Every year, lightning is responsible for more than 200 deaths or serious
injuries in the United States alone. States like Alabama, Colorado,
Florida, North Carolina and Texas have almost a death every month.
People struck by lightning
often suffer from severe memory loss, muscular and joint pains, clinical
depression and many more ailments.
There is next to nothing
you can do if you are out in the open during a thunderstorm. If
there is no nearby building or vehicle for shelter, the best thing to do
is switch off your phone and crouch down. Lightning is attracted to
pointy objects and telephones.
"If
your hair becomes electrostatic and start rising it is a bad sign. You
need to find shelter as quickly as possible"
How to protect yourself
The single best way to
protect yourself from a
lightning strike
is to go indoors in a safe shelter. Anything that is covered and
protects you from 5 directions, the top and 4 sides can be regarded as a
safe shelter. Even a vehicle will do.
"Never use your telephone,
even cell phone during a thunderstorm.
70% of all accidents are
due to telephone usage. You are not safe even indoors when using a
phone. Lightning can travel in the telephone line and cause serious
burns and electrocution.
Never stay close to or in
water. Have your emergency numbers handy but do not use the phone as
long as you hear thunder.
NOAA has a comprehensive
guide on outdoor safety during a thunderstorm. You might want to
check it out. |
