The Benefits of Wireless Charging for Emergencies

These days, mobile phones are instrumental parts of the daily lives of almost anyone in the world. From practical uses such as keeping in touch with loved ones or acquaintances, to entertainment purposes such as browsing through social media or gaming, there’s no denying the huge impact these devices have on human existence.

Besides all these, mobile phones may even prove to be crucial in life or death scenarios. Phones can also be used to contact necessary emergency personnel as well as function as a flashlight, compass, or GPS navigator.

Naturally, a phone with zero battery is useless. Therefore, phone chargers, especially wireless ones, are just as important as mobile phones during emergencies. With wireless chargers, you are free from the constraints traditional mobile charging methods have. Going wireless means faster and easier setup time while also being more energy efficient along with other benefits.

With all that being said, let’s take a look as to what wireless chargers are and how vital they can be during emergencies.

What are Wireless Chargers & How Do they Work?

Believe it or not, wireless charging already existed since the late 19th century, due to the technological prowess and innovations of Nikola Tesla. With his advancements in transmitting electricity through the air using the magnetic field between transmitters and receivers, Tesla essentially invented the first wireless charging system. However, for about a century, this technology was virtually useless due to minimal practical applications during the 1800s, and thus was not extensively developed. Today, conventional wireless chargers harness the same technology Tesla developed, using charging mats as transmitters to transfer energy to your phone, the receiver.

What are the Benefits of Wireless Chargers During Emergencies?

Faster to set up

During emergencies, every second counts. In these crucial situations, panic sets in most of the time and causes your body to respond much slower than usual. Laying your phone down onto the charging mat is all you need to do to charge your phone instead of wasting time, nervously fumbling over to connect the charging cable to your phone. By effortlessly putting it down on the charger mat, you’ll get to save precious time compared to using traditional chargers.

Wireless chargers are also beneficial for backup batteries. Charging your extra battery by simply placing it on a charging mat without needing to put it in a phone will come in handy during emergencies.

They fill up your phone faster

Although it’s been somewhat of an open secret over the past couple of years that wireless chargers are less efficient in charging smartphones, this is not the case now. Some of the latest smartphones with more advanced wireless-charging capabilities charge faster than traditional wired charging.

Having a full battery to use with handy phone features such as flashlights or GPS systems during emergencies is exceptionally crucial.

Easier to use

With traditional chargers, you are at the mercy of power outlets. In scenarios wherein power sockets are unavailable or are located in poorly situated areas, making short charging cables unusable, using traditional charging methods during emergencies is not recommended. These scenarios will result in instances wherein you’ll repeatedly be yanking your phone and may end up disconnecting or destroying your phone adaptor, wire, and even your phone itself.

With wireless chargers, you’ll be able to use your phone conveniently as these wireless chargers are situated on top of flat surfaces. Contacting the necessary authorities in case of emergency will be more convenient with your phone comfortably being on its right-side-up.

Additional Benefits

They’re cheaper

It is common knowledge that smartphone cables break easily. The poor quality results in constant replacements which cost more over time. With wireless charging, you’ll never have to deal with frayed and tangled charging cables again.

Furthermore, charging cables have also been known to accumulate rust as time goes by. On the other hand, wireless chargers are not corroded by liquid substances so easily, hence lasting longer and producing less waste over time than conventional charging cables.

They’re safer for you

There have been many documented cases of smartphone chargers short-circuiting and exploding. This results to damaged property or physical injuries for you or anyone near it. One of the additional advantages of using wireless chargers is that it reduces the risk of circuit sparks and electric shocks from plugging it in outlets since you only have to plug it in once and not move around with it.

They’re safer for your phone

Malware is harmful to your phone. And typically, Malware hides in cables, especially in public charging stations. With a charging mat, your phone is virtually safer as smartphone wireless charging is a relatively new technology. Hence people have yet to find a way to exploit it.

5 Everyday Items You Can Repurpose for Survival

5 Everyday Items You Can Repurpose for Survival

Lots of us think that we’re prepared for a disaster. We’ve got supplies socked away: extra food, water filters, communications equipment, clothing, fuel, and a generator, even weapons. But, you can’t expect disaster to strike when it’s convenient. In fact, you should expect them when it’s not.

