0–5 min
Check for smoke, sparks, smell and visible damage; keep back if unsafe.
Emergency preparedness · 20 min
Power outage: the first hours
Exclude immediate danger, establish the situation and conserve available energy.
A power outage may affect one circuit, one street or a wider region. The first minutes call for safety, a reliable situation picture and careful energy use—not frantic activity.
Your learning progressSaved on this device.
Decision compass
Decide safely
Four questions lead from observation to a clear, safer action.
What needs to be clarified now?
What must I notice first?
- Record household needs, dependencies, current official information and available safe locations.
- Agree responsibilities, communication rules and a fallback before time pressure develops.
Remember: Observe → assess → choose a safer option → act.
Check local causes and immediate danger before organising information and resources.
EXPLANATORY GRAPHIC · PRACTICAL GUIDE
FIGHTandSURVIVEThe first two hours without rushing
This order reduces fire risk, wasted power and misinformation.
5–15 min
Check a local breaker once only if authorised; compare nearby buildings.
15–30 min
Place torches, keep cooling closed, switch sensitive equipment off.
30–60 min
Briefly check radio/alerts; send one status; use power saving.
To 120 min
Organise water, warmth, medication and vulnerable people.
RESULT / SAFETY CHECKStop: smoke, heat, repeat tripping or damaged wiring means distance and professional help.
Learning goals
- Distinguish a local fault from a wider outage
- Reduce fire and accident risks
- Prioritise batteries and refrigeration
Safety check
Without touching equipment, check for smoke, sparks, burnt smells, heat or visible damage. Keep away and contact fire services or the network operator if any are present. If the board is dry, accessible and undamaged, reset only a familiar circuit breaker or residual-current device once. If it trips again, leave devices off and call a qualified electrician. Use torches rather than candles around stairs and trip hazards.
Build a picture without draining batteries
Check whether neighbouring buildings and street lighting are affected. Use official warning channels and a battery radio. Enable power-saving mode, reduce screen time and avoid unverified claims. One short status message uses less network capacity and battery than repeated calls.
Stabilise the household
Keep fridges and freezers closed. Switch off sensitive equipment so it does not restart simultaneously or suffer from voltage fluctuations when power returns. Gather lighting, warm clothing, medication, water and the radio centrally. Check vulnerable neighbours without compromising your own safety.
Practical check
- Check breakers and the neighbourhood
- Exclude smoke or electrical damage
- Position torches
- Keep refrigeration closed
- Enable battery-saving mode
Important
- Never use generators, grills or charcoal fires indoors or in garages
- Do not use lifts
- Do not work on electrical installations when danger is present
Decision training
After an outage, the fridge, lights and internet are off. What comes first?
- AOpen the fridge repeatedly and sort food
- BCheck safety, organise lighting and obtain information economically
- CLeave every appliance switched on
Show answer
Correct: B. Safety and situational awareness come first; closed refrigeration retains temperature longer.