[Knowledge gained from a 31-h power outage in Berlin Köpenick-medical problems and challenges]

On 19 February 2019 the severance of a 110kW cable caused an extensive electrical power cut in the Treptow-Köpenick district of Berlin. Subsequently, ca. 30,000 households were without electricity and ca. 70,000 people were affected. The power cut lasted more than 24h and all those involved were faced with a multitude of challenges. An operational command post was set up in which medical problems had to be continuously identified and re-evaluated. These included the identification of patients particularly at risk, such as home-ventilated patients and patients with artificial hearts. Furthermore, individual nursing homes had to be evacuated. During the procedure it was necessary to evacuate an intensive care ward or intermediate care ward with 23 patients due to the loss of power supply in the affected area. Hospitals must be prepared for such scenarios within the framework of preliminary planning. Furthermore, preliminary planning containing the special needs of vulnerable groups must be carried out on the part of the responsible authorities.