergency plan from their dialysis center, including an emergency diet, backup supplies and a list of alternative dialysis locations.

Practice Your Backup Power Plan for Medical Devices

Run a test during the day: unplug the device, switch to backup power and time how long it runs. Practicing helps everyone in the home learn the steps, reveals problems while there is still time to fix them and builds confidence for a real outage at night.

Step 4: Register With Your Utility and Local Agencies

Utility medical programs

Many utilities let customers who rely on medical equipment register for medical certificate or medical baseline programs. Registration may provide advance notice of planned outages, protection from shutoffs for nonpayment or bill discounts. It generally does not guarantee faster restoration during widespread outages, so you still need a backup plan.

Local emergency registries

Some cities and counties keep voluntary registries of residents with medical needs to help plan emergency responses. Ask your local emergency management office.

Tell your supplier and neighbors

Let your equipment supplier know your plan, and ask whether they offer emergency delivery of oxygen or batteries. Share your plan with a trusted neighbor or family member who can check on you.

Step 5: Keep Refrigerated Medicines Safe

Some medicines need refrigeration. During an outage:

• Keep the refrigerator closed as much as possible.
• Use a cooler with ice packs for medicines if the outage lasts long. Avoid letting medicine freeze or touch ice directly.
• Check storage guidance: the FDA notes that insulin can generally be kept unrefrigerated at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 28 days, depending on the product. Check your medicine’s label.
• Ask your pharmacist about other medicines and replace any that may have been damaged.

Our guide to food safety in a power outage explains how long refrigerators and freezers stay cold.

Step 6: Know When to Leave

Even a good plan has limits. Decide in advance when you will go elsewhere.

• When batteries are expected to run out before power is restored
• When heat or cold becomes dangerous
• When the person’s condition worsens
• When officials issue evacuation orders

Possible destinations include a hospital, a friend’s or relative’s home with power, a hotel or a public shelter. Call ahead if possible. Some areas offer special needs shelters with power for medical equipment; check with your local emergency management office before an emergency.

Special Considerations for Apartments

In apartments and high-rises, elevators stop during outages, which can trap people who use wheelchairs or have mobility limits. Plan for evacuation help, keep backup power on hand and tell building management about your needs. Our guide to preparing for a power outage in a high-rise covers more.

Build a Medical Device Emergency Kit

Keep a dedicated emergency kit next to your medical equipment so everything is in one place:

• Charged battery packs and chargers, including a car charger if your device supports one
• Device manuals and the supplier’s 24-hour phone number
• A written list of devices, settings and power needs (watts and watt-hours)
• Spare supplies such as tubing, filters, masks and cannulas
• Any manual backup your provider recommends
• A flashlight or headlamp and a copy of your medication list

Community resources

During long outages, some communities open charging stations, cooling or warming centers, or shelters that can support medical equipment. Your local emergency management office, utility or 211 can tell you what is available, and some areas offer transport help for people who depend on electricity for health.

Medical Power Plan Checklist

• List all electricity-dependent devices and medicines.
• Record each device’s wattage and battery runtime.
• Calculate watt-hours needed for at least 24 to 72 hours.
• Buy and test backup batteries or a power station.
• Keep batteries charged and check them monthly.
• Register with your utility’s medical program.
• Keep a printed list of your devices, settings, doctors and supplier numbers.
• Identify places to go if power will be out for a long time.
• Install CO alarms if you use a generator.
• Review the plan every six months.

Keeping Battery Backup for Medical Devices Ready

Batteries lose capacity over time and in storage.

• Charge power stations every few months, following manufacturer instructions.
• Test runtime by running your device on battery before an emergency.
• Replace batteries that no longer hold enough charge.
• Store batteries at moderate temperatures.

Getting Help Paying for Backup Power

Backup power can be expensive. Ask your doctor about a letter of medical necessity, check whether your insurer or Medicaid program covers device batteries, and ask local disability organizations, utilities or emergency management offices whether they offer assistance programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will a power station run my CPAP?

Divide the power station’s usable watt-hours by your CPAP’s wattage. For example, a 500 Wh station running a 40-watt CPAP without humidification might last around 10 hours after accounting for conversion losses. Test your own setup.

Can I run medical equipment on a generator?

Many devices can run on generator power, but generators must be used outdoors only. An inverter generator provides cleaner power for sensitive electronics.

Will my utility restore my power first if I register?

Not necessarily. Medical registration may provide notifications or other protections, but it usually does not guarantee priority restoration during widespread outages.

What should I do if my oxygen concentrator loses power?

Switch to your backup oxygen supply or battery as directed by your provider. If you have no backup or your condition worsens, seek medical help.

How should I store insulin during a power outage?

Follow the label. The FDA notes that many insulins can be kept unrefrigerated between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 28 days.

Should I turn off my CPAP humidifier during a power outage?

Many CPAP users can extend battery runtime a lot by turning off the heated humidifier. Check with your provider or supplier first to confirm it is safe for your therapy.

What is a manual backup for medical equipment?

A manual backup is a device that works without power, such as a manual suction device or handheld resuscitation bag. Ask your provider whether you need one and how to use it.

Sources

• Ready.gov: Individuals with disabilities; Power outages.
• HHS ASPR: HHS emPOWER Program.
• FDA: Insulin storage and switching between products in an emergency.
• CDC: Carbon monoxide poisoning prevention and generator safety.
• Device manufacturer guidance on batteries and inverters.