Thank Goodness for Cell Phones!!!

I finally had an emergency tonight that warranted the use of my cell phone!

I was laying in bed watching TV when suddenly the power went out and then back on for a second or two and then out again. It was 12:40 am and nearly pitch black.

I was thinking "What the heck!" I could see that the apartments across the river had lights. So I thought it was just my building. I got up and was trying to remember where I had last seen my mini flash light (one of the things my kittens like to bat around). I made my way into the living room and saw lights under the door. There was power in the hallway.

I then figured that it was likely a circuit breaker in my apartment.

The problem was that I didn't have a light (no candles within easy access), and then I had an idea! My cell phone has a light!!!

So by the light of my cell phone, I reset the breaker and then there was light and power in general!

Good thinking!!

I use my cell phone as a flashlight all the time if Rob turns the lights out in the bedroom before I get in there after turning off the rest of the lights in the house. My new phone even has a "flashlight app" on it (really just is the camera's flash staying on). He tells me I just need to learn to walk in the dark better

Hehe.... I use my phone as flashlight every night on my way to bed! I have these mini nightlights in the hallway that are just enough light to walk down there; but the living room is like a mine field with blocks and little people (toy figures about 2 1/2" tall) and whatever else my daughter has strewn about that I was too tired to pick up.

The vacation house in Hungary has light switches in really weird places, and I often have to cross two rooms in the dark. That's the one time I really use the cell phone "flashlight" app or my little Kindle reading lamp.

I've used my cell phone as a flashlight too. One time was to investigate why I had no water but power everywhere except where the jet pump lives; that was simply because some cat unplugged both the pump AND the light in that dark little room. The last time was just this summer on the night of the burning trees - I was so badly frightened that I didnt have the wits to find a real flashlight in the dark, despite frequient lightning flashes and I have a flashlight for every room because the power goes out here enough to warrant that.

If you have an android phone that has a camera with a flash, you can download the "Swiss Army Knife" app that will use that flash as a flashlight. If you don't have a flash, it will black the screen, pure white, to use for light. I don't know if the Iphone has a similar app.

Just as an aside, if you have a Harbor Freight nearby, you can get a pack of two LED flashlights for about $2 most of the time (check their web site for coupons) and they are extremely handy. And, at that price, they're virtually disposable. Get some of those expensive lithium AAA batteries and they're very bright and long-lasting, too.

I have several of them around the house, in my truck bag, in my cars, etc.

You can order those online, too.

I use mine as a watch. Really.

Linda, you may want to buy a hand-cranked flashlight--I have a cheapie from WalMart, which has worked for the past 4 years. It holds the charge well, too--I've picked it up a few months later, and it still had some charge left. It cost about $8 USD then. I hear the LL Bean $19.95 version is very good, too.

And guess what I used the flashlight for the first time? To lure a scared cat out from under the deck, and back into the house! (She followed the beam into the house.)

I don't have a cell but I use my DS as a light at night all the time. I have a flashlight on the nightstand, too, but the DS is easier to find in the dark.