If the lights go off tonight, can everyone in your household find a torch without using a phone? That is the test of an emergency lighting plan. The UK government’s Prepare campaign recommends a battery or wind-up torch with spare batteries and says torches are safer than candles.
You do not need a complicated installation. Put a working torch where each person can find it in the dark, add a lantern for a shared room, and check the batteries regularly.
Which lights are useful?
| Light | Best use | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hand torch | Finding your way to a door, stairs or consumer unit | Easy switch, comfortable grip, charged or fresh batteries |
| Head torch | Tasks needing both hands, such as helping a child | Adjustable beam, suitable fit and a low setting |
| LED lantern | Lighting a table or room without pointing a beam at someone | Stable base, diffused light and dimming |
| Battery LED night light | Showing the route to the loo or a child’s room | Whether it actually runs during a power cut |
| Phone torch | Short-term fallback | Preserve phone battery for calls and updates |
A lamp’s lumen figure measures its light output. You do not need to chase the biggest number. A bright concentrated beam can dazzle someone in a dark corridor. Test the light in your own rooms: choose a dimmer setting for the table and enough directed light for steps and practical tasks. Manufacturer runtime figures vary by mode and battery, so test your actual setup rather than relying on a generic hours chart.
Put lights where they will be needed
Keep a torch by each bed and one near the front door. Put the shared lantern in a fixed, easy-to-reach place. Tell everyone in the household where it lives. A torch beside the consumer unit can help you read its labels, but do not open electrical covers or touch exposed wiring. If a circuit keeps tripping or there is water near electrical equipment, leave it alone and ask a qualified electrician.
Check the route from beds to the stairs and exits. Keep it clear of boxes and trailing cables. A battery LED night light can help, but do not assume a plug-in night light stays on during an outage.
If someone uses medical equipment or a telecare device, lighting is only one part of the plan. UK government guidance says to find out what backup support your device and phone service provide. Contact the relevant provider before an outage.
Batteries and charging
Choose lights whose power source you can manage. Standard replaceable batteries are convenient if you keep the right spares. Rechargeable lights are convenient if you charge them routinely and have a backup when they run flat. A wind-up torch can be useful, but try it first: some need frequent winding and give limited light.
Make a short check routine, for example when you test your smoke alarms:
- Turn on every torch and lantern.
- Check that battery contacts are clean and undamaged.
- Charge rechargeable lights and your phone power bank as their makers direct.
- Replace weak, leaking or expired batteries and store spares safely.
- Test the lights in the rooms where you expect to use them.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on rechargeable cells and chargers. Do not mix old and new batteries or different chemistries unless the device maker permits it. Keep small button batteries away from children.
Why LED beats candles
London Fire Brigade identifies candles as a common cause of house fires and recommends flameless LED candles as a safer alternative. A head torch or lantern gives more useful light without a flame. Do not use a camping gas lamp, oil lamp, barbecue or stove indoors as a lighting workaround.
If you nevertheless use a real candle, put it in a stable, heat-resistant holder away from curtains, paper, furniture, children and pets. Never leave it unattended, and extinguish it before leaving the room or going to bed. Do not use candles as heat sources. Make sure smoke alarms work.
A five-minute household check
Tonight, turn off the room lights and try finding your torch. Walk the route to the exit with it. See whether the lantern is easy to switch on and whether the light reaches the steps. That small test tells you more than a list of claimed lumens or a large box of untested batteries.