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Will your flashlight work in a blackout? Six home checks

A practical six-step check of your emergency flashlight: accessibility, power, battery type, and safe storage.

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Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Zhantong Zhang / CC BY-SA 3.0. Original unmodified. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Flashlight.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

Don't wait for a blackout to look for light. The American Red Cross includes a flashlight and spare batteries in emergency supplies. These steps concern ordinary replaceable-battery models; follow the manufacturer's instructions for rechargeable ones.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Choose an easy-to-find spot. Keep the flashlight somewhere dry and known to everyone, such as near an exit or bedside, without blocking the path.
2. Switch it on and check the beam, switch, and compartment cover. Stop using it if performance or condition is abnormal until you identify the problem.
3. Check the battery size, chemistry, and +/− orientation against the device instructions. Never force in an incompatible cell.
4. When replacing disposable batteries, change the whole set together using the same type and size. Do not mix old and new batteries.
5. For extended nonuse, follow device guidance on removing batteries. Store them cool and dry, away from loose metal objects and children.
6. Tell everyone where the flashlight and spares are. If you notice leakage, swelling or abnormal heat, do not dismantle or try to recharge primary cells; consult the maker and local disposal guidance.

American Red CrossNational Preparedness Month: How to Build Your Emergency Kit ↗Official emergency-supply list includes flashlight and extra batteries; checked 2026-10-30.EnergizerBattery Do's and Don'ts ↗Official battery guidance confirms matching size/polarity, changing whole sets, removing batteries for long nonuse, dry room-temperature storage and child/short-circuit precautions.Wikimedia CommonsWikimedia Commons: A Flashlight.jpg ↗File page independently checked on 2026-10-30: author Zhantong Zhang; per-file CC BY-SA 3.0; direct original file accessed. Photo used only as subject illustration, not evidence of the guide's results.Wikimedia CommonsWikimedia Commons reuse outside Wikimedia: technical hotlink policy ↗Hotlinking is allowed from Wikimedia servers; independent file-level license and credit remain mandatory. Confirmed 2026-10-30.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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