All posts by corey@hardcoreadv.com

Emergency Preparedness for College Students

Disasters never give you a heads up. We label them disasters after the fact, once the damage has been dealt and communities are left reeling and in shambles. If you aren’t prepared for the reverberating effects both immediately and in the coming days than you are putting your safety and those under your care at a very high risk.

At Cyalume we want to stress that being prepared doesn’t just mean having your home stocked with supplies. Disasters can happen whether at home, work, or even at school. For the ultimate preparation you and your family should discuss a plan of action for what to do in each scenario.

Today, we want to focus on Disaster Preparation and preparedness for college students. Most schools and universities have guideline and action plans for when dealing with an event on campus such as a Tornado, earthquake, or other natural disaster event. It’s imperative you become versed in what your specific school or universities response is for each major disaster your geographical area can be at risk for.

Next, you’re going to want to take your own initiative in creating a disaster supply kit so that you can take care of yourself when you are facing a potential disaster at school. Our 72-hour survival kits are curated and stocked by survival experts with everything you will ever find yourself needing in the 72 hours following a natural disaster or event that leaves your area decimated and the power down.

To help assist college students in their disaster preparations, check out the following tips:

  • Stay aware and up to date on potential threats and types of emergencies your area is susceptible to your geographical area.
  • Discuss a clear plan of action with your family, roommates, and co-workers
  • Evaluate evacuation: driving routes, meeting places, list of contacts.
  • Plan for several different meeting places, with one in the immediate area and another further away in case of obstructions.
  • Designate an out-of-state contact person. It is often easier to call long distance than locally during an emergency situation. As soon as possible, let the designated person know that you are safe. Share this contact person’s information with your family and roommates.

Hurricane Awareness: Season is Coming

Hurricane season is quickly approaching and it’s time to start thinking about your preparations and overall plan. Over the past few years we’ve seen these storms wreak havoc in a multitude of ways, changing lives in an instant, and even changing the very landscape of the Earth itself. That’s why it’s important for you and your family’s safety to have everything in place before your community is affected by a Hurricane.

By now you should know Hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, are some of the most destructive and powerful forces of nature on the planet. With the potential for winds to whip up to over 150 MPH, powerlines, signs, trees, and even concrete buildings all face serious risks of incurring debilitating damage. Cities overall are at risk for power loss and most services will be impacted or disbanded altogether depending on the severity of damage incurred.

Before you begin your preparations, devise a sound plan. Make sure you understand your community and the processes they have in place for hurricanes and extreme weather events. If you live in an area that is a storm surge evacuation zone, or if you aren’t confident in the structural capacity of your current home, now is the time to figure out where you and your family will go or evacuate to. If you have family that lives in another area, reach out ahead of time, but no matter what you do just remember that when the official evacuation is called for, streets and interstates can become gridlocked, so it’s definitely in your best interest to have your mind made up before it comes to that point so you can safely get to where you need to be.

Whether bunkering down at home or evacuating, it’s important that you are stocked with the right supplies for the whole family. Of course, most importantly, make sure that you have enough dry food and water to last at least 72 hours. Also, ensure that you have a first aid kit and all relevant emergency medical supplies. When the power is out, and city-wide services aren’t available it is crucial that you have a way to treat and care for those in your party. Lastly, never forget the importance of lighting. Once the power goes, the lights shut off, and when you can’t see what’s in front of you or the destruction happening outside you can be at an even greater risk for something to go wrong.

Instead of dealing with flashlights and batteries that can be faulty or break due the elements, check out our industry leading ChemLights, SnapLights, and more in our entire line up of alternative lighting products. Fully water proof and built to be brighter than the competition and last longer, you’ll always have a way to light up the area when you go with a Cyalume lighting solution.

Power Outages at Work

Being stuck in the dark when the power goes out is a scary thing, and, not only that, it’s dangerous. Furthermore, according to Inside Energy, the annual percentage of power outages has doubled every five years since 2000, and, more recently, between 2016 and 2017 the length of time in these instances in which we were without power has doubled as well.

