Emergencies call for flashlights

MMR, Jan 26, 2009

NEW YORK -- Harsh weather, whether hurricanes with flooding or snow and ice storms, can produce protracted power outages in any season and any region, as more and more Americans are finding out. That kind of emergency makes flashlights must-have items for any household.

For their part, makers have focused on introducing flashlights that combine compactness with light that is unsurpassed in power and quality. For example, Procter & Gamble Co.'s Duracell brand has introduced the heavy-duty Duracell Daylite, featuring patented TrueBeam technology that captures, focuses and projects more light than the typical LED and bulb technologies currently available.

Normally, a standard LED light source equipped with a reflector or lens captures less than 70% of the total light produced. The Duracell TrueBeam technology uses both a lens and a reflector to capture and project up to 100% of the light its LED produces, creating a brighter, whiter beam with no dark spot typically produced by a flashlight beam.

"We've reengineered the common flashlight into a more powerful tool that will help give professionals and do-it-yourselfers the vision to do their jobs better," says Rick June, vice president and general manager of Duracell. "The difference isn't subtle, and we named it Daylite for a reason: It's like bringing a beam of daylight to the job.

In addition to its battery and flashlight lines, Energizer Holdings Inc. has partnered with local fire departments, schools and community youth organizations across the country to distribute information and products needed to prepare for disasters. The focus was on developing family disaster plans and assembling emergency kits to help households cope with such emergencies, but the company also donated at least $50,000 worth of Energizer batteries, lighting products and cell phone chargers.

The initiative was launched after a survey last January revealed more than half of households did not have an emergency, kit while 32% had done nothing to prepare for an emergency.