'Getting out of the dark': Implications of load shedding on healthcare in South Africa and strategies to enhance preparedness.

Power failures and the lack of a robust contingency plan could prove catastrophic in any healthcare environment, with varied and far-reaching consequences. In 2003, a 28% rise in both accidental and non-accidental deaths was recorded in the USA as a result of mass power outages. For every day with a power outage lasting longer than 2 hours, hospital mortality has been estimated to increase by 43%.