Amazed

[Weedygarden]

I really thought someone in their 90's has lived long enough to know they need a flashlight!!

Is it a widow? She may have always relied on a husband and didn't think about it. But this is where the candles from places like Dollar Tree are good to have as well.

 

[Pearl]

Is it a widow? She may have always relied on a husband and didn't think about it. But this is where the candles from places like Dollar Tree are good to have as well.

Yes, both are widows, both I would have considered to be strong women! Just not sure what to think.....

 

[Weedygarden]

Yes, both are widows, both I would have considered to be strong women! Just not sure what to think.....

There may be something relative to mental capabilities at this stage in their lives.

 

[Morgan101]

There may be something relative to mental capabilities at this stage in their lives.

Do we call this the circle of life? It seems that we come into this world as helpless infants. We have to be nurtured and provided for for several years before we become self sufficient. As we age our physical and mental abilities diminish, sometimes to the point where we again, cannot take care of ourselves. Sometimes the family intervenes, sometimes the person may have to be put in a home.

If it were my loved one I would provide an Emergency Kit to be kept in the home. It wouldn't have to be much, but it would be well marked, and I would go through the contents with the loved one, so they would know what was in it, and how to use everything. IMHO they just aren't capable of doing it themselves.

 

[viking]

Sadly alkaline batteries, now being made in China, do not hold up like they used to, if you have them in flashlights or anything else, you need to check them frequently. Duracell used to be some of the best batteries, now it's a shame how bad they have become. The last best alkaline batteries I had were Panasonic brand.

 

[Weedygarden]

Do we call this the circle of life? It seems that we come into this world as helpless infants. We have to be nurtured and provided for for several years before we become self sufficient. As we age our physical and mental abilities diminish, sometimes to the point where we again, cannot take care of ourselves. Sometimes the family intervenes, sometimes the person may have to be put in a home.

If it were my loved one I would provide an Emergency Kit to be kept in the home. It wouldn't have to be much, but it would be well marked, and I would go through the contents with the loved one, so they would know what was in it, and how to use everything. IMHO they just aren't capable of doing it themselves.

I do agree with you. I see many older people who should be taken care of like they were children. They are driving, and dangerous. They are taking care of all of their own needs. Maybe some of them don't have children to take care of them, but I know many do. I know that life can be full and have many demands, but older people need to be taken better care of.

Yes, an emergency kit would be helpful. Some people don't have them in their homes, nor think about them for the rest of the family. I once was house sitting and there was a storm, electricity was out. The homeowners told me where they thought a flashlight was, but I looked high and low and never found one in their home. They have one in a drawer in their kitchen now. I had one in my car.

 

[elkhound]

i love all forms of 'flashlights'.

but if you really want someone to 'see' pull out a miners light and helmet...lol..be it a wheat light or nite light or other type...lol

on subject of lights...priced coleman mantles lately..??...i needed some #20 ones. cost me an arm and leg till i can find another source.

 

[Weedygarden]

i love all forms of 'flashlights'.

but if you really want someone to 'see' pull out a miners light and helmet...lol..be it a wheat light or nite light or other type...lol

on subject of lights...priced coleman mantles lately..??...i needed some #20 ones. cost me an arm and leg till i can find another source.

My favorite flashlight is a headlamp that Caribou shared about a few years ago. I promptly ordered two, one for my car and one for my bug out bag. They put out great light.

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GT49F9C/?tag=forumyield-20

 

[SoJer]

...There are people that go out and buy batteries just before their annual weather disaster. They buy every battery in the store and then return them when the threat is passed.

IKR??!! And, these Very same people will have No Trouble smoking-up a Pack / two of Cigs, a Day.. (and No - that's Not a 'dig' on any smokers, herein - Point being simply that some people will go Whole Hog on a Non-Necessity - like smoking - or like porn or eating Out 2-3x a week or 'toys' that rot in the Garage, etc, etc) but.. Prepping even some Batts / a Flashlight for even a 'mild emergency'?? Well - that's just a "waste" or "hoarding"...

