A LED emergency light is a portable light that burns cool, lasts longer than typical bulbs and uses much less energy than typical bulbs. The light produced by these lights is also significantly brighter than typical bulbs. In most cases, a LED emergency light is a flashlight, torch or lantern – all quite useful in the event that your home or office loses power or you are faced with an emergency or disaster situation.
If you have LED emergency lights there are a few things you need to know about storing them and the types of scenarios that you could consider using them for. Let’s look at ways you can get the most out of your LED emergency lights at home.
To store your emergency LED flashlight, torch or LED lantern, you should ensure that they are kept without the batteries installed in them. Batteries can leak and corrode with age and time and this leakage can completely destroy the light source and its casing. Keep two fresh sets of batteries with your LED emergency lights at all times. Make sure that the batteries are stored conveniently close to the light, either taped around it or kept inside the same box or survival kit so that you or your family will not need to hunt for them while under duress. Once every month or two, you should check to see that the batteries are working, that they haven’t corroded in their packaging and that they work with the LED emergency lights you own. If your batteries are not working, replace them with fresh ones. Mark your calendar at regular intervals to check the batteries.
You want to make sure you can find the things you need in case of an emergency. Store your LED emergency lights conveniently – somewhere that is easy to get to, even if it is very dark in your home. It won’t be convenient if it is in your junk drawer with many other items, some of which may be sharp or dangerous. Remember, if there is an emergency, the last thing you need is to compound the problems you have with an injury that could have been prevented by choosing to store your equipment in a more convenient and safe place. It’s best to keep your LED emergency lights in a place that is easy to reach and easy to find – and in more than one place. In the case of a disaster, you may not be able to get to one location in your home so it’s best to have some backups in other areas as well. Consider keeping a primary kit or light on the main floor of your home and smaller kits that include a flashlight or torch on the other levels for easy access. A few good places to keep your LED emergency lights are hanging on a peg near an entry way door or a window, near the front door and/or back door, in the first aid kit (that is also somewhere safe and easy to find), in your garage, with your emergency kit (that is somewhere safe and easy to find – usually a bag or backpack that has emergency supplies in it), and in your bedroom close to your bed. Regardless of where you choose to store your LED emergency lights, they should be easy to find, easy to reach and conveniently located in your home.
You never know when you or your family may get caught without power or light. Taking the time and steps needed to plan for an emergency can help keep you and your family safe and calm during a difficult event.
~ Ben Anton, 2008