As the sky grows gloomier and the trees start to tremble, thunder can be heard in the distance. That should alert you to the possibility of impending danger. It’s probably less than 10 miles away from you.
Don’t disregard that sound since lightning can strike where there is thunder and bring harm or death in unexpected ways. That applies even whether you are bathing, washing dishes, or taking a shower.
Since lightning can travel through plumbing, “it is best to avoid all water during a thunderstorm. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted.
”Plastic pipes may pose a lower risk of lightning damage to plumbing systems than metal pipes do. To lessen your risk of being struck by lightning, it is recommended to stay away from plumbing and running water during a thunderstorm, the CDC advised.
There are other risks to consider when you’re inside. The agency advised people to avoid going near windows and doors, stay away from patios and balconies, and “NOT lie down on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls.”
Also, do “NOT use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers or other electronic equipment,” the CDC said. “Stay off corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe … if they are not connected to an outlet through a charger.”
There are numerous ways that lightning can cause death. According to the CDC, a direct impact is most frequently fatal, although touching a car or other metal object that has been struck by lightning can result in injuries such blunt trauma, burns, skin lesions, and eye, brain, muscle, and eye injuries. The current may also pass through the ground, recirculate after hitting a person or something, or even stream up from nearby objects.
If you are caught outside, do “NOT lie on the ground. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly more than 100 feet away. Get inside a safe location; no place outside is safe,” the CDC said.
Post time: Jul-17-2023