If your batteries run flat and you can’t hear all the songs on your portable cd player, or you have to get up and carry out the unfamiliar task of controlling the television manually, it is not generally considered an emergency. However, there are some instances where having a reliable portable power supply can really make the difference.

When going out sailing at sea a couple of the most essential items to take are a powerful torch and a radio. The torch will almost certainly be battery powered and the radio may possibly be as well. If strong winds blow you off course or you simply lose your way then you will be grateful for having checked that these items were fully operational and had an adequate supply of working batteries before leaving dry land. The same principles apply for any trip which has the potential of you getting lost or stranded somewhere, such as mountain climbing or pot holing. You should also consider leaving a reliable torch in your car and checking its batteries every couple of months.

Power outages are more common in some places than in others these days, with regions which suffer from extreme weather conditions more susceptible to this happening on a regular basis. Regardless of whether this happens in your town fairly often or only once every few years it is still a very dangerous and stressful time, especially for families with children. If you know where your torch is always stored and you also know that it contains working batteries then you will be able to handle the situation a whole lot easier. When there is no main power supply having a battery operated radio and clock might not be a life saver but it will certainly make the time spent in the darkness a bit easier to cope with. You can also buy battery operated wall lights which you can either put on the wall or store until needed. If the power goes down you simply click it and the light comes on, provided that you had previously remembered to fit it with working batteries of course.

One of the more extreme situations where having your own portable power supply is essential is in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Earthquakes, hurricanes and the like have the habit of knocking out power supplies and leaving us dependent upon our batteries and battery powered equipment for attempting to carry out our normal activities as well as carrying out repair work and search and rescue missions.