Important: This guide provides general preparedness information only. It does not cover every possible situation, establish binding medical or technical rules, or replace a personal medical action plan, manufacturer instructions, guidance from the treating team, health fund, supplier, or emergency services. The information is based on authoritative sources listed at the end of the guide (Ministry of Health, health funds, Home Front Command, FDA, and CDC).
If there is any doubt, change in condition, or equipment failure, contact the treating or relevant medical provider.
In immediate danger, call Magen David Adom 101.
This guide does not replace a personal medical action plan. Do not change treatment, dosage, feeding rate, oxygen, dialysis, or device operation without instructions from the treating team or authorized supplier.
How to use this guide
This guide is intended for a person whose health depends on an electrical device, battery, clean water, consumable supplies, refrigerated medication, or recurring treatment such as dialysis, feeding, infusion, or respiratory treatment. Its purpose is to help prepare a personal action plan before a disruption and to act early when continuity is no longer guaranteed. It is also intended for people caring for someone in this situation.
Four questions to ask first
- Which medical function may be disrupted, and for how long can it safely be interrupted according to the treating team?
- What is the approved backup power source for the device, and how long does it actually operate?
- Which supplier, clinic, or treatment unit knows the person and can provide instructions?
- Where will you go if electricity, water, medications, or treatment are unavailable at home?
Important: Do not wait until the battery, oxygen, medication, or supplies are almost exhausted. Early contact gives the health fund, supplier, and local authority time to find an alternative before the situation becomes a medical emergency.
1. Prepare a personal medical action plan
- Ask the treating team to write down what is essential to continue treatment, the risk if it is interrupted, and the warning signs that require urgent help.
- Record the device name, model, serial number, treatment settings, battery type, and consumable accessories.
- Record phone numbers for the clinic, health-fund hotline, equipment supplier, authorized technician, pharmacy, and a backup caregiver such as a family member who is expected to help during an emergency.
- Prepare an up-to-date medical summary, medication list, allergies, diagnoses, and treating-provider contact details.
- Choose at least one alternative destination with electricity, accessibility, protection, and conditions suitable for treatment.
- Ask the supplier or treating team to teach you and the backup caregiver which actions are permitted during a failure or evacuation. Practice only actions that were approved for you, such as connecting an approved battery, packing equipment, and calling for help. Do not practice disconnection, changing settings, or transfer steps that could endanger treatment.
- Make sure the health fund, equipment supplier, and treating unit have an up-to-date address, phone number, alternative contact, and accurate information about the device you depend on.
2. Personal dependency map
| Dependency | What to clarify in advance | Possible alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Power requirements, suitable outlet, battery, backup duration, sensitivity to power surges | Approved battery, destination with electricity, or medical evacuation according to the action plan |
| Water | Quantity, quality, and whether sterile or treated water is required | Approved stored supply or transfer to an appropriate treatment location |
| Medical oxygen | Flow rate, backup quantity, and available supplier | Backup cylinder according to supplier instructions or early relocation |
| Refrigerated medication | Permitted storage range and manufacturer instructions | Dedicated cooler or replacement according to health-fund/pharmacist guidance |
| Consumable supplies | Masks, tubing, filters, bags, needles, and disinfectants | Personal stock and a plan for alternative supply |
| Recurring treatment | Next treatment time and maximum permitted delay | Alternative unit and coordinated transportation |
3. Electricity and safe backup
- Test the battery at the frequency specified by the manufacturer and replace it according to the instructions.
- Keep original chargers, cables, and adapters in an accessible, labeled place.
- Make sure the device is connected to an outlet and electrical system that meet the manufacturer's requirements.
- If using a generator or home backup system, installation and connection must be performed professionally and according to safety instructions.
- Use backup mode only in the way practiced and approved by the supplier or treating team.
- In a building that depends on an elevator or water pumps, include descent and evacuation arrangements in the action plan.
Important: Never operate a generator, gasoline engine, or combustion source inside a home, enclosed balcony, stairwell, shelter, or parking garage. Carbon-monoxide poisoning, fire, and electrocution are serious risks.
4. During an electricity disruption or power outage
- Check whether the problem is in the home, building, or wider area without opening electrical panels or attempting repairs you are not authorized to perform.
- Record the start time and the status of the battery, oxygen, medications, and consumable supplies.
- Move to the approved backup mode and notify the supplier or treating team according to the personal action plan.
- Reduce non-medical use of the battery or alternative power source.
- Prepare to leave early for the alternative destination when backup duration is shorter than the expected outage.
- If there is no reliable estimate for restoration, plan according to the shortest backup duration specified in your personal action plan. Contact the supplier or treating team early and prepare to move before the backup source is close to exhaustion.
5. Medications, refrigeration, and consumable supplies
- Keep medications in the original packaging with labels and storage instructions.
- Do not freeze a medication or place it in direct contact with ice unless the manufacturer or pharmacist instructs you to do so.
- Record when the medication lost refrigeration and the temperature, if measured.
- Before using medication exposed to unusual heat or cold, contact a pharmacist, health fund, or manufacturer; do not rely only on appearance.
- Keep disposable supplies dry, clean, and sealed, and separate sterile supplies from used items.
- Do not reuse a single-use item or improvise tubing, filters, or connectors.
6. Recurring treatments
Dialysis, infusion, feeding, respiratory treatment, and other recurring treatments cannot be managed under one universal rule. The action plan must be personal and developed with the treating unit.
- Keep the treatment schedule and contact details for the regular and alternative unit.
- Find out in advance where to go if the unit is closed, the route is blocked, or water/electricity is unavailable.
- Do not change timing, volumes, concentrations, or dosages without medical instructions.
- Arrange accessible transportation and a backup driver or companion.
- At a reception center or alternative place of stay, immediately tell the responsible person about the medical need and the next treatment time.
7. When to seek help or move
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Backup duration is shorter than the expected disruption | Contact the supplier/health fund and move early to the approved destination. |
| You cannot reach the supplier or clinic | Contact the health-fund hotline, local authority, or Ministry of Health information line; in medical danger call 101. |
| The device displays a fault or alarm | Follow manufacturer instructions and contact support; do not open or repair it yourself. |
| The next treatment is not guaranteed | Arrange an alternative before the treatment time, not after it has passed. |
| There is deterioration, respiratory distress, altered consciousness, or a personal emergency sign | Call Magen David Adom 101 immediately and follow dispatcher instructions. |
8. Evacuation and staying elsewhere
- Take the device, batteries, chargers, accessories, medications, and documents together rather than in separate bags that may be forgotten. If transporting a medical oxygen cylinder, do not smoke, use open flames, or place a heat source nearby. Transport oxygen cylinders according to supplier instructions.
- Attach a short card to the bag with the person's name, medical need, essential instructions, and contact numbers.
- Confirm in advance that the vehicle, reception center, or alternative home is accessible and has suitable infrastructure.
- Do not disconnect an operating device for evacuation except in the way specified in the personal medical action plan.
- On arrival, immediately check electricity, a safe equipment location, water, privacy, and contact with the supplier.
- Share medical information only with people who need it for treatment.
Reminder: what not to do
- Do not change treatment or dosage because of shortage without medical instructions.
- Do not connect a medical device to a cable, inverter, battery, generator, or outlet that is not approved and suitable.
- Do not operate a generator in an enclosed area or near air openings.
- Do not use water from an unapproved source in a medical device.
- Do not use equipment that became wet, contaminated, damaged, or operated under abnormal voltage before authorized inspection.
- Do not wait for the final battery alarm before making contact or relocating.
- Do not hand over equipment, medication, or medical details to an unidentified or unauthorized person.
9. After service is restored
- Do not reconnect the device to normal power until the supply is stable and in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
- Check batteries, alarms, treatment records, and equipment exposed to heat, moisture, or contamination.
- Tell the treating team about treatment that was delayed, shortened, or carried out under unusual conditions.
- Restock supplies and record what did not work in the action plan.
- Update the personal action plan, contacts, and alternative destination.
10. Short printable action sheet
Privacy: the action sheet may include medical information, treatment details, personal numbers, and an alternative destination. Keep it protected and share only with people who need the information for treatment and with the person's consent.
- Device and treatment: __________________________
- Backup duration tested in practice: __________________
- Supplier/technician: ______________________________
- Clinic/treating unit: ______________________________
- Health-fund hotline: ______________________________
- Alternative destination with power and accessibility: __________
- Primary companion and backup companion: __________________
- Next treatment time: ______________________________
- Medical distress or immediate danger: Magen David Adom 101
- Government health information: Kol Habriut *5400 or 08-6241010
Kol Habriut is an information and guidance service of the Ministry of Health and is not an emergency hotline. In medical danger or deterioration, call Magen David Adom 101.
This page is a summary of the guide and does not replace real-time official instructions.
This guide is an independent publication of Prepared Home. It is not produced, approved, or operated by the Ministry of Health, Home Front Command, a health fund, or another medical body. Personal instructions from the treating team, device-manufacturer instructions, and Ministry of Health/health-fund notices take precedence over general information in this guide.
Sources checked in August 2026.
Main sources
Ministry of Health. Emergency preparedness — older adults. Updated March 9, 2026.
Clalit Health Services. Diabetes: staying balanced during emergencies. 2025.
Home Front Command. Preparing for extended power outages.
FDA. Home Health and Consumer Devices — Power Outages.
FDA. Home Healthcare Medical Devices: A Checklist.