In order not to be hit by lightning, you should stay in a covered place and preferably have a lightning rod installed, staying away from large places, such as beaches and football fields, because despite the electric rays can fall anywhere during a storm, they usually fall on high places, such as trees, poles and beach kiosks.
When struck by lightning, serious injuries can occur, such as skin burns, neurological injuries, kidney problems and even cardiac arrest, which can lead to death. The severity of the injury caused by the accident depends on how the lightning went through the victim's body, sometimes the lightning can go through only one side of the body, without affecting the heart, but the severity also depends on the lightning voltage.
How to protect yourself outside the home
The best way to protect yourself on the beach or street, for example, is to seek shelter inside a car or building when it is raining. However, other precautions include:
- Stay more than 2 meters away from tall objects, such as poles, trees or kiosks; Do not enter swimming pools, lakes, rivers or the sea; Avoid holding tall objects such as an umbrella, fishing rod or parasol; Stay away tractors, motorcycles or bicycles.
When this is not possible, you should crouch on the floor, on your tiptoes, to reduce the chances of fatal complications, such as cardiac arrest, if you are struck by lightning.
How to protect yourself indoors
Being indoors decreases the chances of being struck by lightning, however, the risk is only zero when there is a lightning rod on the roof. So, good ways to avoid lightning indoors are:
- Stay more than 1 meter away from walls, windows and electrical devices; Disconnect all electronic devices from the electrical current; Do not use electronic devices that need to be connected to the mains; Avoid bathing during a storm.
When lightning rods are available at home, it is important to have them checked every 5 years or just after a lightning strike, to ensure that it is working properly.
