Just like kerosene heaters in the winter, this woman's death should have been ENTIRELY preventable.
PUT THE MEDICAL NOTICE ON THE METER * NOT in the office of the power company and CERTAINLY NOT in the computer of the power company's office. Put a STICKER on the meter with the DATES that the medical need/power of life is activated....if it needs to be renewed, those dates can be placed OR A NEW STICKER placed on the meter when it is read.
This is SO PREVENTABLE and because it is a power company (utility) there will be little recourse for the dead woman's husband.
EVERYONE who knows of someone that requires power for their life * whether for breathing or otherwise * needs to advise them to notify their electric company and provide any medical documentation necessary AND place their own sticker on their electric meter that such a order is on file.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/25/AR2010062503592.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/25/AR2010062503592.html
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM * GIBSON MANAGEMENT GROUP, Ltd.
Central Virginia
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Wallace,
Wow definitely something to remember. Have a great weekend!
Lisa aka Allstarmom3 (twitter)
This is so sad. I'm going to reblog this because I was not aware of the medical need sticker.
Wallace, That is so sad and so wrong! It seems like we have our priorities out of sync in our country!!!!!!
IMPORTANT information, Wallace. Thank you for bringing to our attention. I too shall repost!
I am going to re-blog this one as well. Thanks for sharing Wallace. Have a great weekend.
There is probably a government created rule about third party stickers on power meters...
Lane * they WERE the mattress police in their prior lives!!!
Very sad indeed. I think some electricity providers can terminate service from a central control center and not even need to visit the customers home.
I will re blog this to get the word out.
Making EVERYONE aware of the need for the electricity for LIFE is important. Many people don't realize there is a system in place to keep the power on.
It does seem like poor planning on the family's part too. What was their plan if a lightning storm came through and knocked out the power? The husband found her after only an hour and it was apparently already too late. Very sad situation regardless of who gets the blame.
Rob * I totally agree; the back up power supply was not on apparently and that will haunt her family I suspect