Lightning safety tips

27 Nov, 2022 - 00:11 0 Views
Lightning safety tips

The Sunday Mail

HERE are some tips to keep you safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning.

Indoor

Avoid water

Do not bathe, shower, wash dishes or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm because lightning can travel through a building’s plumbing. It is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck.

Do not touch electronic equipment

Do not use anything connected to an electrical outlet, for example, computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers or stoves. Lightning can travel through electrical systems, radio and television reception systems and any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Avoid windows, doors, porches and concrete

Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Do not use corded phones

Corded phones are not safe to use during a thunderstorm. However, it is safe to use cordless or cellular phones during a storm.

Outdoor

Be aware

Check the weather forecast before participating in outdoor activities. If the forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity, or make sure suitable safe shelter is readily available.

Go indoors

Find a safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder. Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centres and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up. If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find shelter. TIf you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, the following actions might reduce your risk of being struck by lightning:

◆ Never lie flat on the ground. Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground.

◆ Never shelter under an isolated tree. If you are in a forest, shelter near lower trees.

◆ Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter.

◆ Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes and other water bodies.

◆ Stay away from objects that conduct electricity – barbed wire fences, power lines or windmills.

Separate from others

If you are in a group during a thunderstorm, separate from each other. This will reduce the number of injuries if lightning strikes the ground.

Return to shore

If you are on a boat in open water when a thunderstorm rolls in, return to shore immediately and seek shelter. If you are unable to return to shore, boats with cabins offer some protection.

Do not stay in open vehicles

During a thunderstorm, avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles and golf carts.

Do not stay in open structures

Stay away from open spaces such as golf courses, parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools and beaches. Seek shelter immediately. – Wires

 

Share This:

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds