Time to consider some equipment. Today I'm looking at lights. There are lots of lights you can pack into your kit. Some you may want at home You need to consider what you may need where you live. Will you evacuate in an emergency or will you stay home. I plan for either contingency.

Flash lights are the most common king of light placed in an emergency kit. If you choose a flashlight do not go with the cheep ones. You will be better off with a good quality flash light than a light plastic one.  When I first put my kit together I had a cheep plastic light. When I tested my kit the cheep  light failed the second night. The lens fell out and the bulb failed. I have to say my favorite lights are the lights you wear on your head like a headband. When properly set you can see what you are doing and have your hands free to do it. Standard flash lights are good for general use and when you do not need two hands to do the work.

Battery powered lanterns are also great light sources. They give steady light in a larger area than a flash light can. They are good for general lighting and give good light to work by. If a group effort is under way they can provide more light to more people. They work best if they are a little above the work site. This will keep the light out of the eyes of the workers and help reduce the shadows.

All battery powered lights are only as good as the batteries. You will need to check the batteries at least every 6 months and replace them when they have reached their expiration date. Do not store your batteries in your light. If they leak they will ruin your light. They also tend to loose power faster. When your batteries are gone so is your light.

Another light source is oil lamps, there are several kinds you can choose from. They give off a warm light with softer shadows. Oil lamps also produce heat and can be used to help warm a dwelling.
Oil lamps burn oil. There are a lot of oils you can use. Any commercial grade lamp oil should work well. Kerosene, vegetables oils and other flammables have been tried. They may not burn very bright, smell bad or produce more smoke than you would like. There are scented lamp oils. Scented oils help mask the smell of people who have not been able to bathe for several days.

If you have an oil lamp you will need a way to light the wick. You will need matches, lighter or other fire source to get the wick lit.

The lamps can burn for several hours or days depending on size and styles. You can have several nights of oil in a single bottle.

If you put an oil lamp in your kit remember the oil will leak out if it is not kept upright. Do not fill the lamp until just before you need it. You will want to drain any unused oil out of the lamp if you plan to put it back in your kit.

For home use many people keep the oil in their lamps so they are ready at any time. If you do this be sure to check the oil level with each inventory. The oil will evaporate over time. You will be able to store the oil in most cases indefinitely. In the home a few gallons can give light at night for many weeks.

WARNING: Oil lamps have a fire danger. They have a flame and can get very hot. you should never place them near combustible materials. They need a steady, secure place to sit or hang. Many people have died because an oil lamp was knocked over.(see San Fransisco Great Fire).

WARNING: Oil lamps produce carbon monoxide and other harmful fumes. Oil lambs should only be used in a ventilated place. Do not use in a sealed room. Carbon monoxide is heavy and can fill a low or confined place in your home.

Candles are the old standby. They are easy to store, have a very long shelf life and can be used in a very large number of holders. I have a stock of religious icon candles. I have timed them and they can burn for as long as 72 ours each. The messages of hope and faith also help build morale. Some candles burn very quickly and some slow, Many give good light and some almost no light. I have several of the scented candles that come in jars. They can last for several days and generally produce a good amount of light. If you decide to put candles in your kit be sure to have matches or a lighter. You will need to light the wick to have light.

Never let a candle burn to the bottom. It should be put out before it reaches 1/4 inch in height. When a candle in a jar reaches the bottom it can ignite all the wax in the jar and cause a very hot fire that will come out of the jar and burn anything combustible near it. Never leave a candle unattended.

WARNING: Candles are a fire hazard and produce carbon monoxide.

If you want a light in the darkness during your emergency you will need a light source. Feel free to pick one or more of the ones I have listed or anything you know of that works for you. I have all four kinds of light. Flash lights and candles in my kit and oil lamps and battery lanterns for my home.