Abstract: A flashlight having a self-extingushing feature that prevents unintentional run-down of its batteries, particularly when used by children, which is achieved by means of a circuit breaking device controlled by a timer, and further having a bypass switch, preferably of a child-proof nature, to override the self-extinguishing feature and thereby improve the utility of such flashlight as an ordinary household flashlight. Optionally, the flalshlight may also have additional "child-proofing" mechanisms such as an interlock to prevent unintended activation of the bypass switch.