Staying Safe During Thunderstorms: A Guide to Minimizing Risks
Dangers and precautions when bathing during thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can be awe-inspiring spectacles, but they also pose significant risks. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to stay safe during these electrifying weather events.
Indoor Safety Measures
Using plumbing during a thunderstorm is not advisable due to the risk of electrocution. Lightning can travel through metal plumbing, posing a potential danger if you are in contact with water or metal fixtures during a lightning strike. Even plastic pipes reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, this risk [1][3].
To minimize the risk of electrocution indoors, follow these precautions:
- Avoid Water and Plumbing Fixtures: Refrain from taking showers, baths, or washing dishes until the storm has passed [3][5].
- Unplug Non-Essential Appliances: Disconnect devices from power outlets to protect them from power surges and potential electrical shocks [2].
- Avoid Using Landline Phones: Telephone lines can conduct electricity, so it is best to avoid using them unless absolutely necessary [2].
- Steer Clear of Metal Objects: Avoid touching metal objects such as doors, windows, or any metal fixtures, as they can conduct electricity [4].
- Turn Off the Main Electrical Switch (If Possible): Switching off the main electrical supply can prevent damage from power surges if done safely and with caution [3].
Outdoor Safety Measures
The National Weather Service advises people to go indoors during a thunderstorm. It is not safe to be outdoors during a thunderstorm; seek suitable shelter instead [6].
If you cannot get inside, find suitable shelter, such as an enclosed vehicle. Avoid standing under single trees or tall structures, and keep away from objects which could conduct electricity, such as metal fences, barbed wire, power lines, or windmills [2].
If someone experiences an electric shock during a thunderstorm, call for emergency help as soon as possible using a cordless phone or mobile phone. In a safe location, check the injured person for any other injuries. If the injured person is not breathing or does not have a pulse, the CDC recommends performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions until emergency help arrives [6].
General Safety Tips
Avoid activities involving plumbing systems and any devices connected to an electrical outlet during a thunderstorm. Get out of and stay away from bodies of water during a thunderstorm, such as swimming pools, lakes, or the sea or ocean [2].
If outdoors without any safe shelter, people can reduce the risk of injury by getting down from elevated areas, avoiding lying flat on the ground, and keeping away from all bodies of water [6].
Learn how to perform CPR. If outdoors in a thunderstorm and unable to get to any safe shelter, the National Weather Service suggests people can crouch down low in a ball-like position. Dangerous electrical currents can run along the ground's surface during a lightning storm, so lying on the ground should be avoided [6].
Remember, staying safe during thunderstorms requires vigilance and following these guidelines. By doing so, you can significantly reduce the risk of electrocution and other injuries during these electrifying weather events.
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/first-aid/expert-answers/thunderstorm-safety/faq-20058128 [2] https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunder [3] https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/lightning/safety.html [4] https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2390/ [5] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/thunderstorm-safety/ [6] https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunder-shelter