Ya just can't Fix Zommies. 'Forrest' didn't have it Quite right.. Stupid is as Stupid Is..

jd

 

[joel]

So the severe weather the other day was very well announced!! TV, radio, social media, Pearl (telling everyone I know to get ready)! So yesterday and today I am hearing so many stories of unpreparedness!! Two of my clients in their 90's didn't have flashlights ! One lady I know goes out to eat everyday, her area had no electricity, hence, no restaurants open! And several who didn't know the storms were coming until the sirens went off!! WTHeck???

I keep Ramen noodles & can beans just for this "nothing open."
You can live on them for ten days if need be.
In the late 60s or the early 70s, we had a big snow (for S.C.) we had flour, shot squirrel, had hoe cake, gravy & squirrel for three days.
Cooked & kelp warm with a wood stove.

 

[TMT Tactical]

I have 5 lanterns, several flashlights. Every door in every room has a small flashlight hanging on the door knob, even the bathroom doors. I have a pocket flashlight on my belt. I have three headlamps. We will not be stumbling along in the dark. All use rechargeable batteries. I have about 30 rechargeable batteries in each size, fully charged and ready to go.

 

[Haertig]

I use rechargeable Eneloop NiMH batteries in my infrequently used devices almost exclusively. They don't leak, they are cheap, readily available, and they hold their charge for a very long time. There are other brand NiMH batteries that have slightly higher capacity, but those self-discharge much faster than the Eneloops. IMHO, Eneloops are the best compromise out there by far (using NiMH technology).

For my high use devices, I mostly use rechargeable Lithium ION. Those have great capacity. But your device has to be designed to use them as their voltage is much higher than their same-sized Alkaline siblings. You also have to take more care when charging (and discharging) these batteries due to heat and fire risk. But they do put out the power when you want a long lasting very bright flashlight.

For devices I give to people who don't check their batteries and just throw their devices in a forgotten drawer, they get primary Lithium batteries (this is a different technology that rechargeable Lithium ION). The primary Lithiums are high capacity, low chance of leaking, long shelf life, premium price, single use batteries.

 

[SoJer]

Quick-aside (sorry, I know this is 'OT'...)

This is the flashlight I EDC now: ...Olight..

+1 for O-Lights stuff.. I am always Loathe to purchase Anything from China (because of the CCP, Not because 'of the Chinese, themselves'.. Most of their People: Good; CCP: Nothing-But Bad.. etc) but.. I Do have to say that their products are Good Quality (I don't shop by "Price" - I shoot for Quality, First..) and all the Products I've tried from them, perform / hold-up Very well.. In particular, I was Quite pleasantly surprised by:

I have 5 lanterns...

..O-Lights 'Lanterns': Olight Olantern Rechargeable 360lm LED Lantern - Basalt Grey for sale online | eBay (just as a Ref.. I know those are 'sold out', but I'm sure you can go to their Store / check around) I was Quite 'skeptical' (having grown up on the timeless Coleman Propane / 'White-Gas' Lanterns etc..) but I gotta say.. Impressed, I was / am.. So-much so, I bought several More (and they were receptive to multi-piece-discount Offers and gifted to Sons / Mom & Dad / Sis's, etc..

I see these Especially serving well for future situations where we will want 'Good Light Discipline' / Do Not Want a 'portable Sun' in our home / fort / BOL-cabin, whatever, as that Could 'create' / worsen Risk of 'discovery' / attack by malevolents, etc.. These have Just Enough light to See just Fine (for Most indoor / tent-camping, etc situations) and the 'Low Light Mode' is very helpful, toward Light Discipline-aims - pretty hard to 'achieve' that with a Coleman with it's 5 Quadrillion Candlepower soon as it's Lit..

Anyway, Fwiw.. Just my .02.. Now back to the 'shake our damn heads' channel..

jd

 

[Tommyice]

I do agree with you. I see many older people who should be taken care of like they were children. They are driving, and dangerous. They are taking care of all of their own needs. Maybe some of them don't have children to take care of them, but I know many do. I know that life can be full and have many demands, but older people need to be taken better care of.

I see this all the time at work. The elders are on their own because the kids no longer live in the area or are more "linked" to the spouse's family. A lot of the time the elders hide their frailties very well from their children. The other thing is they don't want to "bother" their children with their needs because they see it a sign of weakness. I see it with my own father. He puts on a strong front when with my brother but he knows he can't hide it from me because I'm with him everyday.

One other good thing that came out of the pandemic. When it first started and there were so many unknowns, I got to meet a lot of these adult children. They were scared for their parents with this and how the elderly were more vulnerable.

 

[Pearl]

I see this all the time at work. The elders are on their own because the kids no longer live in the area or are more "linked" to the spouse's family. A lot of the time the elders hide their frailties very well from their children. The other thing is they don't want to "bother" their children with their needs because they see it a sign of weakness. I see it with my own father. He puts on a strong front when with my brother but he knows he can't hide it from me because I'm with him everyday.

A lady I am very fond of has me do a lot of extras because she doesn't want her kids to think she needs a lot of help.

 

[lonewolf]

there are also people like me who have no close family, all are deceased apart from a widowed cousin and a half sister and neither are close, I never had any children.

 

[Cabin Fever]

Speaking of lights, we use Aladdin lamps and a PetroMax lantern. No need for batteries. We have about 5 gallons of stored K1 kerosene. We have lots of flashlights, too. Two of the lights are parts of our two Emergency radios that can be hand cranked for power. One of these radios also has a built-in solar panel, too.

 

[lonewolf]

we have several flashlights that we run on Procell batteries the ones professional photographers use, I also have a stock of hand cranked flashlights for when the batteries run out.
I have used kerosene(called paraffin over here) lanterns in the past but its not easy to purchase these days, filling stations no longer stock it.

 

[Morgan101]

i love all forms of 'flashlights'.

I am right with you there. I have an obsession with flashlights. There are at least three in every room, and a flashlight and a headlamp in every BOB. There are three in my car, and I too keep the O-Light rechargeable on my key ring. We also have several lanterns of all types; battery operated and rechargeable, kerosene, and propane.

Neb, one hack that I use, especially with the lights that will not get used frequently, like the ones in BOB's, I put the batteries in backwards. I don't know if it has helped lengthen battery life, but IMHO it does keep the batteries from leaking, and ruining the flashlight. It also eliminates the possibility of the flashlight being turned on accidentally. Works for me.

Flashlights are also an item I keep for barter. We probably have a couple of dozen stashed for just that purpose. They are inexpensive, don't take up a lot of room, and I don't think they have a shelflife.

 

[lonewolf]

it ceased to amaze me what other people did or didnt do a long time ago.

 

[Spikedriver]

For emergency lighting in my home, I keep a couple pop up lanterns from Harbor Freight. They're about 5 or 10 bucks. It's the best thing I've seen yet for a short term issue like storms causing a power outage.
1250 Lumen Soft Shade Portable Lantern
In my bathroom, between the toilet and sink, there is what looks like a light switch stuck to the wall. That light switch has a small LED bank in it and 2 AA batteries. It provides plenty of light for an emergency and I can reach it from the toilet. There is also a small flashlight on the kitchen counter and in the end table drawer next to my recliner.

 

[Hooch]

I prefer headlamps, I like my hands free but I have several flashlights everywhere too. Same way at work , small powerful pocket light and lately 2 headlamps on since half the mill didnt have lights.
A few years ago, a local gas station/convenience stores back room caught fire as a employee opened the door. We had a big snow and it blocked or froze up a gas valve thing. I was new to snow country and didnt know at the time that it's best to keep gas meters n the top of the tanks snow n ice free.
I had asked the propane fill up guy to show me what area they were talking about n he advised to keep it all clear if I can. In the event of a bad winter, or a needed fill up, he advised to make it routine to keep your tanks n everything ice n snow free. So I do.
I got about 5 inches last night I need to dust off today.

I too still wonder why folks who choose to live where they do in cali n after a few days are in desperate need? I can understand if their roof collapsed n what not..although I'd still be trying to make it work knowing me.
I do need to come up with a better plan for myself for winter shelter if something destroyed my primary shelter.
I'm planning on a small bunk room in the shop..I need to get it done.

 

[Spikedriver]

@Hooch Good call on the head lamps. I keep one in my little portable tool bag. Your post reminded me that I need to check the batteries in it.

