Real Disaster Situation Lights

[Quickbeam]

Investigators believe carbon monoxide from a propane lantern caused the deaths of three Kingman residents...

It happens... I'd rather not take the risk with my family. Especially in a well sealed and insulated modern home.

Candles are famous for starting fires when left unattended. Don't want to compound a power outage or disaster by burning your house down.

 

[cheesehead]

Indoor approved gas catalyst heaters are also dangerous. do you feel safe???

It seems like any combustion process should be turned off before retiring for the night (I kind of assumed catalytic heaters would be safe, but they don't seem 100% safe either). When you're awake, you at least have a chance to realize CO poisoning is occuring.

Another interesting very practical site blue flame good, yellow bad

cheese

 

[HesNot]

Quickbeam - Nice to see a little NC representation as well! I'm in Greensboro and the ice mostly missed us as well, no power outages (unlike last year's storm, which was no fun at all - great article by the way, the headlamp really seems to be an essential element for survival). Last year I was not a flashaholic so we made do with Maglites, and lots of batteries (although I remain a fan of the 2AAA Mag form factor, just really wish there was an LED conversion for that light....).

Anyway, glad to hear things are well in the Queen City and you and your family made it safely through the storm!

Cheers,

HesNot

 

[Double_A]

Lanterns, Flourescent or LED.

Depending on the length of a disaster (under 48 hours or over 72 hours) stress can impair functioning on all levels. While a lantern may put out more light than a single LED that is all that YOU need, your family and children need something more to help them cope. Fear of the unknown coupled with stress from living like a rat in the darkness is not fun. Anything that brings your living condition closer to normal on day 3, 4, or even 7 helps considerably. disaster prep means you must think things through on all levels, including the members of your family that would have the most difficult time coping. For example giving a child that fears darkness their own flashlight gives them a measure of control over their environment that will help them cope and allow you to concentrate on other issues.

GregR

 

[illumiGeek]

I have a combo radio-flashlight that I set up as my "emergency" light. I filled it with Energizer Lithium AA battereies for long shelf life, and modified the old PR bulb with a white LED for long run time. It's bright enough for around the house tasks, and has an aimable head to point light where I need it. Not waterproof, but I have a bunch of dive lights in my SCUBA gear bag if I need that.

I also keep a supply of Energizer Lithium AA batteries on hand, and have made battery adapters that allow me to use these in some of my larger lights.

I also have several small lights around the house (like a UK 2AAA hanging in the shower).

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Back when I lived out of tent and backpack on Maui, I used Votive candles, in a cleaned out 6 ounce tuna can, in my tent. This setup works well enough, since there is no glass to break from the flame, and no chance of spilling hot wax.

This was long before the advent of the white LED. This is one way to have some light. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Still, I would limit fire based lighting to last resort.

 

[SilverFox]

I view disaster situations as extreme camping situations. The difference is that I have more supplies at hand in my house then I do when I am out camping, and usually a more robust shelter.

I have a wide variety of long run and general illumination lights. At home I get to use the larger ones that I would not normally take camping.

We and our Boy Scout Troop are going snow caving in a couple of weeks. I have lithium batteries in my EternaLights for that outing.

At home I feel we are well prepared because of all of our camping gear and cloths. We also have a good community here. If something goes bad, we can count on neighbors to help and can aid neighbors if they are in need. We keep a good supply of food and water on hand.

My wife loves candles. We use them regularly and have strict safety measures in place. One rule is "If you leave the room, extinguish the candle." I have no problems using candles during a power outage and feel we are being responsible with safety issues.

I would rather play with my flashlights, but I must admit that snuggling with my wife under a blanket in a candle lit room is nice...

Tom

 

[Zigzago]

My emergency kit includes a 2AA Maglight with the Opalec NewBeam LED module. That way I have long runtime, moderate brightness and commonly available batteries. I also have the usual array of Arc products either on me or nearby.

Quickbeam: Which propane heater do you have? I'd like to get an emergency room heater in case by furnace goes out, but all the propane units I've seen are rated for outdoor use only.

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Good point about disaster situations as extreme camping situations, SilverFox. There are some parallels.

You can take used tuna cans and make candles out of them. They may look kludgey, but as emergency/disaster lighting, they do the job. In this case, the candle mold, is what the candle is going to be in. All you need, is parafin, wick material, a dowel, cleaned out tuna cans, a sauce pan (don't use the ones for cooking food!!), and a hot plate (buffet range).

