Beware of Lightning
Here are some alarming statistics about those people that were killed by lightning:
- 98% were outside
- 89% were male
- 30% were males between the ages of 20-25
- 25% were standing under a tree
- 25% occurred on or near water
Here are your NOAA Lightning Safety Tips:
The only way to be safe during a lightning strike is to be inside a substantial building or car. A building is safe if it is fully enclosed with a roof, walls and floor and contains wiring and plumbing throughout. Picnic shelters, dugouts, sheds, and other partially open or small structures are not safe. Substantial buildings are safe because electrical current from the lightning strike will typically travel through the wiring and or plumbing into the ground.
- Watch for developing thunderstorms.
- With an approaching thunderstorm, seek safe shelter.
- Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining.
- If you can hear thunder, you are in striking distance of lightning.
- Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.
- Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry. Stay away from all pools, indoor and outdoor, tubs and showers.
- With an approaching thunderstorm, avoid contact with corded phones, computers, and all other electrical equipment. Buy surge protectors for all electrical equipment.
- Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches
- Wait 30 minutes after you hear the last rumble of thunder before going out again.
- Do not seek shelter under tall or isolated trees. Lightning typically strikes the tallest object in an area.
- Avoid open areas.
- Do not seek shelter under partially enclosed buildings.
- If you are camping, be ready to seek safe shelter in a vehicle or substantial building if a thunderstorm is near.
- A tent offers no protection from lightning.
- Stay away from metal fences and poles that could conduct lightning to you.
- If you are on a boat, return to shore immediately and seek safe shelter.
- If a person is struck by lightning, call 911 and get medical care immediately.
- Leaders of outdoors events should have a written plan on how to deal with thunderstorms and lightning that all staff are aware of and enforce.
Lightning is dangerous! It can strike 10 miles away from where it is raining. If you can hear thunder, you are in the strike zone. At the first clap of thunder, be safe, go into a large building that is fully enclosed with a roof, walls and floor and contains wiring and plumbing throughout or a fully enclosed car, not an open convertible and wait 30minutes until after the last sound of thunder. For more information, please visit: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov
Posted in: Home
