The UK Government has urged households to 'stay prepared in an emergency' as winter approaches, releasing a Be Ready checklist that includes a torch, a battery or wind-up radio, and a power bank among its essential items.
The advice, published last month, sparked a social media frenzy, with many wondering why they were being asked to stock up on essentials. The Government has explained that the advice is part of a three-year campaign designed to ensure households 'feel better prepared' for events such as severe weather, which forecasters say is becoming more common.
Torch: a no-brainer for power cuts
The number one bestselling torch on Amazon is the Blukar LED Torch Rechargeable, priced at £12.99. It has earned nearly 10,000 five-star reviews for its brightness and longevity, with a runtime of up to 16 hours on a single charge. However, it is charged via USB, which is not ideal during a power cut.
As an alternative, the Gritin LED Head Torch, priced at £16.99 for a pair, is recommended for hands-free use. It runs on AAA batteries and has been awarded five stars by more than three-quarters of shoppers. For outdoor use, the Forclaz Battery-Operated Torch at Decathlon costs £9.99 and is described as 'ideal for camping excursions'. The Nebo Rechargeable LED Triple Light Kit at Screwfix, priced at £59.99, includes an area light and a headlight for heavy-duty tasks during a power cut.
Radio: stay informed during outages
The Government recommends investing in a battery or wind-up FM radio to stay up to date with news and announcements during a power cut. Households are also advised to write down the frequencies of any national or local radio stations they use for news.
Top-rated options on Amazon include the Mesqool Wind Up Radio for £65.99 and the PRUNUS J-369 Wind Up Radio for £41.99, both of which double as flashlights and are solar hand-crank radios. A simpler option is a portable radio, such as the Bush Lisbon DAB/FM Portable Radio at Argos, priced at £24.99, which takes four AA batteries and is recommended by 91% of shoppers.
Power bank: keep devices charged
A power bank is a worthy investment to keep phones and other essential gadgets charged during an outage. Amazon's bestselling option is the JIGA Power Bank, priced at £20.36, which can charge three devices simultaneously or charge an iPhone between three and five times, and includes a built-in flashlight.
For those needing more power, a portable power station is a higher-priced option. The Anker SOLIX C300X Portable Power Station at Argos costs £209 and has eight outlets, while the Jackery Explorer 1000 V2 Portable Power Station at Currys has been reduced from £899 to £398.
