Currently load shedding is a fact of life in South Africa. It seems that, like our pioneering forefathers, we are back in the era of the candle. Like our forefathers we have, however, also started adapting and making plans to survive these “dark” times.

Load shedding: concern and confusion

Concerned South Africans have reason to be confused about load shedding with contradictory statements being issued. At times we hear that Eskom is not in a crisis but that it is going to be another five years before load shedding can be a thing of the past. What to do? Hope for the best but prepare for the worst!

Tips to survive load shedding and use it to your advantage

Here are a few tips:

    • Use candles. Have a romantic candle-lit dinner or picnic outside. Get a recipe on the Internet, get the children together and make your own candles. However, do remember that candles can cause fires, so be careful.
    • Use the power of the sun, that is go solar. Install solar panels on your roof or buy a solar geyser, lamps, cell phone chargers, etc. You may be pleasantly surprised at the wide range of gadgets available that work with solar power. For example, get some solar garden lights that you can bring indoors when needed during load shedding. This is also a good opportunity to teach your children about solar energy by showing them how to build a solar cooker with a cardboard box and some tinfoil. Find the instructions at: http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/solarcookers.html.
    • Get out the camping gear and those gas bottles and portable gas stoves for cooking. Build a fire and have a braai. Use this opportunity to teach your children how to make a fire without burning down the house or injuring themselves. A little basic, treatment of burns first aid, can also be slipped in. You may also consider installing a permanent gas stove in your kitchen.
    • Prevent the food in your fridge from spoiling when the power is cut by filling empty cool drink bottles or any other containers with water and freezing them before hand. Place them in the fridge when needed. Remember to place newspapers around the fridge to catch the drips as it begins to defrost. Keeping the fridge’s door closed during load shedding, will prevent the cold air escaping, thus keeping food cooler for longer.
    • Change your diet and be prepared to eat more healthy raw food. Teach your children to eat less meat and more fruit, vegetables and salads.
    • Make use of anything that works with batteries. The choice is staggering and varies from battery-operated torches, lanterns and lights to battery-operated cars! While on the subject of cars; use your car charger to keep your cell phone and iPad charged. Do remember to buy and stock up on batteries and a recharger. This is also a great opportunity to teach kids about electronic waste and how to dispose of it.
    • Be safe and avoid burglaries by having a back-up battery on your alarm system and electric fence. It’s also prudent to work out an emergency plan and teach your children what to do or not to do during a break-in.
    • Work out an emergency route through the house to prevent injuries when it’s dark. Put out the lights and move through the house from bedrooms to bathrooms to kitchen and front door, etc. to work out the safest route. Note the many things you bump into or fall over and move them. Let your children practise in the dark, they will love it. This may also be a good time to teach children about the dangers of slips and falls and why you nag them to pick up their toys.
    • Generate your own electricity. Buying a home generator is an expensive, noisy and sometimes dirty option – but it is permanent. They came in all shapes, sizes and prices. Teach your eldest child how to operate it when you are not at home; he or she will feel very important
    • Protect your electronics and appliances by switching them off when there is a blackout. When the electricity returns there is often a power surge that can damage many types of electrical appliances.
    • Get off the grid altogether. This is a drastic, life-changing option that will need careful consideration and lots of research. However, all of us may soon be forced to consider this option. Many before us have done so and very successfully too.

Be grateful for small mercies, a blackout may be the only time your teenagers actually have time to talk to you!

 

Sources
How to survive load shedding. Retrieved from: http://ewn.co.za/Features/how-to-survive-load-shedding
How to survive load shedding. 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.graziadaily.co.za/hot-stories/how-to-survive-load-shedding/
Manyathi, N. 2014. How to survive load shedding Retrieved from: http://www.citypress.co.za/lifestyle/survive-load-shedding/
SA on brink of total blackout: Eskom CEO. 2015. Retrieved from: http://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/116738-sa-on-brink-of-total-blackout-eskom-ceo.html