Flashlights & Kids!.

malkoff_junkie · 2019-03-28T11:26:28.000Z

Flashlights & Safety;

hey your opinion; I have a Pelican Case 1500 and also a 1060 Micro case.
both holding a few flashlights, some high powered throwers. also some nice ones and batteries unprotected .
2 kids who are 5, and 3.

the pelican 1500 case has locks , the 1060 doesn’t have locks as its micro but can fit the lights I need and use. maybe a small knife too.
am I right in securing the lights as safe as possible , or overkill in a bigger 1500 case, but with locks and feeling of safety of the kids in mind? ….in case they get into the lights and leave on etc as fire hazard, damage to their eyes etc… also just maybe for privacy.

overkill or just stick to micro.
what would matter to you?.
what to do?.

thanks.

1stein · 2019-03-28T12:08:09.000Z

Hi, since I run QA division as a regular occupation, I dare to respond.
Children see things different

Above picture (hope it works, I’m ‘on’ android) I show on QA trainings. No doubt if your children find the flashlights, they’ll get crazy excited. I have 6yo and 9yo children and I can tell flaslight is something very appealing for them. I’ve made them aware of risks that bring strong lights including uv scope. I think sooner or later they would grab a flashlight, somewhere, sometime. So I do not keep them away from it, moreover each of my kids already own a few flashlights and I’m happy seeing them using it in the right way. Flashlights are not a forbidden fruit in my house.
Knife - that’s something different. You should keep that away, it’s a way different level of hazard.
Also, remember kids learn very fast. Once they observe you how to open the case, it’s very likely they will attempt to copy your moves soon. Please consider making them aware of risks rather than locking the flashlights. Anyway, inherently flashlights do not pose a great risk like many other everyday use products (e.g. chemicals, medicines, sharp objects)

djozz · 2019-03-28T12:11:29.000Z

Depends on the kids.
I had all the kitchen knives on a magnetic bar in the kitchen. From when my son was born I reminded myself to remove them from sight or store them much higher up. But when he was old enough to grab them (4 yrs) I realised that I could just tell him not to touch the knives because they were sharp and would harm him. I never bothered storing the knifes any different, and he never touched the knifes because he was afraid that he would be harmed by them.
Same goes for my flashlights, I learned him to never shine them into people’s eyes. He is 8 now and not that into flashlights ( ), but does grab one every now and then (his favorite: the BLF GT with custom handle) and he never shines in people’s eyes.
So personally I would not bother with locks, but YMMV.

Jack_Kellar · 2019-03-28T12:37:44.000Z

Education beats prohibition, every single time. Good work, djozz.

bikenber73 · 2019-03-28T19:06:00.000Z

Agreed

toddcshoe · 2019-03-29T04:39:36.000Z

I guess I would agree with Jack above. I suppose it depends on the ages and maturity level of the kids too. I taught all mine from a very young age about “enter object name here” since they were very young. Not only so they could be safe around my house but, so they could be safe if they ran into any of those objects anywhere else they went. I also didn’t want to make them afraid of those objects. I also didn’t want them thinking they were experts on the objects either. Fine line to dance on there.

Educate, educate, educate. Make sure the difference in reality is known between real life and the internet and gaming of things.

strayz · 2019-03-29T05:24:05.000Z

From age 3 and on my daughter has had a lower powered led light. Generally powered by one or two AA batteries. From time to time she has grabbed a much more powerful light. I just tell her to not shine it in anyone’s eyes. She is now 8 and just being a kiddo that enjoys everything. Except eating potatoes.

It is all about the child and how they see the tools around them. Do not make it a forbiden fruit or they are going to try and use it when you are not looking or around. Answer the questions they have and just tell them they are not ready for whatever it is, and when you think they are going to be ready to accept the responsibility to use said tool. Don’t hide things, secure them and be a responsible adult, but not so many years ago kids were splitting wood with an axe, and whittling with pocket knives at age 5-6. You might be surprised how kiddos respond when given freedom and responsibility.