Can you really get electrocuted talking on a phone during a thunderstorm?

Question

My mother and grandmother used to always get on us about talking on the phone when it was thundering and lightning outside, I recently heard they were right in doing so. Can anyone verify this. Please give sources.

Answer 1

Yes although the chances of it happening are very low, especially with everyone using cordless phones. If lightning hits a single telephone wire, the lightning can travel into junction boxes or telephone exchanges and cause a significant amount of damage. When the lightning reaches a junction box, it can easily fuse circuits and jump from one to another (or several) and the lightning can travel down another telephone line (yours) and eventually it will get to your telephone - so yeah - there is a risk.

But most telephone companies have known of this risk for a few decades and have actively installed lightning protectors in the most high risk areas (rural areas tend to be worse affected). Having said this though lightning doesnt always reach these protectors as it will find a path to earth (a tree or a poorly maintained connections which is earthing).

If you live in a rural area and dont have a cordless phone i would certainly think twice about using it during as thunderstorm.

Answer 2

Yes if the line is hit but that's not all you can also be electrocuted through the computer , refrigerator , shower and anything else connecting to outside electricity cables and plumbing . Just because you have a roof over your head doesn't mean your safe just read last months readers digest .
P.S just to let you know your not really safe in a car because of its tires , its actually because the electricity runs through the metal of the car so as long as your not touching the metal inside your car you should be fine (yeah nature can suck sometimes).

Answer 3

Yes actually, I've seen an experiment about it on the Discovery channel before.

Telephone poles are easy targets for lightning, and when it strikes, all that energy has to travel somewhere. It is possible for it to travel through the wire at the speed of light, and end up on the other end, blasting you straight in the head with millions of volts of electricity.

Answer 4

To Do It is a good idea to keep computers, t.v.s along with most or all of your electronics off. If they're off, you have less chances off getting struck by lightning. Same thing with staying away from any metal. Not To Do Keep all Electronics on. Be outside. Be by anything metal. Fly. Don't be on a phone of any kind. They may say it's safe to be on a wireless, but that's not so. What If the Phone Tower is hit?

Answer 5

Back when everyone had a land line phone there was that chance because telephone pole were high in the air and lightening could travel to the head piece...with cell phones...use it if you are not the highest thing around that can conduct electricity.

Good Luck

Answer 6

Yes, a close strike to the phone line can channel the power into your home, and into you if you are on the phone. Of course a cell phone is okay to use during a storm since it is without wires.

Answer 7

Yes, you can Willie P. My grandmother used to say this too. She would unplug the phone, the television and appliances too. She also did not want us to take showers or baths until after a thunderstorm was over.

Answer 8

There have been instances where this has happened, also any thing plugged into your outlets can do the same thing if you are touching them. The wireless phones will not as long as your are not to near the 'base'. But remember the chances of lighting hitting near you, unless your out in open and on a hill, are slim to none......

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

yes you can. especially on a cell phone because it sends out negatively charged atoms. the lightning follows that path eletircutes the user. the same goes for house phones but you have to be charged enough for the lightning to jum and electricute you.