Lights and Communication

Lights and communication. There are various levels of this that you can include in your 72-hr kit.  We will discuss some of these.  If this is your first time putting together a 72-hr kit and have a limited budget start out by planning for simple methods and then add or increase as you can.

Things to consider for Lights and Communications:

• Consider who you are preparing for, Adult, child or baby.
• Weight and size of equipment
• Consider the environment you might be in, outside vs. in a shelter

Equipment One Can Include

From Ready Colorado

• A portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra
• Batteries (also have a NOAA weather radio, if appropriate for your area)
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Signal flare
• Matches in a waterproof container (or waterproof matches)

My 2 cents

• Candles:
  • traditional long burning, inexpensive
  • liquid paraffin candles, last about 100 hr, heavy and more expensive
  • Caution must be taken when using candles, either inside, around gas leaks, children, etc.
  • Also, if you are starting a fire and have limited matches, easy to light a candle then use it to start the fire
• Headlamps:
  • I personally really like headlamps, have found them useful when camping, hiking,
  • Hunting and around the house they keep your hands free and usually have different settings that can last a long time
• Radio:
  • I would recommend a radio that has normal and NOAA channels
  • The radio I have has a hand crank for power so batteries aren’t a worry
• Radio 2 way:
  • If you can, you might include a 2 way radio, this would allow some separation but you could still stay in contact with loved ones or friends
  • Of course, these are more expense and weigh more
• Extra flashlights:
  • I personally have 2 extra types of flashlights:
    • 1 is a key chain type that is bright and small it is great in an emergency,
    • I almost always have one on me, so ask to see it.  About $15
  • A tac light is also handy, most have a strong beam which allows you to either blind someone (in an emergency only) or see a further distance than traditional flashlights, or headlamps, good ones can be $50 to $100, a bit pricey
• Cell Phones:
  • Cell phones can be a valuable asset these days.
  • But it will all be dependent on the type of emergency as to whether they work or not.
  • Have a few phone numbers written down with you all the time most of us don’t remember phone numbers any more
  • Have some sort of way to charge your phone, solar, crank or extra batteries