hi i,m a new cpap user and i have just discovered these forums. I was diagnosed with OSA and have now had my machine for 1 month. Can anyone tell me if there is an alarm or something i can get to tell me when there has been a power failure. (i'm from Scotland)  

Deleted.  Product was not available USA, UK, Europe.  Available on Pacific Rim and Places like Norway. You need to (like Martha see UPS post) find a good UPS.


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Success Nourishes Hope

fiona wrote:

hi i,m a new cpap user and i have just discovered these forums. I was diagnosed with OSA and have now had my machine for 1 month. Can anyone tell me if there is an alarm or something i can get to tell me when there has been a power failure. (i'm from Scotland)   :?:

Fiona,

Unless there are numerous failures during the year I wouldn't be overly concerned. I am on cpap for 11 years now and can't think of any time being effected by a power failure. You are not in any danger from the cpap machine in the event of a power outage (it just stops and you will probably wake up).

If you are effected by numerous outages you might need some form of battery back up. Talk to your cpap supplier about this.

For peace of mind you should contact your electricity supplier and advise them that you have a life threatening disorder which requires the use of a cpap machine (running on electric power) and ask to be placed on a priority listing. They should comply with this. While it does not guarantee supply, you will be on their list for early reconnection in the event of a problem.

Daniel


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

There are products available here in the US- a lot of time they are used for large freezers used to store food long term. Not sure you will be able to find them in the UK, with the tendency for very small refrigerators in the home- I'm not sure I remember any private homes having large freezer like we have in the US. You may be able to find something for electronics but at that point you might at well consider a UPS that can alarm & provide power backup. I'm on a BiPAP ST and since it is used for repository failure it does have power outage alarms so it is something manufactures could put in CPAPs, if they wanted to. Honestly the only time mine really helped was when the surge protector I had it plugged into got bumped out of the  wall socket when someone bumped it.

thanks for all your replies you have set my mind at ease a bit more although contacting the electricity company is a really good idea and i will certainly be doig that. thanks again all for your support.....   

fiona wrote:

thanks for all your replies you have set my mind at ease a bit more although contacting the electricity company is a really good idea and i will certainly be doig that. thanks again all for your support..... :-D  :-D

Hi Fiona,

FWIW, In Ireland this is accepted practice and the power company act on it immediately. They cover most respiratory illnesses. While you are not 'guaranteed' power, they will endeavour to minimise disruption or have you reconnected ASAP after a power outage.

Daniel


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Daniel-

What area of Ireland do you live in? I spent 6 months there for my Masters internship in Dublin with the Dughters of Charity on Navan Road, though I also was sent all around Ireland to see other facilities for the mentally handicapped. I hope to get back there again at some point but my medical problems-and all the equipment I need- would make it much more difficult now. I was the first in my family to go to Ireland since my Grandmother emigrated to the US around 1910. It was interesting to find the actual house she grew up in but unfortunetly her only sister's son died with no children of his own so there are no dirrect relatives left.

I don't need an alarm to tell me the power is out, not being able to breath is enough to wake me.


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hi all, spoke to the hospital, they told me that it would be ok and that i would wake up if the machine went off!! still going to contact my electricity company though - just to be sure!! thenks again for all your support. cheers     

with a power failure, with a full face mask theres a valve that opens allowing you to breathe

with a nose mask you automatically breathe thru your mouth without usually waking up
with a nose mask and the mouth taped shut who knows, especially if heavily sedated and/or drunk :?:
it seems you can still breathe thru the mask and CPAP with no power, but it needs lots of effort

hi lynn, thanks for that, you are right but it took me a phonecall to my electricity supplier and then to resmed (cpap maker) to find that out!!!! I think i will sleep a bit easier knowing that. thanks again..