Why Everyone Should Have An Emergency Radio

By Eric Holm


In the time of crises we often lose control over our thought process and become nervous. Such traumatic emergency situations or conditions need to be handled with proper care and intelligence. Your safety should always be the top priority in any case because unless you are safe you cannot provide help to others. Safety is always the top priority and emergency communications is the basic element to this safety. It requires a lot of courage on the part of the victim to wake up and take charge after the devastating damage that comes with a natural or man-made disaster.

Communications often break down in the immediate aftermath of a massive flood, devastating tsunami or strong earthquake. In some cases, physical damage will render the system inoperable. Many times the system simply becomes overwhelmed as people desperately attempt to reach out to loved ones. Antennas can lose power and cellular towers and telephone wires can be physically damaged, depending on the nature of the disaster. Government systems can even break down in the wake of hurricanes, blizzards and other severe weather events. When communication among the citizens becomes limited, it is time for certain organizations to spring into action with solutions. There are a number of different plans in place that are designed to restore or replace certain communication systems where there is a catastrophic failure. There are also tools and pieces of equipment that can help people stay in touch during these trying times.

An amateur radio setup has limited power but can be an important form of communication when the professional systems fail. When cell phones and wired phones are knocked out of commission, the amateur radio will still be able to send and receive signals. It does not depend on vast land based facilities that are vulnerable to damage. Amateur operators are often able to power their radios with an ordinary car battery.

A solar radio or solar radio flashlight is a powerful tool when power is unavailable. This device will convert sunlight to energy that will run the batteries and allow the light to work. A traditional AM/FM transistor radio will be able to pick up any warnings that are being released over the airwaves. It is important to keep track of the news stations so you will know immediately if there are evacuation orders for your area. These handy devices may be the only form of communication available when the power fails and your survival depends on you being able to stay informed about what is going on around you. These items are often equipped with a strap and headphones.

Other devices that can be used during a crisis include a crank radio, a megaphone or a bullhorn. There are also units that combine a crank radio and flashlight, similar to the solar unit noted above. Something as simple as a whistle can be used to get the attention of rescue workers. Three short blasts will indicate that you need assistance. The rescue team members will typically signal back with two short bursts to indicate they have heard the call for help.




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