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Zigzago, as long as you have commercial power, you can use those ceramic space heaters. Don't let their small physical size fool you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Quickbeam]

[ QUOTE ]
Quickbeam: Which propane heater do you have? I'd like to get an emergency room heater in case by furnace goes out, but all the propane units I've seen are rated for outdoor use only.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dyna-Glo Model "RMC-8000PGH". Very similar to the Mr.Heater Portable Buddy, it produces up to 8000 BTU (high setting) for 3 1/2 hours on one 1 LB. disposable propane cylinder. It will run for 5 hours on it's low setting (BTU unknown) Cost was $71.00.

It can be attached to a 20 LB. tank with an adapter hose.

Here it is, but mine is beige, not camo.

http://www.tools-r-us.biz/ntc/p/Propane_Heaters/Portable_L_P_Gas_Hea_200167124.htm

 

[asdalton]

[ QUOTE ]
Quickbeam said:
Investigators believe carbon monoxide from a propane lantern caused the deaths of three Kingman residents...

It happens... I'd rather not take the risk with my family. Especially in a well sealed and insulated modern home.


[/ QUOTE ]

Even heaters rated as "indoor safe" require ventilation so that the oxygen in the room, tent, etc. is replenished. Otherwise, the oxygen level drops, and the heater starts burning fuel less efficiently and produces CO as a result. Notice that those hunters had completely sealed their tent prior to using the propane heater.

 

[Bravo25]

I have used a Coleman propane heater in our tent when camping. I have even used a latern wrapped in aluminum foil (to reduce light output)to produce heat. However, most newer tents have a screen mesh at the apex for a reason. I don't recomend this to anyone, and if you do it, DON'T seal the vent at the top.

 

[Quickbeam]

I'm not going to argue over whether or not the hunters did something stupid (which they did), or if one heater is necessarily safer than another or if it's safe to burn candles/propane lanterns/etc. indoors during a power outage. My point is that I PERSONALLY would rather play it safe and use as few as possible sources of combusion and potential CO generation in an enclosed area (such as a house in the middle of a power failure.) The "it can't happen to me because I'm smart" attitude has resulted in more deaths than it's prevented...

BTW, a battery operated CO detector should definitely be installed in the house or added to your disaster kit if you will be using one of those little indoor propane heaters and it's really a good idea just to have one installed anyway.

The heater itself should have a low oxygen level sensor that shuts it off if the O2 levels get too low (which ours does). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

And...

GET A HEADLAMP! You look like a goofball when you're using it, but you probably look the part anyway (I do!) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Headlamps are truly useful. A small flashlight in a headband is a secondary option. I have 1 that runs on 3 AAAs, several that run on 2 or 3 AAs, one that takes 3 C cells, and 1 that takes 2 D cells. They are either dedicated LED or have LED dropin bulbs in them, for extended runtimes.

Learn how to prepare food, from initial prep through cooking and eating, then cleanup afterwards, just by the light of your headlamp. The real key here, is to have one that does not have exposed LEDs. It is second nature to me, since I do it every night.

Something that can be truly useful, particularly in areas that get ice storms and such, are gas powered generators (natural or propane). These can keep your critical household systems running when commercial power drops out. They are expensive, but worth it if you can afford one.

 

[paulr]

A light with a pocket clip, attached to a cap brim, also works real well as a headlamp, if the surrounding temperature is suitable for wearing a ballcap.

 

[Hoghead]

Charles Bradshaw,
Why do you prefer that the LEDs are not exposed?

 

[Stanley]

[ QUOTE ]
Hoghead said:
Charles Bradshaw,
Why do you prefer that the LEDs are not exposed?

[/ QUOTE ]

While I'm not Charles (obviously...) would it be because it causes less glare in your eyes? If the leds are exposed, then its kinda hard to see properly esp when you're trying to get your eyes used to the dark...

 

[Hoghead]

By "exposed" do you mean like a ARC AAA or like a MiniMag in candle mode?

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

I am thinking in terms of headlamp usage. Grease or cooking oil mist from cooking gets on things. If the LEDs are exposed, then it becomes tough to clean. If the LEDs are protected by a glass or plastic bezel (aka lens), then cleaning is very easy.

If you are just boiling water, with or without food in it, it doesn't matter.

I am sure most here have at least seen a picture of the Black Diamond Moonlight (exposed LEDs). Very hard to clean grease off of those LEDs.

Even under normal conditions, I do all of my food prep and cooking with a headlamp, and this includes frying foods. I even wash the pots, pans and dishes using a headlamp. So I speak from experience in this.