Cade Courtley refers to lightning as “the sniper of natural disasters”. He explains this by saying it strikes from a distance, kills one at a time (usually) and you never know when you are vulnerable to a strike (Courtley, 2012).
It is important to understand the threats we face. Planning, and being prepared always give you an advantage. What is known about lightning is that it is a charged electrical current that is hotter than the surface of the sun. “lightning speed” is approximately 3,700 miles per second.
TARGETS:
People who have been killed by lightning were usually near a tree or telephone pole, or walking on/touching a metal surface (Courtley, 2012). Typically lightning hits the tallest object within its striking range, and also seeks out metal or electrical conduits. This explains why it has been said that wearing rubber soled shoes can be helpful.
30/30 RULE:
In the SEAL Survival Guide, this chapter discusses how victims of lightning can be grouped into two categories.
1) Those oblivious to their surroundings, who ignore danger and do not attempt to take shelter
2) the very, very unlucky
(Courtley, 2012)
You can improve your “luck” by following some basic safety tips. It is important to remember, where there is thunder there is usually lightning. Alertness and quick thinking can help you immensely. The 30/30 rule urges you to measure and count “flash-to-bang time”. That is to say, if you see lightning you should begin counting to thirty. If you don’t hear thunder before you reach thirty, you should take shelter immediately. If you do, you need to hit the ground where you are. (Courtley, 2012).
ACTION:
Seek shelter in a permanent structure and move towards the interior. If you are indoors, you should stay away from the windows. If outdoors, you should get inside a vehicle (rubber tires!) and keep yourself away from any metal parts inside of the car. You should not stand near tall objects, because they are likely to be struck. Avoid touching fences, signposts, or anything metal.
Facing natural threats like lightning are often not taken as seriously as they should be, because people believe they only have a one in a million chance, and we think that that one person will never be us. Making sure to prepare yourself and take safe action can help to make sure you will not be injured by lightning.
References:
Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books
think safety blog 