We’ve looked at what the odds of getting struck by lightning are, but what’s the best way to avoid it? Since lightning can be a very random event the following should just be used as a guide to reduce the chances of getting struck by lightning or lightning using you as it’s path to earth. Electricity likes to travel, in the case of lightning this is travelling between the air & the earth. It also likes to take the easiest route it can find.
Trees
Standing under a tree is perhaps one of the worse things you can do. Lightning likes to strike tall objects, the electricity will travel through the tree & find you as a conductor, the spikes will then split into two & perhaps kill the person who is standing next to the tree also.
Lightning can jump from the tree & kill very easily
Open Ground
One thing to remember here is that there is no safe place outside in a lightning storm, however if you have no other option you must learn to try & minimise potential danger.
The best technique here is to use is the ‘Lightning Crouch’ in which you crouch down as low as possible (remember how we said lightning goes for tall objects?), & touch the ground with as little of your body as possible (so the lightning doesn’t see you as a good conductor), best method for this is just to crouch down & balance on your toes slightly.
The Lightning Crouch could save your life
If in the unfortunate event that you actually get hit this method will also help protect your vital organs from damage (as it changes the path the lightning takes through your body).
The Car
Believe it or not, the car is one of the safest places to be during a lightning storm, the metal body conducts electricity much better than a human body. Provided that you remove all your shiny objects & put them in the glovebox. If you are touching anything like the steering wheel, gear shaft or anything else metallic the lightning may try to discharge through you after striking the shell of the car, to avoid this do not touch anything else other than the seat & remove all metallic objects such as rings, watches & other jewellery.
At Home
The home can be dangerous during a lightning storm, proabably the thing that conducts electricity the best is Copper. Copper is part of your power points, phone lines & the copper piping that connects utilities to your house. For this reason you should stay clear of any sinks, basins, power points & telephones.
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