My niece is about to leave for college. In addition to the normal stuff a college bound student requires, I prepared a mini "college survival" kit, all packed within a small tupperware like container
She will be instructed that this is for "emergencies only". The LED flashlight runs for an incredibly long time. The chemical light sticks (snap to activate) will light up a dorm room overnight. The juice boxes and snack bars will need to be rotated out every year. Hopefully she won't need to use any of this, but she can have some peace of mind knowing that it's there if her dorm is without power during the winter.
By Brian from Litchfield, NH
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Wow, what a great idea! And this would be a great gift for newlyweds or anyone living on their own for the 1st time!
Great idea! Would make a great graduation gift! Thanks.
While this is a good generic power outage kit for anyone, you didn't include one thing that would especially benefit a college student -- and that thing is an emergency power supply.
If you want to go full force, get an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS). They look like large surge protectors, and operate just like one. But whne power goes out, an internal battery immediately turns on so that the electricity is uninterrupted. Hospitals have them 24/7, as do many businesses. The student can then save any computer projects s/he is working on before the battery dies (it will usually last at least 5-10 mins with a desktop and much longer with smaller devices). Furthermore, they can use it to run and charge cellphones, radios, TVs, etc. UPSs are available for as little as $29. Search Amazon.
Alternatively, you can get a smaller portable rechargeable power supply that is the size of a paperback or deck of cards. Once fully charged, they can operate and charge small devices like cellphones, radios, iPods, cameras, etc. Many students carry one in their backpacks. Search for "rechargeable portable power supply cellphone."
Or you can get a handcranked radio/flashlight that also has a charging port. The student can plug in a cellphone or other device and crank the generator to charge. Or you can charge the flashlight or radio. A bonus is that some models also have NOAA alerts. In event of an emergency, it will automatically sound a 90db alarm, and tell you what the emergency is. That can be invaluable in hurricane prone areas.
Just search the Internet, ebay or Amazon for "crank flashlight cellphone." Here is a $24 model that has a 4 LED flashlight, AM/FM radio, clock, cellphone charger (with assorted plugs) and NOAA alarm.
energybazaar.com/
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