How to Dodge Lightning

Thunder and lightning are key signs that a thunderstorm is brewing. Learning what to do when you're caught in a storm can help reduce getting hit by a lightning strike. When you first notice signs of a thunderstorm, it is best to stay indoors.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Run for safety if outdoors. Go to the nearest building or ask a nearby friend if you can come over, if within walking distance.
2. Stay away from windows if you are in a public building or even while at home. High winds sometimes can accompany a bad thunderstorm, and being near a glass window is not safe if the force from the winds shatters the glass.
3. Sit in your car, if you are in a vehicle, and avoid touching the steering wheel or any metal object in your car. If lightning strikes your car, the electricity can travel through the metal of your car and use you as an exit if you are touching that metal.
4. Stay clear of tall objects. Trees and open shelters are a big no-no. Lightning tends to strike taller objects away from the ground. Don't be caught taking shelter under a tall object and absorbing a lightning strike through a tree or another object if one should hit.
5. Watch the weather before leaving the house to plan your routine better. If something can wait until the storm passes, then let it wait.
6. Turn off your cellular phone. There have been isolated incidents where cell phone use during a storm was dangerous. Our bodies are natural conductors, and if we are hit by lightning, it flashes over us without going through our body. Cell phones are metallic and can interrupt the flash and cause internal damage with a higher death rate.