Tips for Making Your Life Easier During a Power Outage
First things first, if your power goes out, you need light. Without light, you can’t see to do anything else. This is especially essential if your power outage occurs during the night when you won’t even have any daylight to help lead your way. Flashlights are one of the easiest, and safest ways to provide light in your home. Keeping a flashlight in a designated spot in each room of your house ensures that you will be able to easily and quickly find it to help light your way. If your flashlight requires batteries, make sure you check them frequently and keep spare batteries on hand. With todays technology however, they are making many different flashlights that do not even require batteries.
Many people choose to keep a stock of candles or oil lamps on hand for use during power outages. This is a good idea for some, but make sure you use caution when burning them. If you have small children in the house, it might be a better idea to use other sources of light than a candle, because of the fire hazards they can pose. If you do decide to keep candles or oil lamps on hand, make sure you store them in a cool, dry place so that they do not melt. Also, it is a good idea to keep a lighter or matches with the candles, so that you have a way to light them when they are needed.
If you have a generator, keep your generator, gas, oil and extension cords all in one spot. This way, you do not have to run around trying to find all the necessary equipment to use your generator. Always check the oil before running your generator so that you do not risk burning the engine up. Also, add some sort of stabilizer to your gas to help its longevity, or frequently change the gas in your gas can. It is also a good idea to start your generator on a regular basis and let it run for a few minutes to keep the engine from gumming up. The last thing you want is for your generator to not run when you need it most.
If you do not have a generator, keep a decent stock of non-perishable food and beverages on hand. This will keep you from having to open your refrigerator to get food. The longer you can keep your refrigerator closed, the longer your food will keep. If you have children, make sure to keep a stash of non-perishable snacks available. This can help to appease children in a very uncomfortable situation. If you choose to keep canned foods available, make sure you have a hand operated can opener stored with the cans, since your electric can opener won’t be able to work!
Keep a power outage entertainment supply. This could be decks of cards, board games, coloring books and crayons or reading books. In our technologically dependant world, we often have a hard time entertaining ourselves without electricity. Children and adults alike can become quite bored very quickly during a power outage. Having something to entertain yourself with can help pass the time and make things a little easier.
Have a regular, landline phone. Cordless phones aren’t going to do you much good when the power is out, and cell phones might not function as well. Even if your power goes out, your telephone line may still work, and having a landline phone will help to keep you in touch with people. It will also give you access to emergency personnel should the need arise.
For those who are so inclined, there are a ton of battery operated gadgets out there that can help make a power outage much easier. You can buy battery operated televisions, fans and radios. Battery operated games, such as a Gameboy are also great for keeping children entertained. With just a little foresight, and a few preparations, you can make power outages more fun for the family and a lot less stressful.