The real way to prepare is to mentally prepare. You need to have a mind that is limber, creative and able to adapt to your surroundings almost immediately. That means not just having things on hand in your home to help you get through a disaster, but knowing how to turn the things around you into important tools.

We drew up a list of common, household items that you are likely to find anywhere that can help you in a survival situation. It could be the end of the world or even just a few days where you’re trapped somewhere unfamiliar during a bad storm or separated from polite society by a wildfire. In either case, knowing what you find around you can do for you could give you a big edge when it comes to increasing your odds to make it out alive.

  1. A condom

This is no joke. The latex construction of a condom gives it a waterproof membrane that could serve you in a couple of key ways. The first is that it can keep water off things you need to keep dry, like a matchbook that you use to light signal or cooking fires. You can also fill it with water to stay hydrated, but you’ll want to make sure that you don’t stretch it too far or you’ll pop it.

  1. Eyeglasses

A good set of glasses can be helpful above and beyond whether you need them to see. Depending on how thick they are, you can use them to focus the sun’s light as a kind of magnifying glass. The same quality that would allow you to use them to burn ants will let you start fires with them. In a wilderness survival situation, water and warmth are probably the two biggest challenges you have and this addresses one. The other thing you can use glasses for is to signal low-flying aircraft or search parties if you’re lost.

  1. Dental floss

The primary quality that makes dental floss such a great way to clean teeth can make it an overlooked tool with great potential during survival situations. It is really strong for its size. You can increase its strength by braiding it up and either tie things together. It’s also thin enough that it’s hard to see, which when combined with its strength makes it perfect for setting basic snares to catch food.

  1. Socks

One thing you probably don’t have to hope you luck across in a survival situation are socks. Like the other things we’ve looked at, socks have a few different uses. The first one is that they are obviously a way to transport things that are too small to carry in your hand. If you run across a blueberry bush while looking for a way back to civilization, you can carry all of that food in a sock. The second is that if you’re wearing cotton or wool socks, you can scrape off a little bit of lint and use that as tinder to start fires. Finally, you can use them as crude filters for drinking water. The pores are far too large for you to drink water without fear of bacterial or viral contamination, but you can remove solids well enough before boiling water to make it safe to drink.

  1. Aluminum Cans

One thing that aluminum cans have going for them is that they are nearly ubiquitous. Cans people dropped on the ground 30 years ago are still there. Cans people dropping into streams 30 years ago are still there. If you find yourself in a survival situation, you can count on finding aluminum cans. What they offer you is a way to transport liquid. If they are still whole, you can fill them with water and carry them around. If you find a few of them, you can also tear them apart and double up the aluminum strips to make a cutting edge. An aluminum point won’t cut metal, but it’ll cut fabric easily enough and maybe even allow you to gut and clean a fish if you can land one.

Summary

We looked at five everyday items you can find around the house that will help you in a survival situation. It’s not intended to be an exhaustive list. In fact, what we’d like to suggest is that the real lesson is that this list helps you think creatively about everyday objects. Just about everything has some kind of utility in a survival situation if you can identify what strengths it has that you can use.

This post was written by Adam from HealthyHandyman.com – Feel free to check out his blog for more resources related to finding the right gear & equipment for your DIY, Woodworking or home improvement needs.

(The image was found at https://pixabay.com/en/aluminum-can-coca-cola-drink-87966/ by the way)

5 Cost-Effective Updates That Will Transform Your Tired Kitchen

Kitchens are one of, if not the, hardest working rooms in the house so it is unsurprising that they can quickly become tired and dated. New research has found that over a quarter of us are looking to update our kitchens in 2019, but investing in a brand new kitchen can be costly. Thankfully, there are some updates you can make whilst sticking to a budget.

If you look to avoid anything that is too extreme, then you can easily make your kitchen feel brand new with just a few small changes. Here are 5 top-tips for updating your tired kitchen on a budget.

Walls and Splashbacks

New and fresh wall tiles can instantly update the look of your kitchen, whilst also making a statement. Subway, or metro, tiles are a classic shape, but instead of laying them lengthways why not try them in a herringbone or vertical pattern for a more contemporary look?

