Lights Out

How do you prepare your family and home for load shedding?  Don't be caught in the dark.  Criminals may see this as a great opportunity to break entry, so ensure your homes are secure and locked up. Have all the essentials in place and remember to be vigilant.  Place the proposed load shedding schedule on the fridge so that you will have enough time to prepare and plan:

• Regularly check your alarm system's battery. Electric surges are one of the biggest causes of damage to equipment during a power outage. Load shedding causes batteries to wear out faster so get back-up batteries for alarm systems.
• Keep a few spare torches or headlamps in the house, as well as fresh spare batteries.  A bright gas or LED gas lamp provides good quality lighting. A torch would also be useful to keep in your car in the event of you arriving home during a power outage.
• Save emergency contact information on a piece of paper that is easily accessible like the telephone numbers of the police, medical services, fire department, and close family relatives. Teach your children about fire safety - don't leave candles burning overnight and keep them out of children's reach. Make sure you have matches or a lighter. Also have a fire extinguisher on hand.
• Remember to keep electronic devices fully charged in case of an unscheduled blackout. Your cellphone should always be fully charged.
• Disconnect all electric appliances when there is load shedding.
• Store emergency water in the freezer compartment. These 'ice bricks' will also help keep food cold during a power outage. Keep essential foodstuffs in the cupboard that do not need to be refrigerated. Prepare meals in advance should you know the load shedding schedule. Enjoy a lekker braai - always a favorite!
• Only use generators outside as they produce carbon monoxide, which can be fatal if inhaled and is highly flammable.
• Keep some extra fuel aside (petrol stations cannot pump fuel during load shedding) and some extra cash (auto tellers cannot operate without electricity) at home.