Power Failure Lights

Unless you carry a flashlight in your pocket at all times, you never seem to be close to one when the power goes out. But with a couple of strategically positioned power failure lights, you won't be in the dark when there is no power.

Power failure lights, also called emergency flashlights or blackout buddies, are portable lights plugged into a socket that charge and when the power goes off, a switch it tripped in the light that makes the light come on.

This ingenious device can be a lifesaver, literally, for handicapped or elderly people who need to be able to see in an emergency to avoid falls and other mishaps.

Photo Credit: Peggy Hazelwood

The first time I saw these emergency lights was at Learning Ally, where I used to volunteer once a week. Learning Ally is the new name for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Volunteers for this non-profit organization record books, mostly textbooks, for people who are unable to read a book in the "normal" way.

In the office, there was a large open area and then another room where the enclosed recording studios are housed. The recording studio area was very close quarters and in the best of times, we volunteers bump into chairs and tables.

When I asked Pam, the studio director, what the lights were, she told me they are like nightlights that come on when the power goes off. I had never heard of this before and thought it was one of the best ideas I'd heard of.

She said the room with the recording studios is pitch black when the power is off so she bought a few of them so volunteers could open the recording booth doors and not have to grope their way out of the room if and when the power went off.

Emergency lights don't have to be expensive. If you want to buy some back-up lights but are on a budget, these options will let you sleep easy at night (and see if the lights go out!) for less than $15 each.

I've bought several of these power failure lights as inexpensive gifts for my children. Placed in a central place in the house, I know that if the power goes out, my grandkids will be able to see at least a little bit!

And the lights can be removed from the outlet and carried around like a flashlight, if needed.

Keep your hallways, bathrooms, or bedrooms lit with a few of these handy emergency power failure lights.

Instead of flashlights that need batteries, these emergency lights are always ready to go when you really need them.

Some of these lights contain two or three lights so you can spread them around and keep your family safe when the power goes out.

Buy these light systems when you want the best option for lighting in case of power failure.

Use solar lights for instant "free" lights at night year round. These lights are handy for finding your way when it's dark out and to keep you from tripping and falling when coming home at night.