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Lightning Storm Safety
By Janelle T
King, MPH, BSN, RN
Electrical storms are one of the deadliest
and most widespread weather occurrences in the world.
Lightning is an electrical discharge between
the ground and the clouds that results from an imbalance of charges; the
lightning strike is how those charges are rebalanced.
Every part of the world experiences
thunderstorms and lightning strikes, but the upside of that regularity is that
more than 90 percent of individuals who are struck by lightning survive the
strike, many of them without lasting damage.
By understanding proper lightning storm
safety, no one needs to worry about thunderstorm hazards.
Lightning Storm Safety Tips
Practicing good safety habits during even the
mildest lightning storm is the key to minimizing risks, but safety precautions
are different whether individuals are indoors or outdoors.
Indoors
The safest place to be during a lightning
storm is inside a relatively large, fully enclosed building (not a small shed
or an open garage, for example).
If lightning does strike the building, the
charge will be carried through pipes and wiring into the ground, well away from
the inhabitants.
When indoors, follow these lightning storm
safety tips:
Do not use telephones, headphones or
electrical appliances during the storm - lightning can travel through the wires
and produce shocks to anyone using them.
Note: Cell phones are safe to use during
lightning storms because they are not physically connected to the wires.
Unplug expensive electronic devices
(televisions, computers, stereos, etc.) to help protect them.
Do not take a bath or shower or do dishes
during a lightning storm because water is a conductor and charges can be
carried through metal pipes.
Stay away from windows, doors, and exterior
walls if at all possible.
Keep windows and doors closed during the
storm.
Stay inside for 30 minutes after the last
lightning strikes to ensure the storm has fully passed.
Outdoors
It is important to note there are no fully
safe outdoor locations during lightning storms; the safest place to be is
inside an enclosed building.
If such shelter is not available, however,
these lightning safety tips can help minimize dangers:
Avoid bodies of water, open areas, high
ground, tall objects such as trees or light poles, and any metal objects such
as fences, wires, metal sheds, golf clubs, bikes, or construction equipment.
Avoid small shelters and pavilions in open
areas that may attract lightning strikes.
Do not find shelter under trees or if
necessary, choose the smallest trees in the area.
When lightning is in the immediate area,
crouch down with feet close together and head down to present the smallest
possible attraction to strikes.
Do not lie down as this will increase the
area for lightning to hit.
Stay at least 15 feet away from other
individuals in the area to prevent bolts from jumping from person to person.
Cover your ears to minimize potential hearing
damage from the accompanying thunderclap.
If driving, pull off the road to avoid being
blinded or startled by lightning strikes, and stay in your vehicle with the
windows and doors closed.
When Someone Is Struck
Individuals struck by lightning often lose
consciousness and knowing how to react to a lightning strike can help save
lives.
After a person has been struck, no electrical
charge will remain in their bodies, and they can be safely touched without
spreading the shock to others.
The intense electrical shock can stop a
person's heart, and proper CPR may be critical until emergency help arrives:
Contact 9-1-1 immediately and provide
responder information about location and the victim's condition.
Check the area for potential danger and
assess the victim's current condition.
Assess the victim's current condition. Check
to see if the victim is breathing and has a heartbeat.
If the victim is not breathing, begin
mouth-to-mouth breathing immediately. If the victim does not have a pulse start
chest compressions (CPR) as well.
Learning how to perform CPR is critical.
Other Protection Tips
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention explains the best way to practice storm safety is to avoid being
outdoors or in other unsafe locations when storms are imminent.
Because most thunderstorms occur in the
summer (July is the peak month), it can be difficult to avoid outdoor
activities, but these tips can help:
Always check the weather forecast when
scheduling picnics, camping, and other outdoor events.
Know where the nearest buildings are for
shelter if a storm arrives.
Recognize the signs of potential storms, such
as dark cumulonimbus clouds, distant thunder, and sudden temperature drops, and
seek shelter as soon as those signs are present.
At home, there are other ways to protect
against lightning injuries and damage:
Be sure all the home's electrical wiring is
up to date.
Use surge protectors on all appliances and
expensive electrical equipment.
Prune tall trees away from buildings to minimize
lightning hazards.
Investigate lightning insurance coverage or
purchase additional insurance riders for full coverage.
Keep metal toys and tools inside when not in
use.
Stay Safe
Lightning can strike many miles ahead of a
storm, and the best lightning storm safety is to be aware of the hazards and
seek safe shelter immediately.
By knowing how to react in a lightning storm,
it is possible to avoid many risks and hazards that can lead to serious
electrical injuries.
Janelle
T King,
MPH, BSN, RN
Janelle
King is a Registered Nurse and public health expert. Janelle holds a Master's
degree in Public Health from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor's Degree in
Nursing from Capital University. She also holds a Bachelor of Human Kinetics.
She is an expert on young women's health including:
Reproductive
health
Sexual
health
Contraception
Sexually
transmitted infections and HIV
Janelle
also has expertise in wellness, fitness and, disease prevention.
Young
Women's Reproductive Health Expert
Janelle
provided care to young adults and adolescents for five years. She is trained in
contraception counseling including Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC),
testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, counseling on
gynecological problems and menstrual suppression.
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