 

[Hooch]

@Hooch Good call on the head lamps. I keep one in my little portable tool bag. Your post reminded me that I need to check the batteries in it.

I just went through all my headlamps recently and either changed the batteries or recharged the ones that can.
Those rechargeable headlamps are pretty nifty. The light is pretty bright, enough for a home use or like in the mill getting about in a smaller space. The light gets lost in a big dark space and it's useless if you need to see into a field but it will get you outside or keep you from smacking your head n tripping over stuff. I have a bigger headlamp on my hardhat for really dark areas that need to be light up.
I discovered my expensive best ever headlamp is ruined thanks to leaking batteries. It was a Petzel light I used for SAR. It could see across a field in its brightest setting..I'm so bummed..

 

[Caribou]

I am currently using a headlamp similar to the one Weedy showed a link for. This one is rechargeable and uses the Micro USB charger that my phone uses. I wear this when walking the dog at night. One hand holds the leash and the other hand holds a walking stick, which is handy in. the snow. I also have a few pocket size flashlights with the rechargeable 18650 LI-ION battery. This uses the same charger as the headlamp and phone. It is a single 3.6V 2600mAH battery.

 

[Caribou]

I just went through all my headlamps recently and either changed the batteries or recharged the ones that can.
Those rechargeable headlamps are pretty nifty. The light is pretty bright, enough for a home use or like in the mill getting about in a smaller space. The light gets lost in a big dark space and it's useless if you need to see into a field but it will get you outside or keep you from smacking your head n tripping over stuff. I have a bigger headlamp on my hardhat for really dark areas that need to be light up.
I discovered my expensive best ever headlamp is ruined thanks to leaking batteries. It was a Petzel light I used for SAR. It could see across a field in its brightest setting..I'm so bummed..

Take the batteries out, spray the battery compartment down with Corrosion Block, and let it sit for a couple days. It should work but no guarantees. Here is a link but you should be able to find it locally, probably for less.
https://www.amazon.com/CB12-Corrosi...d=1678031504&sprefix=corrosion,aps,273&sr=8-2

 

[elkhound]

the one thing i miss is headlamps that take double a batteries. so many take expensive odd batteries or triple a now. the aa last so much longer than aaa.

one thing i want to find or build is rechargeable lantern with eneloop batteries in it.

i have various headlamps..but more is better.

 

[Haertig]

The problem with headlamps for me is when I'm working up close I have to tilt my head back to use the bifocal prescription at the bottom of the progressive lens. When working under the kitchen sink on the plumbing this is a pronounced issue, since there is almost no maneuvering room under there. If the headlamp does not allow for significant vertical tilt it just doesn't work for me (up close, that is). The strip style mentioned in previous posts are great for horizontal spread of light, but not vertical. The vertical component of the strip style looks to be 100% controlled by head position, and you may need that head position for something else - like bifocals. The strip style would be good for walking around the back yard though.

 

[dademoss]

The problem with headlamps for me is when I'm working up close I have to tilt my head back to use the bifocal prescription at the bottom of the progressive lens. When working under the kitchen sink on the plumbing this is a pronounced issue, since there is almost no maneuvering room under there. If the headlamp does not allow for significant vertical tilt it just doesn't work for me (up close, that is). The strip style mentioned in previous posts are great for horizontal spread of light, but not vertical. The vertical component of the strip style looks to be 100% controlled by head position, and you may need that head position for something else - like bifocals. The strip style would be good for walking around the back yard though.

https://a.co/d/cs6jm4c

 

[Caribou]

The problem with headlamps for me is when I'm working up close I have to tilt my head back to use the bifocal prescription at the bottom of the progressive lens. When working under the kitchen sink on the plumbing this is a pronounced issue, since there is almost no maneuvering room under there. If the headlamp does not allow for significant vertical tilt it just doesn't work for me (up close, that is). The strip style mentioned in previous posts are great for horizontal spread of light, but not vertical. The vertical component of the strip style looks to be 100% controlled by head position, and you may need that head position for something else - like bifocals. The strip style would be good for walking around the back yard though.

Have you ever used the strip style headlamp? Even once, to work on something?