The Prepared Home

Seeing where you are going without electricity

Last time our electricity went off at night we knew where to find a torch but when I rang a friend she had come in to find her husband sitting in pitch darkness, not knowing where to find anything to help him see where he was going. He had literally sat down and waited for his wife to come and rescue him. There was a torch but he did not know were it was. The moral of this story is that it is a good idea having stuff to help you out in an emergency, but make sure everyone knows where to find it when they really need it.

What could you use?

torches You can buy some very inexpensive torches which will do the job but as so often happens the best ones are a bit more expensive. You need a torch where you can change the batteries easily if need be. I got some cheap ones and when I tried changing the batteries, it was very difficult. My favourite torch is easy to hold, has an easy to reach on/off button and is brightly coloured to help me see it when it is light. I find it is useful being able to see it in the light because if is moved I can recognize it easily and memorize where it is is.

One type of torch that can be very useful is the type that you can wear on your head. These fasten on with straps rather than having to wear a hat. They are very useful when you need to use both hands. They can be found in camping shops.

It is possible to buy torches that do not need batteries which actually run by clockwork. These can require quite a bit of effort to keep going depending on how much winding they need. However, there is no danger of the batteries running out and leaving you in difficulties.

batteries Remember batteries do not last for ever. There is little point buying large boxes of batteries and keeping them for years. Batteries will keep their charge for a couple of years or so but after that they start deteriorating. There is no point buying box shaped batteries to go in a torch that takes cylindrical ones. Yes, it sounds daft but people do forget to check what sort of batteries are used in a particular torch and then go out and buy the wrong ones.

candles This is the real danger area for lighting. Nothing spreads fire like an unguarded flame no matter how small. Decorative candles are just for decoration and can cause problems when they are used. It is essential that the candle is firmly held in place, preferably in a proper candle holder. A candle that falls over and is not on a safe surface can quite easily set fire to the things around it. This is one reason why you should not leave candles unattended. Remember though to leave a space for the hot wax to collect so it might be necessary to put that candle holder on a plate to stop the wax going where it should not.

oil lamps These can be very dangerous if not handled correctly. Decorative oil lamps are not designed to be used they are designed to look good. If there really is no other alternative source of light, take great care with them as it is very easy to set fire to your home with them. More practical oil lamps still need carefully handling but are safer than decorative ones as they are designed to be used. Another problem is storing the oil, which needs to be done according to safety regulations.

gas lamps These are often used by campers and when handled carefully are safe. Remember though, to take great care when changing the gas canister. This should be done when the lamp is cold as the result of gas going near the hot lamp components does not bear thinking about.

matches To light candles or oil lamps it is useful to have some matches. Obviously these need to be kept securely out of harm's way when inquisitive children are around. That is easy to remember when you are thinking about your own children but not so easy if you have unexpected child guests. Don't forget to check inside the box because someone could have used the last one and put the box back so there is are no matches available when you need them.

What do you need?

If members of the household are going to be separated into different rooms, then they all need their own light source but if everyone is in the same room they can manage with one larger light source. In some homes that larger light source could be the open fire, although this is less likely now than it used to be.

You know the members of your household and their needs. You might want a light easy to use torch for a small child or anyone else whose hands are not as capable as they once were for some reason. You might want to do something with your hands rather than holding a torch so a torch that can be fastened to your head could be useful. These can often be bought from camping shops. You may have candles and matches but nothing to place them on for safety's sake.

Now is the time to sit down and think what have we got in this home to help if the lights go out. Think what you already have and then work out what you need. If they both match up all well and good if not you will need to add some things to your shopping list so that you are prepared. If you put off getting what you need too long the lights could go out before you go shopping.

Safety

Anything with a flame should only be handled by competent people, and normally only adults. As teenagers get older they should be taught how to use whatever equipment you have on hand for emergencies in a safe way. That may mean that the teenager who has learnt to use such equipment in the scouts is more competent than the adult who has never been taught properly. Don't despise what they have learnt but take advantage and learn from them.

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