Untitled-1.jpgWhen it comes to emergencies, none of us is immune. They can happen to any-one, at any-time. And, they can vary enormously in their nature. Recently there was an earthquake in Vancouver. There wasn’t any damage, but there easily could have been. Emergencies are not to be feared—they’re to be faced. And there’s no better way to face them than by being prepared for whatever may come. Read on for a few useful tools that may prove invaluable during your next emergency!

Take, for instance, the Freeplay Tuf Solar & Crank Multiband Rechargeable Radio with LED Light. This durable piece of multi-use equipment will serve you well in any number of emergency situations, from a basic power outage to getting lost in the woods while camping. Rechargeable by solar power, through hand cranking, or via a mini USB cable (sold separately), there’s literally no scenario or circumstance whereby you’ll find yourself deprived of its ultra-bright & powerful LED lighting capabilities (with 50,000 hours of life expectancy) and its one-way radio connection to the rest of the world. You can tune in, for instance, to the NOAA weather band for continuous weather info and updates at any time—24 hours a day, or listen to any of its other AM / FM / or WX digitally tuned audio pickups. Also present here are a digital clock (with 12 or 24 hour display options), an emergency cellphone charging port (of the USB variety), and a carabiner handle (which is great for either hanging it up or carrying it around). Added to these fine features are its rugged & dependable design & construction and a one year warranty from Freeplay. All things considered, having one of these on hand is pretty much half of the emergency preparedness battle!

Some emergencies are vehicle emergencies. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the dreaded dead car battery. For me, there have been more than a couple of occasions where I’ve been at the mercy of other kind motorists who were willing to stop and give me a boost. If I had had the Weego 12000mAh Jump Starter Battery+ handy, I wouldn’t have needed any help at all! If I ever find myself stranded somewhere late at night with a dead car battery again, I hope I’ll have had sense enough beforehand to remember to order one of these jump starter sets. Maybe I should get right on that! This particular kit includes a pre-charged battery pack, jumper cables, a 3-in-1 USB charging cord, both wall and car chargers, a LED flashlight (with strobe & SOS “emergency” lighting functions), 8 laptop / device connectors (with adapter cable), and that’s not even the entire list. Better still, it all comes in a handy carrying case for your convenience! Be sure to see the Best Buy product page for full details.

Some emergencies happen when there’s nobody else there but you and the hapless victim. Consider this scenario: You’re out hiking with a friend on a lonely trail when he or she falls and gets some nasty cuts and scrapes. What do you do? Why, you whip out your Stansport Pro II First Aid Kit, which is perfect for use at home, in your car, or during a hiking / camping trip, and get to work treating & bandaging them. This handy kit has 42 different pieces of first aid equipment, including absolute essentials like bandages & gauze, and it even has a helpful guide book with tips and info on how to administer basic first aid procedures. Everything has its own special place in the lightweight and portable case as well, meaning your kit will always be neatly organized. This will make it easier to find important items when events become rushed and confusing. There’s no more basic piece of emergency equipment than a general first aid kit. Whether you choose this particular kit or go with another option, just make sure you have one ready the next time you need it!

Well, that’s all for today! Remember, emergencies happen to everyone, and they’re always a surprise. Don’t be caught off guard when your next emergency arises. When you’re ready and prepared for the unexpected things in life, you mitigate their consequences and lessen the severity of the situation. Happy New Year!! 

Leonard Bond
Leo enjoys writing about everything from secret agents to tech toys and gadgets to professional hockey. Find his reviews and other product related commentary right here on the Best Buy Blog and his latest hockey rants at www.hockeycontroversial.com.