10 Smart Ways To Cope When Load Shedding Strikes
10 Smart Ways To Cope When Load Shedding Strikes. We are always caught off guard when load shedding strikes. Most people are left hopeless, waiting for the power to come back. The following tips will help you deal best with this unfortunate situation.
1. Stay Alert
Always follow the news for load shedding schedule. Put the proposed load shedding times somewhere handy so that your family will have enough time to prepare for the power outage.
2. Charge Your Gadgets In Advance
Keep your cell phone charged, or invest in a portable phone charger. You will still be able to chat with your contacts and in some cases get some work done. A charged phone also means you can call for help if you need to.
3. Prepare For Dark Days
Always have candles in the house. They are a reliable source of light once it goes dark. Always have a torch with batteries around. Torches are convenient when you have to go outside, or look for items in the house.
4. Make Sure Your Food Stays Fresh
Your fridge and freezer supplies should be okay without power over night if you do not open and close it repeatedly. If you’re worried about certain food items, prepare an ice-box for these.
5. Have Gas For Cooking and Lighting
Even during load shedding, we gotta eat at some point. A small LP gas bottle and lamp gives good quality lighting for a large area and can also be used for cooking and boiling water.
6. Have Hot Water Ready
Fill a thermos flask with boiling water before the blackout for a warm cup of tea or coffee during the blackout. This is ideal more so in colder days.
7. Have Cash
Because of high rates of crime, many people prefer to use bank cards as opposed to carrying cash around. During load shedding though, t is advisable to have a certain amount of cash with you. This is because ATMs cannot operate without electricity.
8. Take Safety Precautions
If you need to manually open and close your gates when you get home, try to have someone come and meet you at your entrance, or arrange for an escort from your security company.
9. Unplug All Cables
It’s always a good idea to unplug appliances, or any electronic devices, when the electricity goes out. These appliances, which include cell phones and computer equipment, can be damaged when the power comes back on due to a spike in electricity flow.
10. Invest In A Generator
If your budget allows, buy a portable generator. Learn to safely use your generator and test it monthly. Make sure to store enough fuel to run the generator for up to a week.
