Depending on where you live, power outages may be a regular occurrence. Severe summer storms often disrupt the power grid. Lightning and strong winds aren’t exactly friendly to conventional electricity. On the flip side, neither are blizzards with heavy snow. If you live in a state with a lot of storm activity during summer and winter, power outages are expected.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t make being in the dark any less uncomfortable. The experience can be frightening and anxiety-producing, especially for families with kids. Besides worrying about whether you can save the food in the fridge, there are concerns about restlessness and personal safety.
When you’re a mom, you’re usually the one managing that anxiety in your family, plus yourself. It’s not an easy feat, for sure. But by having a plan, running drills, and following emergency lighting tips, you can ease some of the trepidation. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
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Store Flashlights in Each Bedroom
Keeping a flashlight in the kitchen and garage is a great idea. More than likely, they’ve come in handy when you’ve found yourself surrounded by darkness. Still, a flashlight that is rooms away isn’t going to be helpful when the kids are in their bedrooms. Power outages can happen in the middle of the night, sometimes with little to no warning.
When everyone has flashlights or headlamps in their rooms, it’s much easier to navigate the unexpected. Got a nightstand? Store emergency lighting in each of them. Show your kids where the devices are so they know where to reach for them when needed. You can also store backup batteries in the same place.
And if you’ve got rechargeable devices, make a plan to recharge them periodically so they’re always ready to go. Assembling a kit, complete with USB chargers, ensures 100% preparedness. Teach your kids how to use the devices, including the best ways to wear and operate headlamps.
Install Battery-Powered Wall Lights
Nightlights are comforting for a reason. They emit soft light that illuminates enough to mitigate fears of the dark. While not as bright as a regular bulb, nightlights still help people avoid stumbles, trips, and falls. The problem with traditional nightlights is that they need your home’s electricity to run.
But battery-powered motion and stick-on alternatives don’t depend on the grid. It’s why placing these in strategic locations can prevent safety hazards during outages. For instance, you could place these lights near stairs, landings, and in hallways. You might also consider installing battery-powered or stick-on motion lights in bathrooms and near entry points to bedrooms.
Additional places include high-traffic areas, such as living rooms. Put them near furniture and appliances that could cause injuries if someone were to run into something. Barriers like gates in homes with multiple levels might work when the lights are on. But these same barriers can easily become accidents waiting to happen if they’re not as visible in the dark. Eliminate these concerns with a motion-activated light nearby.
Hold Regular Drills
Remember fire drills in school? Your workplace might still make you run through them. These drills are designed to familiarize you with emergency procedures. They’re also held to see how well those procedures could work during a real-world event.
Nothing says you can’t apply the same practice at home. Make it a family affair by asking older children and partners for ideas on how to respond to power outages. Answer questions like where everyone should go and communicate with each other. Think through various scenarios, including ones where a family member may be stuck at a different location.
Maybe you’ll decide to invest in radio devices, which allow you to communicate when the cell phone infrastructure is down. Violent storms are also known to disrupt wireless phone networks. Running through drills could expose opportunities to enhance your family’s safety. Consider holding drills every few months so everyone feels more confident about what to do.
Create Activity Kits
For adults, power outages may be no big deal. The lights flicker, they’re out for a few hours, and then everything comes back on. Once you’re experienced enough outages, you know how to stay calm. Kids, though, may have a completely different perspective.
They may not know how to process disruptions, let alone respond to them. They’re going to be feeling a mix of emotions, which could cause them to act out. Kiddos may also be upset that they can’t do the activities they’re used to without the TV and Wi-Fi.
Bedtime could be more challenging when the power’s out and a storm is raging outside. Having comforting items and activity kits in their bedrooms can help calm their nerves. Think back to what families used to do before technology took over. Board games, crossword puzzles, and books are still accessible with a flashlight. Blankets and stuffed animals provide an additional source of comfort and security during scary experiences.
Power Outage Tips for Moms
33.9 million households reported going through a power outage at least once during a 12-month period. About 70% of households stated an outage lasted for six hours or longer. While some states experience outages more frequently, there’s no denying that being without lights can be more than an inconvenience.
When you’re a mom, keeping your kids safe and calm is your top priority. Helping them through an unsettling experience is just as important as preventing them from getting injured in the dark. Emergency lighting, response drills, and activity kits help you stay prepared for the worst.
