Power out? Light your house in a ‘flash’

The flashlight has been illuminating dark homes since its invention in 1898. 

Joshua Lionel Cowen—the same guy who invented toy Lionel trains—claimed he also invented the flashlight.

The owner of the American Eveready Battery Co., Cowen said he used a metal tube with a light bulb and a dry cell battery to illuminate flower pots. When he got bored with his invention, the story goes, he passed it along to a salesman at the company, Conrad Hubert, who used the device to make the world’s first flashlight.

You probably have a drawerful of flashlights—but how many of them have batteries in them? Stock up on batteries that fit your flashlight so you’ll be prepared if a winter storm knocks your power out temporarily.

More tips for seeing in the dark:

·       Store your flashlights—and fresh batteries--in lots of locations around your home so they’ll be close by if the lights go out.

·       Invest in a flashlight that plugs into the wall and stays charged until you need it.

·       Locate the circuit breakers in your house and learn how to check for tripped breakers or blown fuses. If your power does go out, it could be a problem with your electrical panel. Check there before calling SWPPD.

·       Keep a hard-wired phone somewhere in the house. Your cordless phone won’t work if the power goes out.