Is it true that it is dangerous to bathe/shower while there is a lighting storm?

Answer 1

When lightning strikes, the electrical current follows the path of least resistance down to the ground. This means that, given the chance, the current will jump from a worse conductor to a better conductor. And if you happen to be the best conductor around, that current will go right through you. That's why lightning rods are so important: they provide the current with an easy and safe route to the ground.

Metal is a good conductor, so if lightning strikes an unprotected house, chances are the current will travel through any metal pipes. What's more, the tap water moving in these pipes contains impurities that help the water conduct electrical current. When you're wet, the natural resistance of your body is cut by half, and the salt and contaminants on your skin decrease your resistance further. So basically, being wet can make the difference between an unpleasant electrical shock and a deadly one.

Now, even though plastic pipes are insulated, and therefore, poor conductors of electricity, you should still avoid showering during a thunderstorm.

Answer 2

here is something I copied and pasted from a website. a link is below I think this will help you understand better and answer other questions you"My mother always told me to stay off the telephone (out of the bath tub, away from windows, unplug the appliances, etc.) during a thunderstorm. "

Good advice, if not always practical. Again, the ground current effect of energy transmitted into the structure along wires or pipes may find the person a better conduit to ground.(3,4) Many injuries occur every year to telephone users inside the home. One of the biggest new areas of consumer fraud has to do with claims of loss of "valuable" databases on computers damaged by lightning.(5)
might have.

Answer 3

Incidentally, a car is a safe place because you are surrounded by metal. So the simple logic used in the other posts fails here and is not very useful because it does not accurately describe the physics and thus fails to predict the outcome, which helps to assess the risk.

Electricity will tend to take the path of least resistance. Specifically, given a choice of paths, the current will be divided between them in proportion to the conductivity of the path.

IIRC, typically plumbing is metal and is grounded and the metal plumbing reaches above and below you thus providing a conductive path for the lightning, and thus reducing your risk.

However, it would be more dangerous if some strange plumbing mishap caused there to be no conductive path other than through your body, and the path of least electrical resistance was to go from the storm cloud down through the shower head through your body and down the shower drain before going to ground.

Assuming you have grounded metal plumbing, then I can't imagine how a person could receive a direct hit, since plumbing enters the building through the ground, and is typically grounded, and since the metal plumbing reaches above you...

I think building code requires plumbing to be grounded, probably in part due to this very concern.

An indirect lightning strike would certainly be a hair raising experience, and a minor shock could stop your heart, but it won't necessarily kill you, especially if someone was there to administer CPR.

It would be interesting to see in those stats exactly how those people died, and if there were any similar incidents where people survived. Anyway, it's so rare and the risk is so low that most people ignore it.

If you're that concerned about it, get one of these two things which will help protect you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_rod

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

Answer 4

yes, the water in your bath conduct electricity which you will hurt your self by taking a shower or bath

I hope this solved your problem and try not to take a bath during a lightning storm

Answer 5

Yes- because water attracts lightening - as does metal - and most water travels through metal pipes through at least part of it's travels.

Answer 6

Only if lightening hits a tree that has roots that are the metal water pipes entering your house. Very slight chance that you will be electrocuted...

Answer 7

yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

YES

Electric current + water = Death

Answer 9

ive never heard of it but water conducts electricity

Answer 10

don't know but I'm still alive!

So even if something happens, I guess it's rare.

Answer 11

Yep, water is a GREAT conductor!