What’s So Great about LED
An LED light like those available in emergency lanterns or flashlights is far superior to a standard incandescent flashlight. LED’s are not like traditional bulbs because they contain no glass casing or filament. This means you don’t have to worry about the bulb breaking or the filament burning out at an inconvenient time. A white LED light will burn for years longer than a comparable white light bulb at a much lower energy cost. You may also find that manufacturers will combine LED’s in a lantern or flashlight to produce a brighter light in the same amount of space as a standard bulb would be able to create. This is why you can find small LED flashlights that put out a great light than some larger traditional versions. Because multiple LED’s are used in these lights you are also generally able to use different light settings easily as well. The ability to dim an emergency lantern in the evening or at night at the push of a button is another great feature of a quality LED lantern.
What to Look For
There are a few key features you should make sure to pay attention to when you are purchasing your LED emergency lantern. Look for a lantern that is convertible between a “lantern” mode and a “flashlight” mode. Also look for one that utilizes multiple LEDs. Depending on the size of the lantern, 8-12 bulbs are recommended. A hand crank to provide emergency power in case the batteries are low is a wonderful feature as is a rechargeable battery pack. As mentioned above, the ability to adjust the light intensity either through different settings or a dimmer switch is a practical feature that can ensure that your lamp can be used for both emergency situations as well as general outdoor use.
Extra Bells and Whistles
As always, there are some additional LED lantern options and features out there that may prove useful to you. Some come with built-in radio systems for listening to news or weather reports. Others have emergency road flare settings which blink orange or red lights should you keep the lantern in your outdoor survival kit or camping gear. As always, check out product reviews online and read about other users’ experiences with lanterns with these features to see if they prove useful or not.
Regardless of the brand or style of LED emergency lantern you choose, it is important that your home have one in its emergency tool kit. The value of having a dependable light source in an emergency situation is immeasurable when it comes to the safety and comfort of your home and family.
-Ben Anton, 2007
