4 Tips For Coping With a Power Outage

When the power in your home goes out, it can be a real inconvenience. Sometimes, it might just be a case of a tripped fuse, and you can easily get it back up and running again. But when it is a bigger issue with the electricity supply, you might be waiting hours, or even days. And some homes and parts of the country are far more susceptible to power cuts than others.

Coping with a power outage, especially with children in the house, can be tough. You need to be prepared for such an eventuality so that you can still carry out everyday tasks like eating, bathing, and getting your kids ready for school. Children can find the darkness scary, and it can be extremely frustrating for you to not know when the power is coming back on again. Here are a few tips to help you get through a loss of power.

Be prepared

If you live in an area that is particularly susceptible to power cuts, you certainly have no excuse for not being prepared. But even if it is not commonplace for you, it’s a good idea to have a few simple measures in place just in case. Keeping a few battery-powered light sources around the house is a great idea, such as flashlights, head torches, and lanterns. Make sure they are fully charged or have the necessary batteries in stock. You also need to make sure your family can eat. If you have a gas stove and a lighter or matches to ignite it, this shouldn’t be a problem. But if your heater is electric, you might need to invest in a camping stove or even an outdoor barbecue to enable you to prepare food.

Entertain your family

One of the biggest drawbacks of a power outage is the boredom. Without televisions, computers, and phones, children in particular can find it difficult to entertain themselves. You’re going to have to make an effort to keep the monotony away. Books and toys are good for keeping children occupied, but a board game or jigsaw puzzle can get the whole family involved.

Comfort scared children

Having no light at night can be frightening for a child, so make sure to ease their concerns. Try to explain the reason behind your lack of power, and assure that it will soon be back to normal. Try to distract them with some fun games or conversation, and hopefully they will emerge from the experience more confident and able to deal with future power outages.

Consider a backup

If power outages are a regular occurrence in your neighborhood, it might be a good idea to consider a backup power source. Keeping a generator nearby will allow you to make use of some electricity for important tasks like charging your phone or doing work on your laptop. You can get any necessary replacement OEM generator parts from Appliance Parts Pros, and you’ll just have to make sure you have enough fuel to keep it running until the power returns.

Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay