What happens to medicines in a power outage?
Power outages can have a serious impact on medical cold storage. From vaccines and blood products to lab samples and temperature-sensitive medications, even short periods without electricity can compromise safety and effectiveness.
As the recent Spain and Portugal blackout showed, healthcare providers and research labs must be prepared. When power goes out unexpectedly, how can you keep cold storage safe? And what should you do to recover once power returns?
Let’s explore the answers.
How long does a medical fridge stay cold for, during a power outage?
Most medical refrigerators can stay cool for around 4 hours if the door is kept closed. Freezers may last longer; sometimes up to 24 hours, depending on insulation and how full the unit is.
These times may vary, which is why its critical to monitor temperature during an outage.
How to keep medicine cold when the power goes out?
Here are a few quick steps you can take:
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible
- Place gel packs, frozen water bottles, or ice packs inside to add cold mass
- Label units as “Do Not Use”
- Use insulated coolers if you need to move items
- For longer outages, switch to backup power if available
What to do when a vaccine fridge loses power?
A power cut doesn’t have to mean spoiled vaccines – but fast action is essential.
- Keep the fridge door closed to trap cold air and slow temperature rise.
- Check your temperature logger to see how long the fridge has been off and whether safe limits were exceeded.
- If power isn’t back quickly, move the vaccines to a fridge with generator backup or a validated cold box.
- If temperatures went out of range, quarantine the vaccines and clearly label them “Do Not Use” until assessed.
At Praxas, we support cold chain recovery with EasyLog and LogTag data loggers.
How long can vaccines be out the fridge?
Vaccines are very sensitive. Most can only be out of the fridge for a few hours, and only if the temperature stays in the safe range. If temperatures go too high or low, the vaccine may lose potency, you can keep track of the temperatures using a vaccine data logger.
Always check with your supplier or manufacturer before using vaccines that may have been exposed.
How to ensure blood and lab samples stay safe in a power outage?
Blood, plasma, and lab samples need very specific temperatures to stay safe. Blood usually has to be stored between 1-6°C, platelets between 20-24°C, and some research materials at ultra-low temperatures like -80°C.
Power cuts can quickly put these at risk. That’s why it’s important to have backup power ready, and to use fridges and freezers that stay cold even without electricity.
Temperature loggers are essential; they help you see right away if anything has gone wrong. And if you need to move samples, having coolers and a clear emergency plan makes all the difference.
Praxas supports this with ultra-low temperature freezers like the Arctiko ULUF MV range, made to protect even the most sensitive samples during an outage.
What happens if there’s a power cut in hospital?
Most hospitals use backup generators to keep critical equipment running during a power outage. But even with backup power, there are still risks.
- Can automated medication systems shut down? Yes, some electronic dispensing systems may stop working until fully restored.
- Could vaccine fridges go out of range? Absolutely. Any deviation in temperature puts vaccines at risk.
- What about blood and plasma? These need urgent attention. Even short delays can lead to waste.
The best way to reduce these risks is simple: monitor temperatures closely, have clear SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in place, and make sure staff know exactly what to do when the power supply is interrupted.
How to recover medicines after a power outage?
When the power comes back, it’s important to act quickly, but carefully.
- Start by noting the time the power went out and when it returned.
- Check the temperature history using your logger or the fridge display to see if safe ranges were breached.
- Mark any affected medicines as “Do Not Use” until you get guidance.
- Contact your supplier or health authority to confirm what can be saved and what should be discarded.
- Keep a clear record of everything – this helps with safety checks and audits.
If you’re using PraxasCloud, your temperature data and alerts are already logged, making it easier to make fast, informed decisions when every minute counts.
Best practices for protecting medical storage during power outages
Here’s a quick checklist:
- Use medical-grade fridges and freezers
- Install emergency backup systems (battery, generator, UPS)
- Keep cold storage doors closed during outages
- Monitor temperatures with Wi-Fi data loggers (e.g. EasyLog or LogTag)
- Have staff training and emergency SOPs in place
- Prepare insulated transport coolers for relocation
- After power returns, quarantine and assess any exposed items
How Praxas can help
At Praxas, we help healthcare providers and labs protect their cold chain before, during and after a power cut. Our solutions include:
From vaccines and medications to blood products and research samples, we’re here to help keep your inventory safe, no matter what happens to the power supply.
For detailed regulations on the storage and transportation of vaccines, including handling during emergencies, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) offers comprehensive guidelines here on the best practices to ensure vaccine integrity.