Indoor Lightning Safety
THE WEEK OF JUNE 24TH THROUGH JUNE 30TH IS
STATISTICS TELL US THAT WE ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BECOME A LIGHTNING VICTIM IF WE REMAIN INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE SUCH AS A HOME OR
A HOUSE OR OTHER
SMALL STRUCTURES TYPICALLY DO LITTLE TO PROTECT OCCUPANTS FROM LIGHTNING. MANY SMALL OPEN SHELTERS ON ATHLETIC FIELDS...GOLF COURSES...PARKS...ROADSIDE PICNIC AREAS...SCHOOLYARDS AND ELSEWHERE ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM RAIN AND SUN...BUT NOT LIGHTNING. SMALL WOOD...VINYL OR METAL SHEDS SHOULD ALSO BE AVOIDED DURING THUNDERSTORMS.
LIGHTNING TYPICALLY ENTERS HOMES AND BUILDINGS VIA EITHER A DIRECT STRIKE...THROUGH WIRES OR PIPES THAT EXTEND OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE...THROUGH THE GROUND...OR THROUGH AN OPEN DOOR OR WINDOW. REGARDLESS OF THE METHOD OF ENTRANCE...ONCE IN A STRUCTURE...LIGHTNING CAN TRAVEL THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL...PHONE...PLUMBING AND RADIO/TELEVISION RECEPTION SYSTEMS AND ALSO THROUGH METAL WIRES OR BARS IN CONCRETE WALLS OR FLOORING. KNOWING THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP US MINIMIZE OUR RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE INDOORS.
PHONE USE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF INDOOR LIGHTNING INJURIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS APPLIES MAINLY TO CORDED PHONES ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE TO BECOME INJURED WHILE IN CONTACT WITH THE BASE UNIT OF A CORDLESS PHONE. PEOPLE HAVE ALSO BEEN INJURED NEAR RADIOS AND TELEVISIONS WHICH CONNECT TO SOME TYPE OF ANTENNA SYSTEM. WINDOWS AND DOORS CAN PROVIDE A PATH FOR A DIRECT STRIKE TO ENTER A HOME...SO IT IS ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE LOCATIONS DURING THUNDERSTORMS...AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE CLOSED. BASEMENTS ARE GENERALLY
LIGHTNING ALSO CAUSES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY EACH YEAR THROUGH EITHER A DIRECT STRIKE...OR BY ELECTRICAL SURGES THAT CAN DAMAGE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. UNPLUG ANY APPLIANCES OR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT WELL BEFORE A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS. DONT FORGET TO DISCONNECT TELEVISIONS OR RADIOS FROM OUTDOOR ANTENNAS. IF YOU PLAN TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR HOME WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE...UNPLUG UNNEEDED EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS FOR INSIDE THE HOME...
AVOID CONTACT WITH CORDED PHONES...ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND PLUMBING.
AVOID CONTACT WITH WATER SUCH AS TAKING A SHOWER OR DOING LAUNDRY.
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS...DOORS AND PORCHES.
DO NOT LIE ON CONCRETE FLOORS OR LEAN AGAINST CONCRETE WALLS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LIGHTNING AND LIGHTNING SAFETY CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES...