The Safest Places During Lightning

There are, on average, about 58 deaths by lightning strike each year, according the U.S. National Weather Service. That statistic is small when you compare it to death or injury by other means -- about 900 people die annually by drowning, for example. But being caught exposed in severe weather that involves lightning can be both terrifying and lethal. Should this happen to you, there are some basic procedures and precautions that can help you stay safe.

What is Lightning?

• Lightning is a discharge of atmospheric electricity. Typically it occurs during thunderstorms but it also appears during volcanic eruptions and even violent dust storms. Cloud-to-ground lightning is the most frequent and recognizable form of lightning, using conductors such as trees and hydro poles or tall buildings. It is this kind of lightning that most often hits people, either directly or by their proximity to a conducting structure or object.

Lightning Warning Signs

• Where there is thunder, there is often lightning. During a thunderstorm, you can calculate the physical proximity of lightning strikes by counting the time between the flash of the lightening and the boom sound. If lightning is visible and the sound of thunder comes approximately five seconds later, the strike is occurring about 1 mile away. If lightning is striking closer to you than this, the sound of thunder and the visible flash will be even closer together and there will be a smell of ozone in the air. If a lightning strike is imminent in your immediate vicinity, you may feel a tingling sensation and your hair may begin to stand on end. Despite these general characteristics, lightning can move with unpredictable speed in advance of or following a severe thunderstorm, and it has been known to strike without warning, seemingly out of the blue.

Safety From Lightning Outside

• The safest place to be during an event of this nature is inside a large enclosed building. But if that is not possible, there are still steps you can take to ensure your personal safety. If you are in an open field such as a gold course or soccer pitch and lightning is striking nearby, do not lie on the ground. Try to get away from metal fences or pipes or single trees. Crouch, bent over but up on the balls of your feet, with your head tucked into your chest. If you are in a forested area, look for areas with shorter bushes and assume this same position but away from tree trunks. Try to stay away from water, which is an excellent conductor of electricity and lightning. Everyone should be out of a pool or lake well in advance of bad weather. If you can get to a vehicle, and it has a hard top and rubber tires, it is safer to be inside with windows closed it than it is to be out in the open air.

Safety From Lightning Inside

• In rare instances, lightning will travel into a dwelling either due to a direct strike or by following a path of metal, wiring or water. You may feel safe while a violent thunderstorm rages outside but you should still take precautions. Do not talk on land-line, corded telephones. Unplug electrical appliances if a storm approaches. Do not touch electronic devices while the weather system is active. Avoid plumbing. Also, using toilets, baths and showers and washing dishes can wait. Stay away from concrete walls or metal doors and window frames while lightning is in the vicinity. All of these are potential conductors or contain potential conductors of an electrical charge.

What To Do If Someone Gets Hit By Lightning

• A lightning strike can cause mild to severe burns but most deaths occur from cardiac or respiratory arrest. If someone is struck by lightening, call 911 and prepare to administer CPR until help arrives. It is not necessary to avoid touching a victim of a lightning strike after the event; they are not charged with electricity and cannot harm you. Keep the victim quiet and calm if they are conscious; monitor their vital signs if they are not.