Tactical Flashlight: Staying Prepared For a Power Outage
Tactical Flashlight: Staying Prepared For a Power Outage
When you lose power, you lose the ability to see once it gets dark outside. Not only is this a major annoyance, but it can also be dangerous in many situations. If you have to go in your basement, attic, or outdoors to check on power lines, you will need a powerful light to help you see.
While most cell phones do have a flashlight built-in, they are not always the best light source. Plus, what if you can’t charge your phone due to losing power?
A tactical flashlight is your best bet for making it through a power outage safely. Ours is made from aluminum alloy, making it one of the sturdiest and most durable flashlights on the market. It is also waterproof and has nine light functions. The best part of all is that it’s solar-powered!
This means that the flashlight is powered by small solar panels built into the side of it. These panels convert energy from the sun and use it to charge the flashlight! Instead of batteries or chargers, your flashlight will charge during the day and give you hours of light once it is fully charged. If you prefer to charge your devices, it also has a USB charging option. Either way, you will never have to go without light again!
Having a flashlight on hand is not only convenient, but it can also be life-saving. Being in the dark can be detrimental to your safety. If it is pitch-black outside, you won’t be able to read medication labels or look at your fuse box, for example. And, for those who have a hard time getting around, it will be even harder to make it up and down the stairs. Keep reading to find out more information regarding preparation for a power outage!
What Other Supplies Will I Need?
You know that you will need a flashlight to be prepared for a power outage, but what else will you need? Being prepared is the best way to ensure you and your family remain safe during a power outage or any other emergency. The only way to prepare is to gather supplies and tools ahead of time to make sure you are ready to go! You don’t need anything crazy, and you don’t need a ton of supplies. There are a few essential items you should consider acquiring.
If it is helpful, you can make a checklist of all the things you’ll need for an emergency. Think about what you would need to survive any emergency, and write it down on a list.
Then, account for every member of your household before you purchase the supplies. You should have enough of everything for everyone who lives with you. Also, consider your or your family’s specific needs, like medicine, infant formula, and other similar items.
Survival Kit
You should have a survival kit prepared at all times. It doesn’t matter if there’s a power outage, a lockdown, or a natural disaster. A survival kit is a must-have. This kit should contain all of the necessary items needed to help you survive. Tools, supplies, food, and water are all items you should consider including. It does not need to be elaborate, but it should at least have the absolute essentials to help you make it through an emergency.
Ideally, these are the items you should consider having in the kit:
- Heat source: A fire-starter is your best bet here. A lighter or matches will work fine. You never know when you will need a fire, whether it’s for warmth, to cook, to purify water, or to send smoke signals for help.
- Light source: This can be the solar-powered flashlight we already talked about, or something else, like a lantern. As long as it is reliable and durable, it doesn’t matter.
- Water or water purifier: Make sure you stock up on clean and purified water. An alternative would be to buy a water purifier, which can purify thousands of gallons of water.
- First aid kit: Unfortunately, injuries tend to go hand in hand with emergencies, even power outages. Make sure you have enough supplies to tend to minor cuts, wounds, sprains, and infections.
- Tactical knife: You may have to cut through wiring, tape, or gauze during an emergency. You can also use it for self-defense and hunting if need be.
Survival Food
Another critical thing to have prepared for a power outage or emergency is survival food. Survival food is food that is non-perishable and has a long and stable shelf-life. It should be high in calories to keep you full. And, it should have enough nutrients to help sustain your energy throughout the emergency.
Our survival food and food kits are built to last for 25 years, giving you peace of mind that you’ll never go hungry, even during an emergency.
Power Generator
One of the best devices you can have for a power outage is a generator. Our Power Generator will help give you power when you need it most. Don’t worry about fuel or powering the generator. Ours is solar-powered, so it self-charges when the sun is out. This means it is fume-free and quiet, unlike other generators. You can use it to power large appliances, like refrigerators, freezers, medical devices, and handheld devices like cell phones.
How Should I Prepare For a Power Outage?
Besides gathering the food and supplies we outlined for you above, there are other steps you should follow in order to prepare for a power outage.
