How to signal for help with a flashlight

No matter how experienced you are, the unpredictability of the wilderness can turn a simple pleasure outing into a fight for survival. An injury, sudden changes in the weather, an encounter with an aggressive animal or a simple navigational miscalculation can drop you squarely into an emergency situation.

More than one lost or stranded hiker has been saved because of a simple piece of technology: a flashlight. By knowing how to use your flashlight to signal for help, you can increase your chances of being found before the situation becomes dire.

STEP 1: Be seen.

When attempting to signal for a rescue, it’s important that your light is powerful enough to penetrate the darkness and be seen from the air as well as from afar. For this reason, it’s better to bring an LED flashlight than a traditional incandescent one. LED flashlights provide a high-powered beam that can be spotted from several miles away. Get yourself a grade-A LED flashlight from Klarus Light today!

If you have space in your pack, an emergency LED lantern can also help rescuers find you more easily. Today’s LED lanterns can offer up to 100 hours of battery life and provide helpful area illumination as well as an emergency strobe for getting attention. Some lanterns even offer a red emergency light.

While it’s important to stay put and not wander around while you’re waiting to be rescued, it may be worthwhile to find a high point or a clearing from which to send your signal to increase its chances of being seen. Do this only if you are uninjured and can see a better location from where you are standing.

STEP 2: Signal for help.

While it may be tempting to leave the light on at all times, especially if you are alone at night, it’s important to use your flashlight sparingly to preserve the batteries – even if you have a long-lasting LED flashlight.

Instead, send brief blasts of light by turning your flashlight on and off. Three flashes in a row will generally indicate to any onlooker that you’re in need of help. You can also use the Morse code signal for distress, which is three short blasts, three long blasts and three more short ones.

An LED flashlight can be used to signal a helicopter or a search party in the distance, so remain alert for lights, sounds or other signs that a rescue party may be in range. Preserve your batteries as much as possible so you’ll be prepared for this moment when it comes.

STEP 3: Wait for help.

Once spotted, you may be tempted to head toward your rescuers, but this can be a huge mistake. The last thing you want is to signal where you are and then not be there when help arrives. Plus, wandering around in the dark can increase your chances of becoming injured.

Instead, keep your cool and wait for them to come to you. Continue signalling with your flashlight periodically to help guide them toward you.

If you plan on hiking off the beaten path this summer, remember that your basic survival kit should include a means for signalling for help. By telling someone your plans, packing emergency LED flashlights or an LED lantern and keeping your cool in an emergency, you can vastly increase your chances of being found before the situation becomes dire.

How to prevent batteries leaking in your flashlight

You grab your handy flashlight and turn it on, but all you see is darkness. When you open up the battery compartment, you can immediately see the problem – the batteries have leaked.

Batteries that leak in a flashlight make a huge mess. If the leak is small and caught right away, it can probably be cleaned up and your flashlight can be saved. Larger leaks can easily ruin your flashlight. This is a problem you can avoid by using these smart tactics.

- Remove the batteries from a flashlight that is rarely used. You can store the batteries along with the light, but don't install them until you are ready to use it.

- Leave the batteries in a flashlight that you have placed in a glove compartment or other place to use in case of an emergency. Remove, inspect, and test the batteries at least every 6 months. If the batteries are run down, immediately replace them. Depleted batteries are more likely to leak.

- Replace depleted batteries in a flashlight with fresh, new ones. Don't mix old and new batteries. Use batteries that are the same type, made by the same manufacturer.

TIPS

- Dead batteries should never be left in equipment, their process is nearly complete and the shell is close to breach.

- Live batteries have a date on them for a reason. Chemical reaction occurs even if the battery is live and able to run the equipment. Often with today's LED technology, for example, the batteries will corrode through and start leaking long before they become too weak to run the flashlight.

- If your flashlight is part of a crash kit where you need batteries with the device at all times for emergency use, store them in a separate Ziploc bag and check their dates periodically as well as for leakage.

How to hold a tactical flashlight

Tactical flashlights are used as a self-defense tool mainly by military and law enforcement professionals. It is most often accompanied by a handgun or a small firearm; tactical flashlights are compact, durable and incredibly bright – a feature that allows the defender to temporarily stun or disable an attacker. 

