It’s A Light Matter

For the average person the coming of night is a welcome respite from the business of the daytime hours.  When you are out in the wilderness and the darkness falls, it is a different matter entirely.  Many animals are nocturnal and so the sounds in the night are different and frightening to the uninitiated.  Light from a fire or battery type light is very important.  I don’t like to be out alone and in the dark.  I like a light of some kind!  Even if it’s just the light of a campfire, it is not only warming to the flesh but comforting to the soul.  Firelight can keep predators away and keeps you from seeing things that aren’t there!  We talked about the importance of fire in a previous post and plan to continue to offer tips and suggestions in the future.  But, for sure, one of the best effects of having a fire is the light it provides.

It’s a good idea to have some type of light with you, on your person, at all times.  A lot of smart phones have a very bright flashlight feature and because you usually have your phone with you it’s a very handy idea.  However, the cell phone light depends on your phone’s battery for power and so is limited in how long you could use it in a survival situation or emergency.  With the  advent of LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs replacing the older incandescent style, it is now possible to have a very bright light in your pocket or purse that lasts for many hours on one or two batteries.

When looking to purchase a light to use, you should always, in my opinion, consider these items:

1.What kind of batteries does it require?  I believe AA or AAA is best as they are commonly found in bulk in most places.  Button batteries are expensive and difficult to source in large quantities.  For instance, in some home improvement stores, you can purchase AA batteries at about 30 cents apiece in bulk, made in America, with a ten year power lock warranty.  Two Lithium CR32 button batteries will cost you 3.99 in a pack and are not often found in bulk.  If you must use button batteries, then make sure you buy spares and carry them with you somewhere.  It should also be noted that button batteries are dangerous around young children as they are small and can be easily put in the mouth.  They can be deadly if swallowed. So, for me, I prefer the larger batteries.

2. How will you carry the light? In your hand, as in a typical flashlight, on your cap or gear using a clip style attachment, or on your head, as a headlamp, or does a battery lantern fit your needs? (Please note that unless it is a very small lantern, it’s not going to be easy to keep it on your person and thus you won’t have it if an emergency occurs.)

3. How long will the light operate on one set of batteries?  Some of the better brands can give you 150 hours of light on the low setting using just three AAA batteries.  That truly is a good amount of light for a long time.  They are also not hugely expensive.  They normally retail for about 30 dollars and they can be found on sale for as little as 20 dollars and often come packaged with a new set of name brand batteries.   I have seen a small flashlight which uses a single AA battery that puts out 30 Lumens of light for 40 hours!  That’s impressive!  Used for one hour a night, that would give you 40 nights of light for about 30 cents!

For the Believer in Jesus Christ, He is the Light of the World, The Light of Life and He Lights everyone born into this world.  So many people are filled with the darkness of sin and it’s evil effects in their hearts.  I hope that if you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you are letting your light shine for Him and being His Witness every day.  We must point others to the Light, and that’s not a light matter!

James B.

PS. You can check out my website where you can set up training for many of these skills at www.waypointsurvival.com and look at and order my custom knives at www.benderknifeworks.com.  But remember, I don’t do any business on Sunday, it is the Lord’s Day and I want to keep it Holy!