How to behave during a thunderstorm: life-saving tips

This week man killed by lightning on a golf course in New Jersey. Lightning struck the tree under which he was hiding. Thunderstorms are frequent in the warmer months of the year in the United States, and knowing how to behave properly during this natural phenomenon can save your life. Therefore, we have collected some simple tips on how to behave during this element.

The safest and safest places during a thunderstorm are buildings (it is desirable that they be equipped with lightning rods) and cars.

If bad weather still found you on the street, then it is necessary to determine whether it is dangerous. To do this, count the time between the flash of lightning and the clap of thunder. If it is less than ten seconds, then the thunderstorm is already three kilometers away and you need to start looking for shelter. If less than three seconds, then you are already in the midst of a thunderstorm and you need to act immediately.

You can't hide from a thunderstorm under trees. This is especially true for single standing trees, as lightning strikes at the highest point on the surface. Thus, during a thunderstorm, you should avoid tall trees, forest edges, telegraph poles, etc. The minimum distance to them should be ten meters. In the mountains, a relatively safe place - about a meter from the sheer cliffs and steep cliffs.

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For shelter during a thunderstorm, find a hollow, another depression, or a low spot on the surface. and squat there with your hands around your knees.

Never lie down on the ground. This increases the danger in the event of a lightning strike somewhere nearby. All metal objects should be placed away from your shelter - at least 5 meters away. If you find yourself on the street in a thunderstorm in a group, then you need to disperse and sit down separately so that the distance between each of you is at least a meter, or better - three.

The most dangerous place during a thunderstorm is ponds and pools, due to the high conductivity of the current by water, the radius of damage in water bodies reaches 100 meters. Bathers should go ashore as soon as signs of an impending thunderstorm appear. Boats, boats, yachts should be directed to the shore as quickly as possible, and those who are on them should stay away from metal objects and masts, and sit as low as possible.

Cyclists and motorcyclists need to stop driving during a thunderstorm, try to hide in a building or find another safe place. If there is nothing like that nearby, you also need to squat with your arms around your knees, but away from your iron horse.

Also it is dangerous to open an umbrella outside settlements during a thunderstorm - it makes you taller, in addition, it has a metal frame.

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If you find yourself in a car during a thunderstorm, then you are in luck. The car will protect you from discharge due to its design. However, if possible, it is recommended to stop traffic and find a temporary parking lot, preferably away from trees. It is better not to get out of the car.

Campers are also better off waiting out a thunderstorm in their car.if you got to him on it. If there is no car nearby, then follow all the recommendations described above.

The most dangerous sports during a thunderstorm are golf and horse riding., which is quite obvious given all of the above.

In recent decades, in the United States, thanks to awareness campaigns, it has been possible to reduce the number of victims of lightning strikes by an order of magnitude - from several hundred to several dozen people a year. For example, seventeen people were killed by lightning strikes in the United States last year. Every year in the world, this phenomenon takes the lives of up to 24 thousand people.