Protect Yourself During A Thunderstorm

Lightning is a beautiful and inspiring phenomenon, but it can be deadly. Lightning is more often evident in this season and with a recent death in Manila, citizens are already at their toes. Fortunately, most lightning-related deaths are preventable. Follow these steps to safety the next time fire lit in the sky.

1. Stay indoors if possible. If you’re outside, get to a shelter as soon as you see lightning or hear thunder. Stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last strike. Do not touch land-line phones, plugged-in electrical appliances, or door knobs; keep your distance from electrical or plumbing fixtures, electrical sockets, windows, and doors. Keep windows closed (this is especially important in a vehicle), and try to stay within inner rooms of the structure. Stay out of the bathtub or shower, and avoid indoor swimming pools. In a car, try to avoid touching any part of the metal frame or the car’s glass. In short, stay away from anything that may directly conduct electricity in the event of a strike.
2. If a thunderstorm is approaching, protect electronics and electric appliances by unplugging them in advance.
3. If you’re by the beach or swimming in a pool, get out of the water immediately.
4. Lightning can travel several feet through the ground, so distance yourself from tall, isolated objects. By the same reasoning, be aware that a person may have been hit by lightning, even if you didn’t see the lightning hit the person.
5. Wearing portable electronics with headphones during a lightning storm can increase the likelihood of severe injury in the case of a strike – not only to the ears, but to anywhere on the body that the headphone cables lay against.
6. If there is absolutely no shelter, squat on the ground, with as little parts as possible touching the ground, and your feet close together. Do not lie down as this will provide a bigger target for the lightning to strike.  (Curated by Jessy Pearl)

Source: www.wikihow.com