Test and store your emergency radio

Why test it now

A radio found in a drawer with flat batteries and no station tuned is little use in the dark. Testing takes two minutes and is best done when the clocks change, together with the rest of your kit.

The two-minute test

1. Switch on with batteries only and check the sound.
2. If it has a crank, take the batteries out, wind for a minute and check it plays.
3. Tune to your BBC local station on FM and leave it there (find it).
4. Check the date on spare batteries and store them with the radio.
5. If it has a USB port, top up a phone for a minute to see that it works.
6. Keep it where you can find it in the dark, with your radio card.
7. Tell everyone at home where it is.

Where to keep it

With the rest of the emergency kit, somewhere cool and dry that everyone knows. The Be Ready checklist puts the radio next to a charged power bank in its communication group (gov.uk): keep them together.

A reminder that does not rely on memory

The app creates a calendar entry that repeats every six months. It opens in your own calendar app; nothing is sent to us.

When the power goes

Switch on, check you are on your local station, and keep the volume moderate to save power. Listen at news times rather than all day if you are relying on batteries.

Spares worth keeping

A pack of the batteries your radio takes, kept in their packaging with the date visible, and if you prefer, rechargeable batteries with a charger you top up every few months.