During a power outage, the first step you should always take is to report the outage. Just because you lost power does not mean other people did. And even if other people did, you can’t assume they’re reporting an outage for your neighborhood. Here are a few things you should consider doing in order to prepare for when a power outage happens:
- Watch the food in your fridge and freezer: You will likely have to throw things away depending on how long the power is out. After four hours, the food in the fridge will go bad. After 24 hours, the food in the freezer will go bad (if the door is left unopened).
- Unplug everything in your home: You don’t know exactly when your power will come back on, and sometimes there can be an electrical surge when it does. Just to be safe, keep everything unplugged to prevent an electrical fire.
- Stockpile books and boardgames: Once you are safe, you will need a way to pass the time. Make sure you have plenty of books, magazines, and games on hand to pass the time.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you see the benefits of having a tactical flashlight readily available. The best way to be prepared for a power outage is to stock up on supplies and tools and follow the necessary steps to keep you and your family safe.
Power outages can be scary, but they do not have to be dangerous. 4Patriots has everything you need to be prepared!
Sources:
How to prepare for a power outage, according to a professional prepper | NBC News
Must-Have Gear For Camping
Whether you’re a first-time camper or a seasoned outdoor veteran, choosing the best camping gear for your trip can be the difference between a memorable or miserable time.
From unique camping accessories to hiking gadgets, there are plenty of products that can enhance your next trip into the wilderness. Not sure what to pack? Keep reading for all the must-have gear you should bring with you on your next camping.
Tent
Even if you prefer slumbering under the vast indigo sky, you should always have a tent or some other emergency shelter on hand just in case. Otherwise, a midnight deluge, heavy dew, or freak snowstorm is sure to leave you miserable, drenched, and at risk of hypothermia.
A tent can shield you and your camping gear from high winds as well. Whether you opt for the best solo-person tent or a larger luxurious-style tent, make sure you bring along all of its necessary accessories: stakes, tent poles, rope, and a rain fly.
Camping Light
Unless you’re intending to go to sleep every night soon after the sun has set, having a camping light will be indispensable. Getting up out of your sleeping bag and out of your tent in the middle of the night for a potty break is tough enough without making your way through unknown terrain in the dark. A lantern is a perfect lighting choice as it can stand on its own while casting light in every direction. Headlamps are also a great choice.
Sleeping Bag
Resting on a soft bed of moss and leaves may sound like a lot of fun, but it certainly won’t keep you warm when the sun goes down. Temperatures can drop significantly at nightfall— sometimes 20 degrees or more.
Keep in mind, too, that many creepy-crawlers are most active during the night and may chance upon your unswaddled body. Going camping without a sleeping bag risks an uncomfortable night’s sleep at best, exposure at worst.
Fire Starter
Camping isn’t camping without a crackling campfire, so you’ll want the tools to get one started quickly. Campers can start fires with matches, a flint, and steel, a cigarette lighter, or a magnesium fire starter. If you opt for matches, make sure they are waterproof.
It’s not a bad plan to pack two fire starters in case one fails. We love the Stealth Angel Arc Lighter because all it takes is a single push of a button to unleash a fiercely powerful dual-arc beam that ferociously ignites anything it touches—perfect for camping!
First Aid Kit
It’s unlikely that you will experience a life-threatening injury while camping, but even a long day of hiking can result in painful blisters that require a little bit of TLC. Small scrapes and cuts, too, can quickly become infected if left untreated, so always be sure to keep antiseptic and bandages on hand.
Your first aid kit should include other important necessities as well: gauze, scissors, adhesive, a CPR mouth barrier, an emergency whistle, and tweezers. Be sure to toss in bottles of insect repellent and sunscreen as well. Sunburn and bug bites can end your trip as quickly as any laceration.
If you’d rather purchase a pre-made first aid kit rather than making one, you can—just be sure to purchase from a reputable company like Stealth Angel Survival to make sure you are getting a top-quality kit.
Water Bottle
Did you know that the average healthy adult can live three weeks without food but only three days without water? Water is essential for surviving in the great outdoors, and the further off the beaten path you go, the more quickly it seems to run out.
The last thing any camper or hiker wants is to be stuck without a fresh supply of water, especially since drinking from a lake or pond can cause serious illness due to bacteria. Even if the wilderness you are heading into is just a few yards from your car, carry a day’s supply of the wet stuff in a Camelbak or other large container. Then, keep water purification tablets or a filter on hand just in case you have to refill from a nearby stream.
