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How can you shield yourself from lightning strikes
Protecting yourself from lightning involves understanding the risks and taking precautions to minimize those risks. Here are several strategies for lightning safety:
Outdoor Safety Measures:
1. Seek Shelter:
• Indoors: The safest place during a lightning storm is inside a large, enclosed structure, such as a house, school, or office building.
• Hard-top Vehicles: If you can’t get indoors, stay in a car with a hard metal roof and closed windows.
2. Avoid Open Areas:
• Stay away from open fields, hilltops, and other high areas where you are the tallest object around.
3. Stay Away from Water:
• Do not swim, bathe, or engage in any activities in or near water (including pools, lakes, and oceans).
4. Avoid Tall Objects:
• Do not take shelter under tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. Instead, find a low area such as a valley or ravine, but beware of flooding risks.
5. Minimize Contact with the Ground:
• If you are caught in an open area and feel your hair stand on end, lightning may be about to strike. Crouch down with your feet together and your head tucked (the lightning crouch). Do not lie flat on the ground.
Indoor Safety Measures:
1. Stay Away from Electrical Appliances and Plumbing:
• Do not use wired electronic devices or appliances (including computers and corded phones).
• Avoid contact with plumbing; do not wash hands, take a shower, or wash dishes.
2. Avoid Windows and Doors:
• Stay away from windows, doors, and porches, as lightning can strike and travel through these openings.
3. Disconnect Electronics:
• Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from power surges caused by lightning strikes.
4. Use Surge Protectors:
• Install surge protectors to help protect electronics from lightning-induced surges.
General Safety Tips:
1. Monitor Weather Conditions:
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be aware of developing storms. Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the center of a storm.
2. Practice the 30-30 Rule:
• If you see lightning, count the seconds until you hear thunder. If it is 30 seconds or less, the storm is within 6 miles and poses a threat. Seek shelter immediately.
• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap before leaving your shelter.
3. Use Lightning Detectors and Apps:
• Consider using a lightning detector or a weather app that provides real-time lightning alerts.
4. Plan Ahead:
• If you’re planning outdoor activities, have a plan for where you will go if a storm develops.
By following these safety measures, you can greatly reduce your risk of being struck by lightning.