Klarus manufactures and designs some of the most exciting and innovative flashlights on the planet. Choose Klarus light torches for a wide variety of tactical flashlights, hunting lights and so much more. 

By testing and exploring a variety of holding techniques, you can better prepare yourself for a real combat situation.

What you will need:

     ·         Pistol or handgun

     ·         Tactical flashlight

     ·         Mirror

Instructions:

     ·         Position the mirror so you can clearly see your upper torso and face in the reflection. Ensure that your pistol or handgun is empty and unloaded for practice.

     ·         Wield your handgun in your desired hand and grip the tactical flashlight in the other. Grip the tactical flashlight in a full-palm grip with your thumb immediately over the activation button. Extend both arms forward until the barrel of the gun and flashlight are parallel to each other, with hand clasped together. This holding technique is called “Surefire.”

     ·         Lower the hand holding the tactical flashlight and cross it beneath your hand holding the firearm so that your wrists touch. Practice this basic technique, called the “Harries,” in the mirror by aligning your wrists and keeping them firm you pivot your hips and arms.

     ·         Raise your hand holding the tactical flashlight until your elbow forms a 90° angle. The arm holding the tactical flashlight should be fully extended, while the forearm raises perpendicular to it. Hold the flashlight with your fingers so that the middle finger of your hand rests on the activation button. This is called the “Modified FBI” grip, and it is a method for holding the light above and away from the centre of your body while keeping your gun hand fully extended and ready to fire.

Turn out the lights in the room and practice the three holding techniques. Explore holding options with your palm and fingers and distinguish which technique you favour, or which provides the most maneuverability and visibility. Practice quickly turning the flashlight on and off as needed, soon you will master all the ways to hold a tactical flashlight!

Review - Klarus Light XT20 Tactical Torch

If you haven’t quite figured it out yet, KLARUS makes some truly incredible flashlights. The flashlight that we will be looking at today is the XT20 tactical torch. This torch is advertised to be stealthy and powerful, and it definitely exceeds that role. The XT20 outputs a blinding 2000 lumens and makes an ideal night patrol flashlight and search light.

To purchase your very own XT20 torch, visit Klarus Light and place your order today!

It is surprising how small the XT20 is, many would expect it to be much bigger and heavier. But, no matter what it size is, it is capable of producing wider, more intense beams of light because of the two heads.

The XT20 has a beautifully machined aerospace-grade aluminum body. The torch is hard-anodized in dark grey, for scratch resistance. In your mind the torch probably seemed a lot longer, but it is only 218mm long and 25.4mm wide. The light has an anti-roll and anti-slip body design and it fits your hand comfortably.

Many have said that the rear button on the XT20 can be accessed very easily, even from different positions. Plus it is easy to find in the dark and will be pressed by default when pressing the tail of the light.

There are 4 lighting modes and 1 flashing mode, and they seem very well spaced out, the low mode is just right for reading. There is even a special button that will activate the strobe whether the flashlight is on or off.

The XT20 is a great tactical torch as it can be weapon mounted and used with the Klarus TR10 pressure switch for remote control.

This torch may seem clunky and oddly-shaped, but it is also very comfortable to carry. The torch comes with a Klarus heavy duty holster with a belt loop and a D-ring, which is a nice touch!

If you are looking for an extremely bright and durable tactical torch them the XT20 tactical torch from Klarus may just be the perfect light for you.

What have your experiences with the Klarus XT20 tactical torch been?

Guide to basic LED flashlight repair

When your light decides not to work, it can usually be fixed very easily. Here is a guide to go through some basic troubleshooting steps that may hopefully help your light shine again!

for a wide variety of durable and affordable flashlights, visit Klarus Light's website. Klarus is one of the most well-known torch brands in the world and are guaranteed to be high quality.

It is possible that these solutions may not fix your problem, if so, and then it would be best to have your flashlight repaired under warranty.

PROBLEM: Your flashlight is shining dimly

SOLUTION: Check you batteries. When you’re diagnosing a problem with anything, it’s always a good idea to start off with the simplest possible solution. If your light is shining dimly, the issue is probably weak batteries. Replace your batteries with a fresh set and you should be good to go.

PROBLEM: Your flashlight is flickering

SOLUTION: Dirt or grime on contacts. A common solution to flashlight flickering can be dirt or grime on the internal contacts of the light. Unscrew the head and tail cap off your flashlight and clean the contacts where the body touches the head or tail cap. To do this, use a damp paper towel.

PROBLEM: Your flashlight is not turning on

SOLUTION: Check your batteries, dirt / grime on contacts, or improperly assembled flashlight. Have you disassembled your flashlight and then found that it does not work upon reassembly? It is possible that you disassembled it improperly. 

Disassemble your flashlight again. This time make sure all O-rings are properly aligned and any pocket clips or accessories are correctly installed. The head and tail cap of the flashlight should fit snugly. If the head or tail cap are not tightened down all the way, make sure that any O-rings or other possible obstructions are not keeping you from tightening them down.

Hopefully these simple solutions helped with your flashlight problems. Although they are not guaranteed to fix your light, these steps are where you should start your flashlight troubleshooting.

The world’s brightest flashlight

Brightness is usually indicated in lumens, which is a measure of the total output of a light source. A classic mini Maglite flashlight peaks at around 15 lumens. A typical LED headlamp puts out around 50 to 100 lumens, and a 100Watt light bulb clocks in at around 1,750 lumens.

The world’s brightest and most powerful flashlight from Wicked Lasers is called The Torch and it blinds all the competition with a whopping 4,100 lumens – that’s enough power to cook an egg or set paper on fire!

Here are some examples of lumens to compare to the Torch:

- A dinner candle provides about 12 lumens
- A 1 million candle power spotlight 580 lumens
- A 20 million candle power spotlight 3300 Lumens

If that much juice is a bit too much for you to handle, take a look at the torch selection on the Klarus Light website. You can find a flashlight that won’t ignite everything you shine it at.

Back to the Torch. It is a compact, handheld little devil that powers a 100Watt halogen bulb with a rechargeable battery system specifically designed for the Torch. The casing is made from military grade aluminum, with a simple push-button on/off switch at the base. 

But, it’s not exactly the most practical torch. The extreme heat from the bulb causes the metal casing to become dangerously hot within a few minutes. The Torch user manual suggests you use protective gloves when using it.) The battery life is almost non-existent and a full charge only lasts 5 to 10 minutes, and it’s not exactly cheap.

However, if you want to start a fire or cook an egg with a beam of light, then this is just the toy for you!

Watch the Torch burn paper, set a cigarette alight and scramble eggs here...

How does an LED flashlight work?

An LED flashlight is a portable, handheld light source, and they are known to be the best lighting technology. Klarus Light has a top range of affordable LED flashlights to choose from. But, how do LEDs work?

Looking at basic lighting technology, you will usually see incandescent bulbs, which are your average light bulbs. They work by heating up a tiny metal filament that glows, which can waste a lot of energy because of all the heat that is produced. This means that the run time is usually short and the light is not very bright.

When LED flashlights are turned on, the filament casts a light that reflects away from the bulb, and the reflectors can focus and even magnify the light to project a stable beam. LEDs are usually preferred because they have special features that are not found in your average flashlight. Some of the better features are that they have a stable, crisp light source that is much brighter than a standard bulb.

LED flashlights are perfect for camping or hunting trips, unlike a normal flashlight; they can send concentrated beams of light that can reach 1.5km away. They are also durable under tough conditions. A standard flashlight may not be able to last very long in the extreme outdoors – the bulbs are easily broken and are useless if shattered. Most LED flashlights are made out of tough, durable material that can stand a few drops and throws.

Most flashlights will work for three to five hours depending on the life span of the batteries. LED flashlight, however, last much longer! You can get 100 hours of light before needing to replace the batteries. In the end LED flashlights save you money and make changing batteries a thing of the past.

6 Things your Tactical Torch should always have

When tactical flashlights are researched and tested, you have to look at a lot of different things. For a wide range of grade-A tactical torches and other flashlights, take a look at Klarus Light’s website.

Here are some of the things any real tactical flashlight should always have:

Runs on AA batteries
- It is the most common battery in the world. In a survival situation this is very good. A great flashlight is no good at all if you can’t turn it on.

Ultra Durable
- This is kind of self-explanatory. If your flashlight is broken or it breaks easily, it just becomes a torch-shaped paperweight.

