Defensive Light: How to Choose and Use a Self-Defense Flashlight

In the United States, a burglary occurs every 30 seconds, and many of these intrusions happen at night when homeowners are asleep and vulnerable. Imagine waking up to an unfamiliar noise, your heart racing as you realize an intruder has entered your home. In such a critical moment, having a self-defense flashlight within arm’s reach can make all the difference. There are a variety of ways this underrated self-defense tool can be used to protect yourself, your family, and your property.

In this article, we’re not looking at EDC flashlights, nor are we exploring tactical flashlights that are intended to be used in conjunction with other weapons, we are exploring flashlights that can serve as stand-alone self-defense tools, what to look for when buying one and how you can use them.

The Main Features of a Good Self-Defense Flashlight

Three features are non-negotiable for a “bedside” self-defense flashlight:

1. Larger Heavy-weight Construction – When the situation arises, there is a real chance that the flashlight by your bedside may be your only weapon to defend yourself. The feature that sets a self-defense flashlight apart from most tactical flashlights is that you should be able to use it for physical defense. Your flashlight may have to act as a striking tool, doubling as a baton, to deter or incapacitate an attacker. You need something larger and heavier than a lightweight tactical flashlight. Some self-defense flashlights have a crenelated bezel (the toothed or scalloped edge around the lens) which enhances the effectiveness of strikes to vulnerable areas.

2. Brightness and Strobe Light Feature – Keeping an attack at arm’s length is always preferred over hand-to-hand fighting. A super bright flashlight can be used to blind an intruder, while a high-intensity strobe can help to disorientate an attacker. A good self-defense flashlight should include multiple modes, such as high, low, strobe, and SOS.

3. Durability – In an emergency where you may be using your flashlight as a striking tool, the last thing you need is for it to break or stop functioning. Your life may depend on the durability of your flashlight. Buy a flashlight that can withstand significant impact and rough handling in any weather conditions.

Other Features:

The three features above differentiate a good self-defense flashlight from the rest, and we’d argue that without them, you are compromising the effectiveness and function of the tool. There are of course other notable features to look out for:

4. Easy-to-Use Controls – The flashlight should have simple, intuitive controls that allow you to switch between modes (e.g., high, low, strobe) quickly and easily.

5. Long Battery Life – Choose a flashlight with a long battery life or one that uses easily replaceable batteries.

6. Multiple Light Modes – Different light modes (e.g., high, medium, low, strobe, SOS) provide versatility for different situations.

7 Ways To Use a Flashlight for Self-Defense

A flashlight can be a versatile tool to help you protect and defend yourself in an emergency. Here are a few ways you can use it:

1. Blinding with Bright Light

The most obvious way of using your flashlight for self-defense is by blinding an attacker. Any proper self-defense flashlight should have a high-lumen light (we suggest a minimum of 1000 lumens). Shining a light of this intensity directly at a person would cause them to temporarily lose focus and coordination and impair their ability to see at night. Here’s how to use it:

• Shine the beam directly into the attacker’s eyes from a distance.
• Keep the beam steady to maximize the blinding effect.
• Use this momentary disorientation to retreat to a safe location or call for assistance.

2. Physical Striking Tool

A heavy self-defense flashlight, made from robust and durable material can easily double as a baton when needed. Some flashlights will have a crenelated bezel or strike edge specifically for this purpose making the flashlight an effective striking tool. Here’s how to use it:

• Target Areas: Aim for vulnerable areas such as the eyes, nose, throat, and hands. A hard strike to these areas can incapacitate an attacker, giving you time to escape.
• Striking Techniques: Use the flashlight like a baton. Grip it firmly and swing it with your arm and wrist. Short, quick strikes can be particularly effective.
• Hammer Fist: Hold the flashlight in an overhand grip and bring it down in a hammer-like motion. This technique can be used to strike the attacker’s head, shoulders, or arms.

3. Pressure Point Application

You can use a flashlight, especially if it has a crenelated bezel, to apply pressure to any sensitive area on the body of an attacker. A concentrated force on the body can be disorientating and painful causing an attacker to retreat or forcing him into defense. Here’s how to do it:

• Pressure Points: Focus on areas like the inside of the forearm, the back of the hand, the collarbone, or the area behind the ear. Pressing hard with the tip of a flashlight on these points can cause a lot of pain and can disable an attacker.
• Techniques: Use the flashlight to press and twist into these pressure points. If your flashlight has sharp edges it can increase the effectiveness, causing pain without requiring excessive force.

4. Defensive Blocking

A sturdy flashlight is a useful tool to help fend off blows or strikes from an attacker. You’ll need to physically protect yourself from being incapacitated to stand a chance of gaining control over the situation. Here’s how to do it:

• Blocking: Hold the flashlight with both hands if possible, and use it to block incoming strikes, particularly from weapons like knives or blunt objects. The flashlight should be able to absorb and deflect some of the force of the blow.
• Parrying: Move the flashlight to deflect the attacker’s arm or weapon away from you. This can create an opening for you to counter-attack or escape.

5. Disorienting Strobe Effect

A bring beam (as discussed above) is a good way to temporarily blind an attacker but the strobe mode on your flashlight can be used more strategically to confuse and disorientate the other person. It is a crucial feature of any good self-defense flashlight. Here’s how to use it:

• Rapid Flashing: Switch on the strobe to create a disorienting effect. The rapid flashing can make it difficult for the attacker to focus, causing confusion and disorientation.
• Changing Directions: Move the flashlight rapidly while in strobe mode. Changing light patterns can be even more disorienting, making it particularly difficult for the attacker to predict your movements.

6. Escape and Evasion

Using the flashlight as a distraction tool can create an opportunity for you to escape your attacker. Here’s how to do it:

• Cause Distraction: Shine the light in the attacker’s eyes to create a momentary distraction. This can give you a critical moment to run to safety.
• Evasion: Use the flashlight to illuminate your path as you move away from the attacker.

7. Communication and Signaling

In addition to direct defense, you can of course use your flashlight to communicate with first responders, law enforcement of search and rescue parties by signaling for help. Here’s how to do it:

• SOS Signal: Many flashlights have an SOS mode that flashes the light in a specific pattern recognized as a distress signal. This can attract attention and bring help in emergencies.
• Signaling: Use the flashlight to signal your location to rescuers or passersby. Even in non-emergency situations, flashing your light can alert others to your presence, potentially deterring an attacker.

Conclusion

Self-defense flashlights are more than just bright beams of light. Their construction and design can make them versatile tools for personal protection. By learning and practicing these techniques, you can effectively use a flashlight to defend yourself in various situations. Remember, the key to using any self-defense tool effectively is practice and familiarity. It might sound strange, but you need to regularly train with your flashlight, as you would with any self-defense weapon to ensure you can use it with confidence and efficiently when needed.

Lylting Rechargeable LED Flashlight

Lylting claims their self-defense flashing can deliver up to 990,000 lumnes – which is extreme even for a self-defense flashlight. This flashlight checks all the other boxes required for a good self-defense flashlight though, so even at a fraction of these lumnes, we’d still recommend you buy it.

Check Price