06/25/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Tara Monks // Tara Monks
Salem, NH – The woman who was listed in critical condition after National Grid shut off power to her home, which in turn shut off her oxygen tanks, died Thursday, June 24, 2010, as reported by The Boston Globe.
Kay Phaneuf, 53, succumbed to her injuries at Holy Family Hospital in Metheun, according to Salem Fire Marshal Jeff Emanuelson. She had been in the hospital since her husband found her unconscious and without a pulse Monday morning.
Upon responding to the husband’s 911 call for help, police found several oxygen tanks inside the home and one in a vehicle at the home. They said power had been shut off at the home at approximately 9 a.m., an hour before she was found.
A spokesman for the National Grid said a worker went to the home to shut off the service, knocked on the door, and when nobody answered, disconnected the lines.
WMUR reported that the home’s front door had a red note taped to it that stated oxygen was in use, but a National Grid spokesman reported that he was unaware if that note was there when the worker visited the home.
New Hampshire state law prohibits power from being shut off to a home where someone has a medical emergency. Under the guidelines of the law, though, the person with the medical needs must tell the company of the problem and keep the company updated on its existence.
National Grid acknowledged past medical notes on the Phaneuf’s account, but said there was nothing current.
A spokesman for National Grid would not reveal why the power was shut off, but explained that all proper procedures were followed, to the best of his knowledge.
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