Pocket Knife
The pocket knife is, without a doubt, the ultimate multipurpose tool of the great outdoors. A knife can be used to trim a rope, slice cheese or sausage, cut fishing line, dice bait, sharpen a stick, open a tightly sealed package, deal with tangled vines, skin a small animal, or tighten a screw. Without a knife, such tasks become nearly to outright impossible. If you leave your camping knife at home, expect to feel frustrated, and often.
Map And Compass
If your camping itinerary calls for hiking in remote areas, you won’t want to head out without a map and compass or GPS. Constant changes in the sun’s position can make forest landmarks seem unfamiliar, causing campers to become disoriented. Unprepared campers have occasionally wandered the woods for days before finding their way back to camp or getting rescued.
Getting stranded or lost in a wooded area—especially with a limited water supply—is no joke. Even if your pals just want to walk down to the nearest creek from your campsite, make sure they have a way to return back to safety.
Warm Rainproof Clothes
You’ve checked the weather forecast for weeks—no rain, only sun. Unfortunately, the weather can change in a blink-of-an-eye, leaving you stuck in the cold rain or huddling around your campfire for warmth. With an extra set of camping clothes, you won’t have to worry about sudden weather changes—you can simply swap out wet clothes for dry ones or layer during a cold front.
Toilet Paper
Hardcore survivalists may view toilet paper as an unnecessary luxury in the outdoors, but many campers swear to its necessity. Leaves and bark make poor substitutes for latrine duty in both hygiene and comfort, and a chapped backside can make sitting pretty painful. Also, campgrounds with bathroom facilities have been known to run out of paper from time to time.
If you are camping in the deep woods and are concerned about the environmental impact of using TP, purchase some that’s biodegradable or take a refuse bag for disposal.
A Final Word
Camping is a timeless way to spend a weekend or vacation communing with nature, family, and friends. It’s good for the mind, body, and spirit to mix up our routines and get outside for some serious fun and relaxation. However, as much fun as camping is, it can turn into a real nightmare if you forget to bring some important must-have gear.
When planning your next camping trip, get organized and put together a checklist of all the essential items that you’ll need to bring along with you, like a tent, food, water, and first aid. This way, you can easily check each item off your list as you pack them into the car to avoid leaving anything behind.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/camping/why-camp.htm
How To Guide For Proper Camping
Campfires, tents, and long hikes through the wilderness come to mind when most people think about camping. But the truth is that there is so much more to a camping trip than just picking a spot and pitching a tent.
We live our day-to-day lives surrounded by the immense traffic of a relentlessly busy life. Dust, city lights, and smog cloud our vision of the stars at night; busy streets and skyscrapers prevent us from appreciating the charm of nature.
The solution? A great expanse of indigo sky looking over you, with shimmering stars serving as your rooftop for the evening. Camping in the midst of such natural bliss gives us a very much-needed reminder of the beauty that Mother Nature provides.
Sleeping in the wilderness provides the experience of a lifetime: a chance to detox from daily life and all the unavoidable stresses that come along with it. Nature is, without a doubt, the perfect antidote to calm your overwhelmed mind and escape the constant flow of difficult situations that life places in our path.
Are you thinking about going camping, but don’t know where to start? Keep reading to learn about all of the proper gear and equipment you’ll need on your camping trip.
Essential Camping Gear And Hiking Equipment
Camping is like staying in a primitive cabin—minus the cabin. So, in addition to your tent, it’s important to pack as though you’re going to stay someplace where there is little to no furniture, no stove, no refrigerator, no electricity, and the cupboards are bare. In a developed campground, you’ll have running water and a community restroom a few hundred feet away. A typical campsite has a table, a place to park your car, and a place to pitch a tent.
Here are a handful of tips to help you decide exactly what you need to bring for your first camping trip:
Tents, Tarps, Poles, Tie Downs, And Stakes
You will obviously need something to sleep in, so a tent should be at the very top of your priority list. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all tent, though. Tents come in a wide variety of types and sizes. Some ultra-light tents are best suited for backpacking while other, bulky and heavier options come with spacious luxury options best suited for hanging out near a vehicle. To confuse matters even more, most tents come in two different options: three-season and four-season.