This means more people are losing power for longer periods of time with the majority of power loss situations being attributed to the effects of additional natural disasters and weather events such as relentless hurricanes, massive winter storms, and raging wildfires – just to name a few.

Losing power is bad enough when you’re in the comfort of your home, but it can be even more problematic when it happens at work. When there’s a loss of power in public places, it’s usually followed by hysteria and panic. Among other reasons, that’s why it’s actually required by law for your employer to have and test the exit & emergency lighting systems in the workspace. Plenty of things can go wrong when there’s essentially no visibility.

That being said relying on your employer isn’t always your best bet. As employee, the best way to ensure you’re safe at all times is to be proactive and prepare yourself with your own means of emergency lighting.

Our industry leading light sticks are tough, water proof, and are usable in a moment’s notice without relying on batteries or technology that is far more susceptible to failures. With just a small bend and snap of a Cyalume Light stick you can create a bright, consistent light that will allow you up to 12 hours of illuminance per stick.

It’s nearly impossible stop power outages but it is possible to prepare for them. With a few Cyalume light sticks either in your desk, purse, briefcase or somewhere else easily accessible, you can rest assured knowing that in the darkest building you’ll have the brightest light.

Memorial Day: Three Activities for You and Your Family

Memorial Day is around the corner, allowing us to remember and honor those who have bravely fought and sacrificed their lives to ensure the freedom we have today.

Like most of us, you and your family should enjoy your long weekend out in the sun. We expect everyone will spend their long weekend by the grill, surrounded by family and friends, creating new memories. This is where we come in: here are three family-friendly ideas you may want to consider incorporating into your Memorial Day weekend.

  1. Attend a Parade | There are plenty of celebrations you can be a part of during Memorial Day weekend, including attending your local community parade. Join in with your friends, family, and neighbors to remember our fallen heroes and pay your respects. If you’re attending a dusk or night parade and want to really stand out, try our red, white, or blue light sticks, which also double as the perfect item to keep track of everyone in the family so everyone is always in sight.
  2. Catch a Game | Memorial weekend is the perfect time to step away from the normal routine and the technology we saturate ourselves in every day. Give yourself a little time with your family, minus the usual distractions. Kick back and take in a local minor league or semi-pro game or even grab some tickets to see your favorite professional team. It’s a nice change in the normal routine and a spectacular way to gather the family for a fun day that won’t soon be forgotten.
  3. Go Camping! | Grab the family and get outdoors for a weekend surrounded by nature. It’s a great way to spend some much-needed time together reminiscing, telling stories and paving the way for new memories. Make sure you have all the necessary supplies for the whole family such as a tent, sleeping bags, a first aid kit and lighting. Our light sticks are fully water proof and with multiple colors you can keep track of your family and belongings making them ideal for camping and outdoor activities.

The above activities should be a great start to your long weekend. Remember, while you’re appreciating the weather and your family time, don’t forget to remember the importance behind Memorial Day, which is to honor those who have made their sacrifice so we don’t have to.

The Importance of an Emergency Supply Station in Your Home

Emergencies are spontaneous. If you’ve been following our blog, then you already understand the importance of being prepared and having access to the proper supplies and tools when an emergency occurs.

You don’t have to look far for examples, over the last few years we’ve seen first-hand the destruction and terror that can arise from these events. Sometimes emergency scenarios happen before there is any time to fully prepare. Knowing this, it’s not only just about having the right gear and supplies but also having everything organized in a way that makes your emergency supplies easily accessible for when you really do need them. The last thing you should be worrying about when in the face of a disaster is where you stocked your First Aid Kit.

That’s why, at Cyalume, we believe preparation and organization go hand-in-hand. Whether or not you are fully stocked on disaster and emergency supplies, if you can’t get to those supplies in time, or if they are lost or inaccessible, then what is the point?

The best solution to avoid this potential preparation error is creating a “survival station” at home. A survival station is a designated place in your home that is accessible to everyone can be utilized as the main location and storing area for any needed supplies. The most important part about your supply closet is the location. Look for a storage closet or cabinet area closest to an exit on entryway. With disasters, there’s always the possibility that you may have to evacuate your residence and it’s imperative to you and your family’s well-being that you can easily and efficiently grab your disaster or emergency pack and head out.

