In the past month, we’ve gone over the importance of the top four essentials when it comes to earthquake preparedness. Today we’re moving onto the fifth priority, which is light!
- Water
- Food
- Heat
- Shelter
- Light
- Communication
- First Aid
- Sanitation
Have you ever stood in complete darkness? Or been in the woods, far away from the glow of city lights illuminating your way? The importance of having a source of light in your emergency kit is often overlooked. Most of us live in or near urban centres where we’ve become accustomed to the city lights at night, so, even the darkest of nights is never pitch black. Even if you live a fair distance out of town, you can still see the glow of a large city in the distance. The most obvious need for a source of light in your emergency kit is to see in the dark, but there are many more!
- to use as a signal for help
- for comfort (and not just for children!)
- for safety
- to help in rescue efforts
Because of the importance of having light, it’s wise to have more than one type of light in your kit. It’s also wise not to count solely on batteries to keep your way lit but to consider lights that can be charged by a renewable charge like solar or hand crank (dynamo). At Quake Kit, all of our earthquake kits include emergency lights, and most of these are multi-purpose – they not only light your way, but are also radios and cell phone chargers as well.
You have a number of options when it comes to purchasing lights for your earthquake emergency kit. Don’t shy away from trying out a couple different kinds before an emergency actually happens, and why not pair a couple kinds together, for extra insurance?
Check out our Premium Two Week Earthquake Kit for Two People, and notice that it includes a bundle of light sticks. These are especially helpful if you have a family with you. They can lend a little fun, and comfort you while you try to make the best of your situation.
For more information on what to do during an earthquake – and how to prepare – check out St. John’s Ambulance’s pages. Otherwise, stay tuned for our upcoming article on the importance of communication during an earthquake.