Three-season tents are good for just about anything—except for the deep of winter—while four-season tents have more durable fabric and can handle snowdrifts.
Think about where you are looking to camp and choose your tent wisely.
Sleeping Bag
Like tents, sleeping bags come in many different weights and handle many different temperatures—so you have to do a little research to find the one that is best suited for you, where you plan to camp, and when. If you are planning on only going fair-weather camping, a summer sleeping bag is probably all you will need, but a 3-season bag will give you a little more leeway for unpredictable shoulder-season weather.
If you are always cold—or always hot—be sure to adjust accordingly. Also, it’s a good idea to purchase a sleeping bag that is lightweight and portable, like the ones found at Stealth Angel Survival. Transporting a sleeping bag that doesn’t weigh a hundred pounds will make your life so much easier when you’re camping—trust us on this one.
Sleeping Pad
A sleeping pad is like the mattress on a bed, but it also comes with high-tech insulation to prevent you from losing any body heat on the cold ground. Big air mattresses might look temptingly plush, but their lack of insulation will leave you feeling a bit chilly.
Take a look at the specifications when comparing sleeping pads—if one is longer, wider, or thicker and has a higher insulation value, it will be much more comfortable and do a better job at keeping you warm.
Pro Tip: Set your tent, sleeping bag, and pad up early, so you don’t get stuck having to do it in the dark!
Lighting
Campsites don’t usually have illumination, so you will need to bring your own. A flashlight is okay, but a headlamp will free up your hands for camp tasks. A lantern is nice for ambient light, and you can also build a campfire.
Cooler
You might already have a cooler, and it’ll probably work fine. Just be sure that you have enough capacity for your perishable food items and a few cold ones, along with enough ice to keep ‘em that way.
Stove
A classic two-burner propane camping stove should do the trick for your first camping trip. You won’t spend a fortune, and you can easily cook breakfast and prepare your morning cup of joe at the same time. But don’t forget to bring at least a couple of fuel canisters and a lighter with you.
We also love the Stealth Angel Ultralight Portable Outdoor Pot Pan and Stove Set. It is a compact, lightweight investment in your ability to make even fancy dishes in the wilderness!
Water Filtration And Treatment Tablets
If you’re camping, you should bring as much H2O as you’d possibly need in your vehicle, so it’s easily accessible. Some campsites even have fresh drinking water available, but you should bring some anyway—just in case.
If you are backpacking, however, that’s not an option, so you will need a water filtration system. We love the Stealth Angel Personal Water Filter because it eliminates 99.9999% of bacteria and then passes the water through activated carbon and antibacterial beads for an even more thorough cleanse—perfect for camping!
Hiking Shoes Or Boots
Depending on the type of camping trip you’re taking, you will want to grab some hiking boots or shoes. Your favorite pair of sneakers will do just fine in many places, but if you are planning on going for a longer backpacking trip, dedicated boots or shoes are much more comfortable since they offer more padding, stability, and support for your ankles as you cross rough terrain.
First Aid Kit
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that you will need a first aid kit for camping. You can either purchase a great kit from a company like Stealth Angel Survival or make your own first aid kit. If you decide to make your own kit, make sure to include supplies such as the usual aspirins, bandages, and gauze, as well as some hiking-specific stuff like moleskin for blisters, bug sprays, and aloe vera for burns.
A Final Word
Whatever you buy and pack for your first camping trip, just make sure to consider your climate, needs, and environment. If you are heading off to the desert for a long weekend in July, you can skip the rain jacket and thermal-insulated sleeping bag, but doing so would be foolish if you are heading into the rainforest.
Perhaps you want to do a little bit of fishing—in which case you will need a pole and some bait. Maybe you are going on a big bike camping trip, which requires not only camping equipment but also a slew of cycling-specific extras.
The fact is, regardless of the millions of generic camping guides and checklists out there, the items that you will need to bring with you camping really depend on where you’re going and what you’re doing. The items we listed above are a good start and will help on almost any camping adventure, but be sure to plan accordingly and purchase the right supplies.
Not sure where to get camping equipment? Check out Stealth Angel Survival, the leader in emergency preparedness kits, supplies, and survival products. Whether you are looking for flashlights and sleeping bags or water tablets and first aid, Stealth Angel Survival has your back.
Sources:
https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety/how-to-build-your-campfire
