This has been a very en-LIGHTNING tour to say the least. As we have been touring, we have become very aware of the complacency surrounding lightning and it is quite disturbing. While we have this mid-summer "lull" in severe weather outbreaks, we are not out of the woods when it comes to bad weather and especially nowhere near safe from lightning threats.
In our team blog last week, we shared about the church that ignored weather warnings (see the C4L Team Blog at www.chasing4life.org), but a recent experience at a fair really drove home the obvious need to speak more on the subject.
Lightning is a killer, plain and simple.
According to the National Weather Service, every thunderstorm produces lightning. If you have been following along in this blog, you know that lightning kills many people each year. The past week's news has been filled with reports of lightning incidents, injuries and even deaths.
Many of these deaths and injuries over the years have happened in areas such as camp grounds, although people have been injured indoors when talking on the phone.
The following are some lightning safety tips...
- All thunderstorms produce lightning. It is surprising that so many people are not aware of this.
- Get inside a building or enclosed vehicle. Many fatalities occur when the warning signs are ignored.
- If caught in an open area with lightning all around, crouch down immediately! Put your hands on your knees but do not lie down on the ground.
- Do not use a telephone or electrical appliance. A nearby lightning strike can travel through the phone or power lines right into the home.
- Avoid seeking shelter beneath lone trees.
Myths and facts about lightning...
Myth: If it's not raining, there is no danger from lightning.
Fact: Lightning often strikes away from heavy rainfall, and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
Myth: Rubber soles of shoes or rubber tires on a car will protect you from being injured by lightning.
Fact: Rubber provides no protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection from lightning (if you are not touching metal in the car).
Myth: People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
Fact: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.
Myth: Heat lightning occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
Fact: What is referred to as "heat lightning" is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.
Resources: NWS
