Hand Crank Emergency Radios
The hand crank emergency radio is a fairly recent product, coming to market in the early 1990′s after cobbling together a small radio and some toy parts. The mother of this invention or inspiration was a TV show about the rapid spread of HIV in the continent of Africa. The problem was raised that while there was an AIDS education program on the radio to try to stem the tide of the disease, most people did not have electricity available to listen to it on a radio. So motivated by the importance of the message to be delivered, the inventor set out to create a self powered radio. He succeeded in getting some investors to back his idea and actually was the winner of a design award for his creation.
Although this radio was initially developed for the areas of the world with little to no power, they have become a cornerstone to emergency preparedness for many. We have all watched the many natural disasters take place around the globe, where something as basic as a radio can convey all important messages concerning safety, food, water and other necessities of staying alive. Many of the things we use on a daily basis operate on electricity. They would be rendered useless without power. When faced with these circumstances, an emergency crank radio can serve as a life line for news about what is going on, and what steps should be taken to survive during an emergency.
The hand crank radio operates by turning or cranking a handle that creates power for several minutes. It is possible to crank it up to full charge and it will operate for somewhere between 30-60 minutes. The hand crank serves to charge an internal battery that keeps the small charge to operate the radio. There are now radios that offer several sources of power to be used. These can be useful in an emergency as you may not have access to one, but another will work fine.
Most of these radios also receive AM and FM signals. Some even get the international channels of the short wave bands. While all these signals are nice and can be vital, being able to get the weather information is super important. Many of the hand crank radios come fitted with a hand crank flashlight. These are super helpful as well, operating by hand crank just like the radios.
In light of hurricane Katrina many are conscious about being prepared for emergencies. Having lived through the 1989 quake in the bay area, and not having power for over two weeks, I am keenly aware that we should all be able to take care of ourselves for at least a week or two. You really do not know when you may find yourself in the midst of a natural disaster.
An emergency kit should be part of everyone’s gear, to be ready in times of disaster. What should I include in an emergency kit? The basics are portable water, canned goods, flashlights and a hand crank emergency radio.
