But given that the US has a population of more than 300 million and more than 25 million lightning strikes annually, these are only a small group, the agency said. It’s also worth noting that his 90% of lightning strike victims survive.
Still – there are some things you can do to reduce the chances.
“If there is thunder, go indoors”
The National Weather Service’s slogan is simple but effective.
If you hear thunder, see lightning, or the sky looks dangerous, you should head indoors as soon as possible.
“The most important thing is to be safe inside a large building or vehicle with a fully enclosed metal roof,” says Ron, a meteorologist and lightning safety expert with the National Lightning Safety Council. Hall told CNN, “Nothing but these two places is safe.”
Substantial building means a structure with proper wiring and plumbing, Holle explained. Tents, huts, dugouts, and picnic shelters are not safe from lightning strikes.
This is because when lightning strikes a house or other building, it travels through the plumbing and wiring to the ground rod, which conducts all the electricity safely to earth. Tents and small shelters do not offer such protection.
If you hear thunder while camping or on the beach and you can’t get close to a large building, you should seek shelter in your vehicle immediately.
Wait 30 minutes after the last thunderstorm before leaving your vehicle, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Bikers and motorcyclists who hear thunder must stop in a safe building and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Avoiding lightning strikes indoors
OK, I heard thunder, so I headed inside the appropriate building. The good news: “It’s much safer inside than outside,” Holle said.
The next step, according to the National Weather Service, is to close windows and avoid using corded electrical devices.
“I don’t want to be attached to wires and plumbing, like holding a wired phone or holding an appliance when lightning strikes my house,” Holle explains. It is also dangerous to put your hand in the running water of the sink or bathtub.
Also stay clear of balconies, porches, garages, windows and doors to the outside, according to the Weather Service.
And if the outdoors aren’t safe for humans during a storm, they aren’t safe for pets either. If you hear thunder, get your pet inside as soon as possible, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Dog kennels offer no protection from lightning strikes, and dogs tied to trees are particularly dangerous, officials say.
Let’s save the boat trip for another day
Most large boats with cabins are safe during thunderstorms, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Small boats without cabins are another story.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, “Most lightning injuries and deaths on boats occur in small boats without cabins. “It’s important to listen to weather information when you’re on a boat.”
The service advises people not to board boats when thunderstorms are expected. If there is lightning on the water, you should return to shore as soon as possible. Ideally, stay at least 100 yards from shore.
If you can’t head to shore, drop anchor, stay as low as possible and stay on board, and stay clear of metal surfaces such as radios that you may have been using to track the weather in the first place. .
But if you’re not on a boat, or if your boat doesn’t have a cabin, it’s actually better to stay in deep water during a storm than to get back on board, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Last resort: stay safe outdoors
One of the key lightning avoidance strategies is awareness and planning.
Read the weather forecast to see if thunderstorms are expected where you are going. Arrange your schedule so that you don’t go outside when a thunderstorm is expected. You can also use professional lightning detection equipment to warn you when lightning is approaching.
“Being outside makes you very vulnerable to lightning,” Holle said.
Even if you can’t go indoors, there are a few things you can do to slightly reduce your risk.
Avoid open fields, hilltops, and ridge tops during thunderstorms, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Similarly, you should stay away from tall isolated objects like trees and leave the body of water immediately. Of course, you’ll also want to avoid anything wet or made of metal that could conduct electricity.
Lowlands like valleys and canyons are a safer bet. If you’re in a group, spread out to prevent currents from flowing between people, says the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Still, Holle noted that the evidence for much of these lightning avoidance strategies is still unclear.
The most important thing is to go inside. He said most lightning deaths in the United States over the past few decades have occurred outdoors.
lightning strikes around the world
“Most people in the U.S. have a lightning-proof building or a lightning-proof vehicle nearby and just go there,” says Holle. “This is not the case for millions of people around the world.”
They advocate improved lightning safety education and the installation of functional lightning protection systems in schools and other buildings.
survive a lightning strike
Although the majority of lightning victims survive, the effects can be severe and long-lasting.
Survivors experience ongoing disability, including injuries and burns, and symptoms such as seizures and memory loss.
If someone around you is struck by lightning, call 911 immediately, says the National Weather Service.
Source: www.cnn.com
