PSA: Check Your Flashlights

You’ve probably been there before: maybe you had a flat tire on a dark night. Maybe the power went out. Maybe you heard something bumping around downstairs. You grabbed your flashlight and tried to turn it on — but nothing happened. Perhaps a sad little click click click as you hammered the switch. The batteries were dead.

I try to check my flashlights every year at Daylight Saving Time. I waited a bit this year, but the concept is the same: periodically inspect your flashlights to make sure they work when you need them.

We had eleven out of twelve working torches. In addition to finding a dead lamp, I also discovered that I didn’t have any flashlights in my personal go-bag. I added two from my reserves and was good to go.

Take a trip around your house and cars right now — how many lights do you have, and how many were working?