How can we protect ourselves from lightning

From —, lightning caused an average of 27 deaths external icon per year in the United States. Being indoors does not automatically protect you from lightning.

In fact, about one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Here are some tips to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning while indoors. Lightning strikes may be rare, but they still happen and the risk of serious injury or death is severe.

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In the case that you are too far away from any shelter or vehicle, you can do a few things that may lower your risk of getting hit by lightning. If you are in an open area, seek out low ground with some natural protection, such as a valley or ravine.

Stay Away From Windows And Conductors Lightning can cause serious injury to you or your family no matter where you are, even in your own home. Stay away from windows and doors, which can also be vulnerable to high winds during a severe storm.

Because water and metal conduct electricity, avoid plumbing or activities using water, such as taking a shower or doing laundry. Refrain from using corded phones; instead use your mobile phone or a cordless landline.

Understanding the risks of lightning is an important part of thunderstorm safety, and can play a crucial part in keeping you and your loved ones safe in the event of severe weather. Always be prepared for severe weather by having a weather alert radio with battery back-up nearby in the event lightning knocks out electricity. With respect to sail boats, lightning is drawn to masts, irrespective of the material used.

When lightning strikes, disconnect all your electronic devices: unplug antennae and probes, avoid using on-board electronics and take shelter inside your boat. In all cases, inside your boat is where you'll be the least exposed. Clear the way Lightning naturally aims to strike the ground in this case the sea as quickly as possible.

This means you should always try to keep seamless electrical continuity between the tip of your mast and the water by clearing the way to prevent lightning from taking a different path via conducting materials. As an example, because lightning's electrical charge can ripple out via metal shrouds and stays, you could surround the foot of your mast with your anchor chain, creating contact between the chain and the shrouds before dropping one end into the water to create a trajectory that will prevent the lightning from targeting other conducting materials on your boat, or your crew.

In the event of stormy weather, always wait the storm out before heading out to sea.