Once you pick the best place to set up your supply station, it’s time to stock it with everything you may need moving forward. Just like you would stock your emergency pack, make sure you include the essentials:

  • Food
  • Water
  • First Aid
  • Lighting
  • Utensils
  • Emergency Documents & Cash
  • More

Remember to designate enough supplies and gear for each person in your family. In fact, for the ultimate preparation, set aside an area in your supply closet to store emergency back packs (survival bags) for each person in the family, so in case you’re forced to evacuate in a rush, everyone can quickly grab theirs and go.

You can never be too sure when preparing for the worst. Set up your supply station at home today to ensure safety for your family tomorrow!

When Do You Need Emergency Lighting?

One of the biggest issues when the power goes out is the lack of lighting, whether you’re indoors or out and about at nighttime. Being able to account for everyone in your group, or just being able to see what’s in front of you, cannot be understated. The best thing to do ahead of time is to make sure you have emergency supplies for a worst-case scenario.

With just a simple snap and shake, you can have peace of mind and bright light for up to 12 hours with Cyalume’s light sticks. You can also choose the color that is most appropriate for your situation. You can mark exits and walk ways with our red light sticks, use green for easy identification of family and friends, or choose an individual color for each group member to know exactly who is who in a dark area.

Overall, the multitude of ways in which you can utilize Cyalume light solutions in emergency situations dwarves what is possible with a traditional flash light. Flashlights may work great for providing direct beams of light, but they’re a poor choice for steady area-lighting. That’s what makes Cyalume lighting solutions so special. Unlike flashlights, our light sticks tolerate extreme temperatures and don’t require batteries that may leak or corrode over time. To top it off, they are 100% waterproof and work brilliantly when wet or submerged. Meanwhile, other considerations such as candles are neither windproof nor waterproof, can melt, and can also pose a fire risk.

Remember, being proactive and ensuring you’re stocked for an emergency situation ahead of time can make the difference in being safe and secure. Place your light sticks in an easily accessible area and make sure everyone in your office or household knows where to find them. With Cyalume, together we can light the way.

Multiple Ways to Utilize Cyalume Lights

Cyalume lighting solutions are the perfect choice for practically any conceivable activity or situation. With just a quick snap and shake, you have reliable, bright light for up to 12 hours per light stick. We recommend our light sticks over traditional flashlights for a multitude of reasons but one of our favorite things about our lighting solutions is the ability to place and utilize them in ways that are impossible to do with any other lighting option on the market.

Nearly every one of our light sticks has a built-in hook and hole design. So, wherever you need a light you can either hang them up easily or use a fastener through the hole to place your light stick virtually anywhere. With Cyalume, you can free up your hands by clipping, sticking, or attaching nearly anyone of our lighting solution. Strap them to your gear or a belt loop, or just toss them down wherever you need them, and, without worry, you can mark designated areas and hazardous dangers. Of course, all of our light sticks and mini light sticks are 100% non-toxic and non-flammable so even in the most extreme conditions or even if you somehow manage to crack one, you won’t have to worry about any adverse effects for yourself or nature.

Even more, our light sticks come in a plethora of different sized packs for the around the same price as a generic flashlight and, since they are also fully waterproof, they can even be attached to diving and fishing gear!

Remember, simply strap or attach any light stick to an area on your gear, snap & shake, and for up to 12 hours you have the perfect marker to ensure everyone in your group can maintain a visual, which is perfect for deep sea diving or any aquatic activity where there is low visibility.

Whether your camping or in the water; dry or wet, Cyalume Lighting Solutions are the go-to solution if you need a reliable light.

Hunting with Cyalume

Light is a necessity. Whether in an emergency, disaster, or every day situation, being able to see clearly as well as be seen is vital. This holds true especially for outdoorsmen and hunters. Whether its marking a trail back to camp, marking those with you, or just having a light in the dark, Cyalume is the go-to brand for outdoor lighting solutions.

