lightning safety question?

Question

why do you stay away from water when there is lightning?
What can you do to be safe from lightning when you are outdoors?

Answer 1

water conducts electricity (lightning) which is why u don't want to be in the shower while it flashes, either. When u are outside and it is lightning, it will usually strike the tallest object or metal (another conductor.) So you don't want to be in the middle of a field with an umbrella!

Answer 2

Very good question. Here are some recommendations regarding lightning and swimming. The bottom line is to get out of the water if storms are anywhere close to you (using the guidelines below). These suggestions hold true whether it be an indoor or outdoor pool, a river, a pond, or the ocean you may be swimming in. Please read them.


Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pool Safety
Lightning’s behavior is random and unpredictable. We recommend a very conservative attitude towards it. Preparedness and quick responses are the best defenses towards the lightning hazard.

Swimming pools are connected to a much larger surface area via underground water pipes, gas lines, electric and telephone wiring, etc. Lightning strikes to the ground anywhere on this metallic network may induce shocks elsewhere.

The National Lightning Safety Institute recommends the following swimming pool safety procedures:

Designate a responsible person as the weather safety lookout. That person should keep an eye on the weather. Use a "weather radio" or the Weather Channel or other TV program to obtain good localized advanced weather information.
When thunder and/or lightning are first noticed, use the Flash-To-Bang (F-B) method to determine its’ rough distance and speed. This technique measures the time from seeing lightning to hearing associated thunder. For each five seconds from F-B, lightning is one mile away. Thus, a F-B of 10 = 2 miles; 15 = 3 miles; 20 = 4 miles; etc. At a F-B count of thirty, the pool should be evacuated. People should be directed to safe shelter nearby.
Pool activities should remain suspended until thirty minutes after the last thunder is heard. The distance from Strike A to Strike B to Strike C can be some 5-8 miles away. And it can strike much farther away. Why take a chance with lightning?


Teach this safety slogan:
"If you can see it, flee it; if you can hear it, clear it."


Lightning strikes are weather-related medical emergencies. Lightning is consistently among the top 4 weather-related killers. In typical years, lightning kills more people in the United States than any other natural disaster (with the exception of flash floods), including tornadoes.

The National Weather Service reports more than 3,000 deaths a year from cardiac arrest related to lightning strikes. There are 4-5 times as many people injured.

Most people killed or injured by lightning are outside doing recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, or playing sports. Others are working outdoors at construction jobs. Farmers are often struck, too.

Now here is a little science to go with the above hazards of lightning. The amperage of a typical thunderstorm may vary from 10,000 to 200,000 amps, with a potential difference of several hundred million volts. The power generated by one thunderstorm may be in the neighborhood of several hundred megawatts. The temperature of the air through which the lightning passes may reach 54000 F, five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. As one questioner pondered about 2 weeks ago "if only we could harness this energy".

Now try and avoid it and stay inside during thunderstorms.

Answer 3

You need to stay away from water when there's lightning because water conducts electricity (hence, lightning). If you are ever outside during a lightning storm they stay away from trees, water, and metal objects. It's best to go in someplace like a ditch, where it is really low.

Answer 4

The best thing to do is get up on your tip-toes but crotch into a ball. It's a little hard to balance like that, but you're having the least amount of contact with the ground and making yourself shorter. Also, if at all possible, stick your butt in the air. If you do get hit, you don't want the electric current to pass over your heart, because it will kill you. So if you're out in a field during a storm and your hair starts to stand up on end, assume the position!

Answer 5

Water conducts electricity, and thus u will be electrocuted if lightning hits the water.

Answer 6

if your in a house. lightning can hit an underground pipe connected to rour house and can be passed to you if your in the shower. when your outside. find the nearest shelter such as a car. you are safer in a car when there is lightning.

Answer 7

Commonsense question if you are on a lake in a flat bottom boat you are the highest point on the lake the law of physics you will be hit.

get indoors or a vehicle during a lighrening storm

Answer 8

get as close to the ground as possible if you are outside during a storm

Answer 9

because water conducts electricity.
just stay indoors and your perfectly safe!