Why should you stay off the phone during a thunder and lightning storm?

Question

I know that you're not supposed to take a shower or go outside and stuff like that... but why the phone?

Answer 1

I seem to recall that it has to do with attracting electricity.

Answer 2

Yes it is, but as with anything you need to use some common sense. You dont want to pitch your tent on a high exposed ridgeline, in the middle of an open field, or right under a tree. As a backpacking guide I`ve been out on the trail weeks at a time and when you are literally in the middle of nowhere and a thunderstorm hits you cant run back to the car or go home, so you have to make the best of it. I dont worry about being wet since I prepare for rain and pack rain gear. I`ve pitched my tent (I now use a hammock) so many times that i can do it in the pitch dark upside down while spinning. Well you get my point, it being that I know where everything is in the stuff sack and can pitch the tent in a thunderstorm without the inside becoming soaked. It`s all about being prepared and using common sense. Yes some tents use aluminum poles but there are trees that are much taller than your tent, the lightening will hit a nearby try before it hits an aluminum tent pole. I`m also a leader of a boy scout troop and we camp year round, rain, snow, or shine. We`ve been out hiking in torrential downpours and thunderstorms, and this is with kids 13-18 years old and they handle it just fine. You just need the right mindset, a good set of rain gear and boots, and a little experience. I`m not saying to take your family out during the first storm, try it in a light rain or a drizzle and work your way up.

Answer 3

Because if a lightening bold sticks your house/phone or power lines it can travel thru the lines to your phone and strike your head.
If you are luck you will be dead. If not lucky you will suffer with bad face burns, busted ear drums and possible brain damage.
The same danger could happen if it strikes while you are in the shower/tub.
It is just saver to use cell phone or wait till the storm is over. Oh by the way you should always shut OFF your computer during a storm.

Answer 4

If it's a house phone with a cord, lightning striking the pole even a long way from your home, can send an electrical charge through the line and into you. If you must use a phone during such storms, use a cordless phone and move away from the base.

Answer 5

This warning is only meant for landline phones. Cordless landline phones are not included in the warning.

Because the phone connections are a direct line from the phone poles they can conduct the electric shock from lightening over an extended distance and if you're holding the phone, you're in big trouble.

This is also why you should unplug your computer from the wall (electric and phone lines) during a storm.

Answer 6

There is a very, very small chance that if lightning were to hit your house, that electricity could possibly travel through the phone line, and through the phone and into you. I wouldn't be concerned about it though.

Answer 7

Lightning hit the pole down the highway from my aunts house. The woman two houses down was zapped through the head, so stay off the phone. No kidding!!!!

Answer 8

A cordless phone is no good either. They tested it on mythbusters. Lightning can zone in on the signal from the handset to the base

Answer 9

Lightning can come through the phone line and hurt you really bad.

Answer 10

DUH!!! A CELL PHONE TRANSMITS Electrical currents, lightening is attracted to electrical currents, so it would be plain stupid to talk a cell during a rain storm , because you run the risk of lightening striking u.........also don't you know that electricity and water don't mix, even if you are not struck by lightening you can short out your phone and it won't work

Answer 11

I think it's because the lightning can travel through the wires and shock you.