Tiles now come in a wide range of finishes, shapes and materials, so make sure to have a look at a number of different examples to find one that you like. Patterned tiles are also a great way of adding a splash of character into your kitchen, which traditionally is usually full of hard edges and straight lines. Mix and match the colours to create random designs or stripes for a truly bespoke look.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is a great way to show off collections of pretty glasses and plates or even to bring in the addition of greenery with herbs and spices. Before you start, be sure to work out what you want to have on display so that you can consider the height of the shelves and the weight which they can withstand. A lot of kitchens have sleek, glossy cabinets, so think about adding open shelves that are made from natural wood to soften your kitchen and add warmth to the room.

Freshen Up Sinks And Worktops

Updating your worktops will have a huge impact on the feel and look of your kitchen, so this can be done as a standalone project for a fraction of the price of a full renovation.

These days, there is a huge choice available and you can now mix materials to create the look you want. Even the most ordinary fixtures in your kitchen can be updated, so let 2019 be the year that you let your sink shine. From multi-functional taps to double sinks and different finishes to funky materials, there is something for every style.

Clear Away The Clutter

Perhaps the biggest way to make a difference to your kitchen, getting rid of clutter with have a lasting effect on both your mind and your wallet. Before you start, you need to make your mind as to whether you are going to be ruthless and throw things out, or recycle or donate items which you no longer need. To make it easier, be sure to break the job into smaller parts and tackle it one cupboard at a time.

Keeping surfaces clutter free will make the whole room appear sleeker and bigger whilst also maximising the potential workspace. Things such as pan lid organisers and over-the-door spice racks will really help you stay organised, so think about how you are going to use the space and organise it accordingly.

Liven Up Your Scheme With Accessories

Accessories and fresh pieces of furniture will instantly brighten up your kitchen and you can choose a theme which can bring the whole look together. Display some selected items on open shelves and think about re-organising your worktops so that you only have your favourite things on show. If you have a dresser, then this is the perfect opportunity to show off neat stacks of cups, tea sets and glassware.

When it comes to furniture, choosing contemporary and stylish pieces will add a much bigger statement to your kitchen. Kitchen dining sets are the perfect way to add a piece of your personality to the room whilst also being extremely stylish. You could also look at adding a mirrored splashback behind your cooker or using fabrics to add splashes of colour.

 

What is Some Advice For Night Camping as A Solo Hiker?

Solo hiking is quite different when you compare it with group hiking. You are going to spend the whole night alone, face the fear and cook your own food etc. In the case of bad weather like snow and rain, you need to deal with the condition by yourself.

But at the same time, solo hiking is fun as you don’t have anyone around yourself who set rules. You can set your own rules and acquaint yourself to make your whole hiking experience memorable and fun.

Like group hiking and camping, you need to plan everything in advance. As a group hiking or camping, you need to be more careful when planning your journey to enjoy the solo hiking, especially; you need to think about the night camping scene which could be difficult if everything is not planned well.

If you are planning for the solo hiking, then you need to read this article till the end. Following I am sharing some advice for night camping as a solo hiker and what type of important things you should care about etc.

Know The Size Of The Camp:

You don’t need to take a big size camp along with you. When you are hiking alone, a single person camp is enough to low your luggage and travel easily around. Make sure that your camp should be weather friendly. If it is going to rain there, your camp should be rain and waterproof so you can enjoy the full night sleep.

Light, Light, And Light:

A night alone can be scary and a bit creepy. You probably don’t want to get scared in mid of forest or at the top of the mountain. To keep it safe, do have plenty of light options along with yourself. Do not just rely on torch but also learn how to firewood.

Keep A First Aid Kit:

When you are alone, you need to be your doctor. Injuries are very common is hiking. So, you must need to bring your first aid kit. It should not be just basic aid kit but a full wilderness first aid kit so you can get rid of pain instantly and take care of yourself in a better way.

Make A Checklist:

Ask help from the other solo hiker and ask for the essential gears you must have for night camping as a solo hiker? Once you have a list, write it down and create a checklist with all the important items. Include everything in the list from the camp to the soap, fuel can and food etc.

Keep it Simple:

Weight matters a lot when you are hiking alone. You need to carry all the weight on your own. So keep everything simple and try to remove those gears which are not necessary and you can go without them without facing any issue.

Other than above, keep all the gadget along with yourself which include the camera, mobile, books to read and coffee cup to enjoy the view and feel yourself in nature.