News List| About Emergency Lighting Supplies | |
| Add:admin AddTime:2010-4-24 15:25:23 Read:0 Times | |
There's a storm coming--are you ready? Even though it does not usually affect our power, it's always a good idea to have emergency lighting supplies on hand. Here is a list of items to keep on your emergency shelf to insure your safety and comfort when you lose the lights. Types Several kinds of lighting can make a difference between weathering a power emergency or just toughing it out. Take a minute to decide what is most suitable for your situation. Candles are a logical choice to keep on hand for brief emergencies. While it may sound elementary, it's worth making sure that you have enough holders for them. A dozen candles do less good than you hope if you only have one or two sets of candlesticks. While you're stocking up on candles, look for inexpensive holders to stock your emergency shelf. It makes sense also to keep matches with your candles--you'll be glad you did. Flashlights are also a logical choice. Our major frustration is that, between uses, they tend to grow legs and walk away. It's also infuriating to look for a flashlight when what you need to find it is--a flashlight. Consider buying several inexpensive small flashlights (often available preloaded with batteries), one for each room in the house. Time Frame The hardest thing about stocking up for a power emergency is figuring out how long it will last. Candles and small flashlights will get you through an evening, but you may wish to stock up more thoroughly for an emergency that may last several days. Utility companies work as fast as possible, but repairing all the damage from a major storm may take a while. If your area is subject to such problems, consider an off-season visit to a camping-supply store. There you will find battery-powered lanterns that provide safe, battery-powered light strong enough to read by. Keeping lighting lit requires having batteries and keeping your supply fresh. Some suggest keeping batteries in the freezer for emergencies. While freezing will not extend battery-life endlessly, it slows natural aging and means you are more likely to have batteries that work for longer than those stored on a shelf. You may also wish to investigate rechargeable batteries and a charger. Using house-power when available makes certain that your batteries are fresh and ready when you need them. The only caution is to make sure your charger has enough room for the battery-sizes you need in an emergency. Warning Especially if you are preparing to tough it out in style, it's tempting to go rustic in ways that can actually be dangerous. If you can restore the lights, why not cooking and heating as well? In fact, one of the greatest dangers of losing electrical power is fire. Do not under any circumstances assume that cooking equipment, such as charcoal grills or "canned heat" stoves are safe to use indoors. Improper use can result in a fire or even in carbon-monoxide poisoning. Outdoor cooking equipment needs to be used outdoors only. The same applies to kerosene lanterns, no matter how pretty. Remember, their glass chimneys were invented to keep the light from being blown out by constant drafts--both outdoors and indoors. Today, houses and apartments are far too well insulated against drafts to make indoor use of a kerosene lantern safe. Exercise equal care if contemplating a non-electric heater. Kerosene heaters may be appealing but present similar dangers to flame-generating cooking equipment. If you decide to purchase a kerosene heater, follow directions exactly and use extreme care if you have children or pets. Prevention/Solution Some safety measures are easy to take and well worth the effort, especially if you have children. Candles can be purchased with votive or larger containers, minimizing the chance of their tipping. To maximize the effect of candles, use an old Colonial trick--no smoke, but lots of mirrors! Placing a candle in front of a mirror produces two candles--and twice the light of one that is unreflected. Antique candle-holders often have polished brass reflectors that served as do-it-yourself mirrors. Outdoor shops also have a variety of lanterns for candles. These are safe to use indoors and may provide less perilous light than an open flame. Dealing with fears of the dark? Small children often find complete dark frightening, need to get up for the bathroom, and are prone to dropping flashlights, with expected results. To make navigation less fearful, place a votive light in the bathroom sink at bedtime--as added insurance, run half an inch of water in the sink and place the votive light on top of the closed stopper. The glow is usually enough to reassure a child without encouraging an investigation close-up. Benefits One last thing to add to your planning is a non-emergency trial-run. Candles aren't just for company, and your batteries can take a little exercise before they must work hard. Do a brief lights-out evening at your house to help your family feel prepared and ready. You can practice who-does-what and fine-tune your supplies before you need them. A lights-out evening also gives your family a new perspective--a taste of "the old days," the opportunity to tell stories, play games, and spend time together. Losing power is never a treat, but, with a little planning, you can prevent a power problem from becoming a power emergency. | |
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