How to Protect Yourself from a Lightening Strike

Summer storms bring lightning and thunder to areas that rarely see rain. Lightning strikes also presents a problem for areas subject to fire hazards. Taking a few precautionary measures during a lightning storm can reduce your chances of being struck by lightning.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safe place indoors
• Distance from electrical equipment and metal items

1. 
    
   Cow left outside struck by lightening.

   Remain inside when a lightning storm rolls across the sky. Take your pets indoors as well, remain in the house until the storm passes.

2. Distance yourself from metal appliances in your home such as your water heater, stove, radiator, sink and other plugged in devices during a lightning storm.

3. Close all doors and windows. During a lightning storm move toward the center of the house away from points of entry. Do not use plug-in devices during a lightning storm. Devices such as electric shavers and toothbrushes also increase your risk of being struck by lightning and should be avoided, as should both cellular and land-line phones.

4. 
    

   Remain in your vehicle if you encounter a lightning storm while driving. The tires of the car should protect you if the vehicle is struck by lightning. If possible you should continue driving until you find the nearest bridge, once there park beneath it until the lightning storm passes.

Tips & Warnings

• Discontinue any yard work, especially work that involves metal equipment, during a lightning storm.
• Leave laundry on the line during the lightning storm, it's better to have wet clothes than have a jolt of electricity fry your brain.

Resources

• How Lightning Works

[maryladd]

on 11/23/2009 good advice on lighting..I really do not like it and always cringe...thanks for the info..recommended you and gave this article 5 *