Lightning Strikes - Tips To Keep Your Family and House Safe

Lightning is Mother Nature's electrical power. It issafety. Washers and dryers have contacts with
responsible for more deaths per year thanelectrical wires and plumbing pipes, both which can
tornadoes. Know when there is severe weathercarry the lightning strike surge, but also contain a
approaching your area. Even if that storm is notpath from the outside through the dryer vent.
right over you lightning bolts travel miles out fromProtect items within your home, also. Remember
the base of the storm. You will not be able toyour pets to ensure their safety. Dog houses,
dodge a lightning strike but you should know whatobviously, are not lightning safe and pets that are
to avoid, and how to be prepared, when there ischained or in a wire kennel can easily become a
bad weather.victim to a lightning strike. Electrical surges
Lightning strikes show how vulnerable we are toproduced by lightning can damage any electrical or
Mother Nature's power. Spring, and into summer,electronic equipment. A surge protector will not
is peak season for the nation's deadliest weatherprotect this equipment from a lightning strike.
phenomena. The National Oceanic andUnplug your equipment, before the storm
Atmospheric Administration lightning safetythreatens, to ensure protection of this personal
information indicates that 'an average of 67property.
people are killed each year by lightning. KnowingSuggested tips from the National Weather
how lightning enters a house or building and howService include:
to stay safe during a lightning storm may helpOutdoor Activities: Minimize the Risk of Being
protect you from injury and your personalStruck: Most lightning deaths and injuries occur in
property from damage.the summer. Where organized outdoor sports
There are three main ways lightning enters theactivities take place, coaches, camp counselors
home - a direct strike, through wires, or pipesand other adults must stop activities at the first
that extend outside the structure and through theroar of thunder to ensure everyone time to get a
ground. Regardless of the method of entrance,large building or enclosed vehicle. Leaders of
once in the structure, the lightning can traveloutdoors events should have a written plan that
through the electrical, phone, plumbing, and radioall staff are aware of and enforce.
television reception systems. Lightning can alsoHelping a Lightning Strike Victim: If a person is
travel through any metal wires or bars instruck by lightning, call 911 and get medical care
concrete walls or flooring.immediately. Cardiac arrest and irregularities,
To stay safe when you're inside your homeburns, and nerve damage are common in cases
during a lightning storm stay off your 'land line'where people are struck by lightning. However,
phone, away from windows and doors and avoidwith proper treatment, including CPR if necessary,
doing the wash. Phone use is the leading cause ofmost victims survive a lightning strike. You are in
indoor lightning injuries in the United States.no danger helping a lightning victim. The charge will
Lightning travels long distances in both phone andnot affect you.
electrical wires and can reach you if you're usingA little knowledge and some advanced warning of
or near the appliance. Another direct path for aan approaching thunder storm will help protect
lightning direct-strike into your home is doors andyou from the damaging effects lightning strikes
windows. Concrete garage floors generally havecause and reduce your vulnerability to one of
wire mesh running through them so avoidingnature's deadliest hazards.
contact with that surface will also ensure more