Chipped
- Chipped flashlights are more efficient with batteries as they are electronically controlled and run longer and brighter. They will hold brightness over time and then dim quickly at the end of the battery’s life-cycle.

Latest LED Diodes
- Each flashlight has to run on the latest or very close to the latest LED diodes. LED tech has gotten to the point where you can have super bright lights that last a very long time.

Multiple Modes
- Each flashlight should have at least one bright mode (to blind attackers), a mid-range mode (for everyday tasks) and a low light mode (for night use or super long life).

Reputation
- It’s important that the flashlight you choose has a solid reputation and has proven to be effective in the field time and time again.

Anytime a company or brand claims they have the best product you always have to do your research. Make sure you go through these six things and make sure your tactical torch has them!

The most important flashlights that everyone should own

There is no such thing as having too many flashlights. You should always have multiple flashlights, because every single one has a different use. Visit Klarus Light for a wide selection of different flashlights!

It’s great to have a flashlight within arm’s reach at all times, these are the five types you should keep around…

Key chain Light
This flashlight is small and inexpensive, a key chain light can be your new best friend! It provides light in and around your car – this is especially good when you are alone walking to your car. It illumination power will not be able to match that of larger lights, but you don’t always need a beam bright enough to melt steel. A little squeeze is often all you need, and it’s just right for checking pupil dilation in first aid situations.

Pen Light
Pen lights have really come a long way over the years. Bright beams, long battery life and a tough construction are just a few of the typical characteristics. A pen light is perfect to keep in your purse, pocket, and survival kit or anywhere a compact light would be welcome. Pen lights that clip onto a hat brim or a pocket are extra handy.

Tactical Light
When you’re in a situation where you hear a bump in the night, a tactical light with high-lumen, ultra-bright tactical light will be perfect. These lights are able to reach out into the darkness and let you see what you want and need. Look for lights that have multiple features like battery saving low-intensity settings and an attacker disorienting strobe setting.

Heavy Light
Yes, there is still a place for those large, long and clunky battery flashlights. You should keep one on the table next to your bed as they double as a light and a backup weapon!

Head Lamp
This is many people’s favourite in most situations. The headlamp gives you hands-free lighting, very often with a long battery life. Headlamps will stream illumination wherever you look, while keeping both your hands free to do work.

What kind of lights do you carry with you? Always have spares in case one becomes damaged or lost.

Klarus is one of the most sought after brands of torch in the world. Contact Klarus today to purchase an innovative yet affordable flashlight, today!

5 ways your flashlight can save your life

In a survival situation, darkness can be a dangerous thing. It disorients us, makes us less aware of our surroundings, creates fear and panic, and provides a cloak for criminal activity.

A reliable flashlight is an important tool to keep on hand at all times. If you know how to use it properly, an LED flashlight can help save your life in a number of scenarios.

Here are five ways you can use your flashlight in an emergency situation:

1. Spot trouble before it happens
Criminals prefer to work in darkness! An LED flashlight is your best bet for spotting a potential attack before it occurs. Walk with confidence and shine your flashlight into any shadows where someone may be hiding.

2. Defend yourself
A flashlight can also be used to tactically ward off an attack. Instead of holding it the way people usually do, with your fingers pointing towards the bulb, invert your fist and grip the flashlight with the bulb pointing away from your thumb. This allows you to use the handle for either jabbing or swinging like a baton.

3. Send an emergency signal
If you’re lost of stranded, an flashlight can be used as a beacon to signal help. More than one lost hiker has been found by search and rescue teams thanks to the intelligent use of a flashlight.  To signal for help, send three rapid pulses of light at a time, as the strobe effect is more likely to grab someone’s attention.

4. Ward off an animal attack
Not all threats are from humans. If you encounter a dangerous animal at night, a blast of bright light in the eyes can disorient take it enough to scare it away.

5. Escape a death trap
In an earthquake, fire or other disaster, you may need to quickly escape from a darkened building. A flashlight can prevent injuries by staving off panic and helping you find a way out with minimal trouble.

Survival is all about resourcefulness and getting the most out of every tool available to you. A flashlight is one of the most versatile tools available!

Klarus designs and manufacture some of the most exciting, practical and innovative LED torches on the planet with ultra-high Lumen output. Place your orders today!