what to wear/bring to avoid lightning strikes?

Question

hi

there are heaps of thunderstorms/l strikes where i live

i cant avoid staying indoors all the time.

i was just wondering, because sometimes i will have to walk or ride a bike, what type of stuff should i be wearing to make myself less of a target?

i was thinking lots of rubber? is that right at all?

thanks.

Answer 1

rubber boots, saved my granddad

Answer 2

Just wearing rubber won't help. In fact, even if you were completely encased in rubber, just the smallest pin hole can let electricity through.

Lightning is an exchange of electricity between the air and the ground. Electricity likes to follow the easiest path. If you are touching the ground, that makes you more of a target. If you are riding a bike, the rubber wheels are all that's touching the ground, so you are no longer an easy path. However, when dealing with the amount of electricity in a lightning strike, it's a little less predictable.

Say you are on a flat area where you are the tallest thing around. If you were standing on a 1 foot block of rubber, lightning would still use part of you to make it's journey, jumping out of your foot to the ground beside the rubber.

If you absolutely must go out in a storm, avoid being close to tall things like trees and buildings. If you start to feel static electricity (the hair on your arm or neck standing up) get away from tall objects and lay down flat. Finally try and avoid areas where you are the tallest thing within a football field's length.

Answer 3

Hi,

what a problem...

In Florida, where I stayed for a little while we were given this advice:

1, Try to avoid going out if a thunderstorm is active and close.

2, Avoid standing/walking past any tall structures, including trees and electricity pylons.

3, Wear rubber soled shoes (which will help insulate you if not wet (Hmmm!)

4, Do not carry conductors e.g. Golf clubs, metal fishing rods, etc.

5, If you are caught out in a storm do not let yourself be the highest point on the ground (cycling over a hill, for example) When walking, be aware of your surroundings to avoid places that are more likely to be struck.

Most of the advice is common sense, really, but hopefully it will keep you from getting fried.

Good luck and remember, although you say you need to go out sometimes...if you get struck you may never go out again. You can't be too safe, can you?

There are a number of people killed each year by lightning strikes, so the danger is very real...take the very best car of yourself that you can,

Cheers,

BobSpain

Answer 4

Wearing rubber will not help at all. If lightning can get through the air, which is a poor conductor, a centimetre or two of rubber is not going to stop it. Lightning is best avoided by minimising yourself as a target. If a storm is within a kilometre of you, three seconds between lightning and thunder, it is best to take shelter. It won't be there more than five or ten minutes. Your life is worth at least that amount of time.

By the way, worldwide, more people are kicked to death by donkeys than are killed by lightning and 25% of those struck by lightning are golfers.

Answer 5

when if your on a bike, you got rubber tires under you
just dont step down
and come on man it isnt a common occurence
ur more likly to get eaten by a shark
or mabye its theo ther way around..anyway it doens happpen tomuch( knock on wood)