Comments on: How to Protect Yourself From Lightning

on 3/31/2009 Good article. Thanks. Very thorough.

on 2/15/2006 When you see a bad storm coming up, don't be near a tree, don't be in high places, and don't be in or near water.

on 11/22/2005 If you still have to go out, despite the lightening danger (say, for an important meeting), avoid wearing dark-colored clothes. Stay away from black; it is the most lightening-enticing color!

on 11/22/2005 If you are outside, far away from your house, and suddenly a bad storm comes up, the safest thing to do would be to get inside your car and stay there.

on 11/22/2005 Surge protectors are rated by the amount of power that they will protect your electronic hardware against. A bolt of lightning can generate 1 billion to 10 billion joules of electricity (direct strike). So really, the only thing you are protecting your electronic equipment against is an indirect strike. For the best protection, buy a surge protector that has a high joule protection rating and even better yet, purchase one that offers to insure your equipment. Keep in mind that electronics plugged into phone or cable lines have the risk of a surge coming in from those sources as well. So be sure that your surge protector offers protection. There are other factors that determine the quality of your surge protector. If you have important data to protect, or other costly electronics, be sure to do your research as buying the right unit can save you a lot of money and headache should something happen.

on 11/22/2005 Get out of the swimming pool if you see lightning.

on 11/22/2005 People and animals are often injured when lightning strikes a nearby tree or ground. This causes a current surge to propogate from the strike point, causing a voltage drop to appear along the earth. Keeping feet together will help to prevent death.

on 11/22/2005 If you have a C.B. radio, Ham, or any radio with an wire or any part of it outside, unplug it from the wall outlet or a power strip. If lightning hits it and the bolt travels throught the power strip it will kill any other thing you have connected to it.