When hunting, especially at night, it can be difficult trying to keep track of your trail. By placing a few light sticks along your travelled path, you can ensure you easily make it back to your camp when the sun goes down. You can also strap light sticks to certain items as well as people and pets to maintain a visual contact while hunting or exploring. What makes Cyalume’s glow sticks the perfect fit for hunters and outdoorsmen alike is their second-to-none reliability. No longer do you need to worry about your flashlight malfunctioning or the eminence of dead batteries. With Cyalume light sticks, a simple “snap” creates a bright, consistent light that lasts up to 12 hours. Because all of our lighting solutions are non-toxic and non-flammable, they are completely safe for our environment. After use, you should discard your light sticks in the appropriate trash area nearest to you.

For more a more incognito approach for nighttime hunting and exploring, try our infrared ChemLights. Simply attach a light stick to each person in your group and, with the help of night vision, you can easily keep track of the group without saturating the area in bright light.

All in all, our light sticks offer a stable and reliable source of light. The vast assortment of applications they can be used for makes them perfect for both hunters and outdoorsman. Next time you go hunting, or take an outdoor adventure, do it with Cyalume – guaranteed to light the way every time, without failure.

Transportation & Roadside Safety with Cyalume

Whether you’re a daily commuter, long distance truck driver, law enforcement officer, or anyone who drives or operates a vehicle, there is always a chance that you will run into the need for more light. We offer an array of lighting solutions and options to ensure you’re seeing clearly and can be seen during any situation. Whether you need to find something you’ve dropped under your seat or to stay visible on the shoulder of the highway while waiting for roadside assistance, you need to have a lighting solution that you can depend on.

Cyalume lighting solutions are the perfect choice for transportation and roadside safety, such as our flare alternatives that are the perfect option for marking immobile vehicles, crash sites, and more. Our emergency light sticks, or SnapLights, are reliable and last up to 5 years in the package, meaning you won’t have to worry about batteries or rechargeable packs when you actually need a light. Just simply bend the tube and, in seconds, you have bright, visible light that can last up to 12 hours. Perfect to keep in your purse, trunk, glove box or anywhere accessible so you’ll never be left in the dark.

If you’re around combustible or flammable materials, look no further than our Military-Grade ChemLightTM light baton. The ChemLights non-flammable, non-toxic, flame resistant construction ensures this lighting solution is safe to use in small or confined spaces, such as when working on vehicle repairs, near fuel canisters, or anything else where sparks or electric currents can cause disaster. As with our other light solutions, our ChemLights are one hundred percent waterproof. No matter the weather, you can depend on our ChemLights to shine bright.

Glow Up with Cyalume’s PT Belts

When we created the first glow stick at Cyalume, we set out to create an alternative lighting solution that would assist users in a way that flashlights and other battery-operated products would not be able. Nearly 50 years later and we’re still in the lab every day coming up with innovative lighting solutions to assist the military, government agencies, corporations, maritime, and everyday recreational users.

Hopefully by now you’re familiar with our different lighting solution products that range from ChemLight, SnapLights & mounted LightStations, to Reflective Adhesives and so much more. No matter the task at hand, Cyalume has the lighting solution for you. Sometimes however, you just need to be seen, and that’s why we came up with our highly reflective, high-visibility, Cyflect PT belts.

Cyflect PT Belts, also known as High-Vis belts, are perfect for a multitude of situations where being seen is the ultimate goal. With a super bright glow and ultra-reflective white shine, these belts are the perfect blend of photoluminescence and retro-reflectiveness designed to keep you completely detectable. Our patented CyflectTM material is waterproof and maintains 100% of its reflective properties when wet. It even recharges its glow under light. In fact, CyaflectTM is the only product on the market where 100% of the surface area reflects or glows. It can also be seen in low visibility situations such as fog or smoke.

The High-Vis belt is perfect for just about any situation where maintaining a visual is imperative. For recreational use, some of the best applications for the High Vis belt include nighttime jogging or bike riding, camping with the kids, outdoor night time activities, and more. Also, the Cyaflect belt is a go-to for those in the military and fully satisfies the On-Post requirements for runners, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders.

The Cyflect PT belt is adjustable and can be worn as a traditional belt style around your waist, or across the body giving you multiple ways to where the belt while being comfortable.