The Emergency Lantern You Can DIY With Basic Supplies At Home

A disaster supplies kit is a must-have item in any home. Its components will help you and your family handle the effects of extreme weather, extended power outages, and other unforeseeable events. Water, non-perishable foods, and a first aid kit are just a few of the essentials to keep packed in the house in case of an emergency. A flashlight or other battery-powered light source is also an important item to have available at any time. If you're storing water in clear plastic bottles and you add a roll of tape to your disaster kit, you should also be able to use your flashlight to create an emergency lantern whenever you need one. This DIY won't take more than a minute to put together and will absolutely come in handy during a blackout.

To make an emergency lantern, turn your flashlight on and point it downward into a clear plastic bottle of water after removing the lid. Then, use tape to hold the flashlight in place, and remove any packaging from the outside of the bottle with a pocket knife or a utility knife. The water will refract the glow of the flashlight and illuminate your space. This simple yet effective DIY is definitely one of the most genius hacks you'll want to know during power outages. While you'll hopefully never have to use it, it's always best to be prepared.

There are a few simple ways to make your emergency lantern more effective. First, opt for a water bottle with a plastic handle so you can easily transport the light. Next, add extra batteries for the flashlight to your disaster kit so your creation will last for longer. In place of painter's tape, you might want to use duct tape, since it tends to be stickier. Plus, it's one of the most important emergency supplies that every house should have stocked. However, duct tape might not be as translucent a material as painter's tape, so if you use it, you might want to skip taping over the open lid before affixing the flashlight. In any case, you should avoid tipping your lantern sideways, or the water in the bottle will come into contact with your flashlight, which could damage it.

If you don't have a clear water bottle at home, try using a plastic food container, a big jug, or a glass dish in its place. If you have a headlamp, you could potentially strap it around the outside of the bottle instead of taping it down. Then, you could simply remove the headlamp whenever you need to use it for its original purpose. Even if you have all the supplies for this emergency lantern DIY, you should still keep waterproof matches in your disaster kit since they can generate heat for cooking or warmth.