Entry bubble Lightning Safety

By: Ginger | March 27, 2009 | Category: Health

When my youngest sister, Dana, was 4 she was in her bedroom listening to a record on her kiddy record player.  The record player’s electrical plug was not pushed in all of the way and my sister got the idea to place a hanger on the metal prongs of the plug.  I was in the living room watching cartoons, but I heard a very loud crack and the hallway lit up with a bright flash.   Surprisingly, my sister was not hurt at all, but the hanger was burnt through and the plug and outlet were scorched black.   The irony of the story is that my father was a master electrician who worked around very high voltage equipment for a living.   Needless to say he didn’t allow my sister to again use anything involving plugs, outlets, or hangers until she turned 33!

Lightning strike during a evening stormI was again reminded of the power of electricity, this time in the form of lightning.  Last week, while I was on vacation a man was struck by lightning and died near the condo my family rented.   While I did not witness the event, I decided to research and pass along information about the dangers of lightning and lightning safety.

According to FEMA, 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning in the United States. Most lightning victims survive, but people struck by lightning are often plagued by a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.   Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000.   You can reduce these odds by following safety precautions.   As we approach the season where more people are outside and exposed to the possibilities of thunderstorms and lightning, it is important to educate yourself about lightning safety.   Here are some links to help you do that:

Kids often spend a lot of time outdoors, so it is important to educate your children on what to do should they get caught outside during a thunderstorm.   Here are some helpful links:

I am always interested in the science behind things and events.  If you are interested in meteorology and the scientific aspects of lightning, check out these resources:

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Entry bubble When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors

By: Stephanie | August 05, 2008 | Category: Health

lightning Lightning has been called the most underrated weather hazard, killing an average of 62 people and injuring at least 300 people in the United States each year. Did you know that if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning?

The National Weather Service says that most lightning victims are not struck at the height of a thunderstorm, but before and after the storm has peaked. So seek shelter if you can count 30 seconds or less between a lightning flash and its thunder, and stay in the shelter until 30 minutes after the final clap of thunder.

A large, enclosed building is the best shelter. While you're inside, don't use computers, corded phones, and other electrical equipment (but cell phones and cordless phones—away from their bases—are ok). Also stay away from tubs, sinks, and other plumbing, and metal objects such as refrigerators. (If you are caught in your car, don't touch metal.)

If you're caught outside, try to get to a low place such as a ravine under a thick growth of small trees. Don't stand under a tall, isolated tree or in an open area, and don't lie flat on the ground. Also, don't touch anything metal, including bicycles or golf carts. For boating lightning safety, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's information.

lightning crouch

If you feel your hair stand on end, this means that lightning is about to strike. Get into the "Lightning Crouch": drop to your knees, roll forward onto the balls of your feet, place your hands on your knees, and tuck your head down. (Rubber-soled shoes don't protect against lightning.)

If a person is struck by lightning, it is not dangerous to touch him or her. With immediate medical help, including CPR if necessary, most victims survive a lightning strike.

For more information on lightning safety, visit USA.gov's FAQ and the Online School for Weather. Or read lightning survivor stories, see dramatic photos of lightning, or learn more about the science behind lightning.

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