They say that your chances of being struck by lightning is less if you are female.
I find it interesting that some people have been struck and survived. Remember that guy that was struck 9 times? On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Keith Johnson <keithbjohn...@comcast.net>wrote: > > > Yesterday, two teenage girls were struck by lightning here in the Atlanta > area ( http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/teen-dies-after-being-569897.html ). > They were standing under a tree near their apartment complex. One of the > girls is likely to live, the other died. I'm not sure if the girls intended > to use the tree as shelter, or were simply standing near it when the > lightning struck. Either way, they didn't realize the danger, which really > saddens me. I remember as young boy being lectured over and over by my mom > about getting in out of the storm. It was drilled into me not to stand near > a tree, a chain link fence, telephone pole, or a car during a storm. I > remember my mom yelling at me to throw down the rake, shovel, waterhose, or > baseball bat I might have been holding as dark clouds and rumbling thunders > approached. And boy was it hammered home not to use the phone or take a > bath during a storm. I think as the years go by, and fewer people grow up > with the wisdom of ancestors who spent a lot of time outdoors, we perhaps > fail to remember or heed those lessons. Frankly, as our technology allows us > to avoid things like power outages and interrupted phone service more, I > think sometimes the threats that Nature still presents seem to diminish. > Even I-- with all of Mom's warnings in my head, and all the knowledge of > such things a degree in Electrical Engineering brought--have in the past > foolishly jumped into the shower in my second-floor bathroom with storms > raging practically overhead. And Lord knows youngsters often dismiss such > warnings as the superstitions of old folk. > But as this event sadly shows, Nature is still supreme, and we really need > to heed those old, country-sounding words of wisdom. To that effect, I'm > posting a few tips on how to avoid lightning strikes gathered from the Net. > Sorry for the link and the use of multiple sources, but I think the > information is a quick read and just might save a life. If nothing else, > please be sure you have a talk with your kids about it, so we don't have > more stories like this sad one. > > ************************* > > [http://www.ucar.edu/communications/infopack/lightning/faq.html#avoid > > Outdoors, the idea is to avoid being near--or being--the highest object > around. Get away from isolated trees, metal fences, wire clotheslines, and > the like, and avoid standing in an exposed area or near water. If you are > the tallest thing around, or in a boat on open water, crouch down to reduce > your height (but don't lie flat). Lay down metal sports equipment and > dismount bicycles. Take especially swift action if your hair stands on end, > as that means charged particles are starting to use your body as a pathway. > The safest form of vehicle is one with a fully enclosed, all-metal body, > which helps to channel electricity around the interior. Make sure the car's > windows and doors are completely closed. Finally, remember that lightning > can, and often does, strike the same spot more than once--even the same > person. U.S. park ranger Roy Sullivan reportedly was struck seven times > between 1942 and 1977.] > > ************************ > > http://www.hitthetrail.com/lightning.php > > - If you're boating or swimming, get to land, get off the beach and > find shelter immediately. Stay away from rivers, lakes and other bodies of > water. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity and nearby lightning > strikes often travel through it. > - Whenever possible, take shelter in substantial, permanent, enclosed > structures, such as reinforced buildings. Avoid unprotected gazebos, rain > or > picnic shelters, baseball dugouts and bleachers; these structures are often > isolated and located in otherwise open areas, making them a target for > lightning. Also, they're generally poorly anchored and can easily be > uprooted and blown over by strong thunderstorm winds. Lastly, these > structures offer little protection from large hail. > - If there are no reinforced buildings in sight, take shelter in a car, > truck or other hard-topped vehicle. Keep the windows closed. Although > rubber > tires provide no protection from lightning, the steel frame of a > hard-topped > vehicle does increase protection if you are not touching metal. If > lightning > does strike your car, you may be injured but you are much safer inside a > vehicle than outside. > - If you are in the woods, find an area protected by a low clump of > trees. Never stand under a large tree in the open. Be aware of possible > flooding in low-lying areas. > - As a last resort, if no shelter is available, go to a low-lying, open > place away from trees, poles or metal objects. Pick a place that is not > subject to flooding. Have as little contact with the ground as possible; > make yourself the smallest target possible. Squat low to the ground, and > cover your head. Do not lie flat, as this makes you a larger target. > - Avoid tall structures, such as towers, tall trees, fences, telephone > lines and power lines. Lightning strikes the tallest object in an area. > - Stay away from lightning rods, golf clubs, tractors, fishing rods, > bicycles and camping equipment. Lightning is attracted to metal poles and > rods. > - If you are isolated in a level field and feel your hair stand on end > (an indication lightning is about to strike), immediately make yourself the > smallest target possible. Drop to your knees and bend forward, putting your > hands on your knees. Or crouch on the balls of your feet. Do not lie flat > on > the ground. > > ********************************* > > http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/grounders/lightningsafety.html > > > *Avoiding the Risks of Deadly Lightning Strikes* > > Lightning is one of the most underrated severe weather hazards, yet ranks > as the second-leading weather killer in the United States. More deadly than > hurricanes or tornadoes, lightning strikes in America each year kill an > average of 73 people and injure 300 others, according to NOAA's National > Weather Service <http://www.nws.noaa.gov/>. > > *How Lightning Works* > Lightning is caused by the attraction between positive and negative charges > in the atmosphere, resulting in the buildup and discharge of electrical > energy. This rapid heating and cooling of the air produces the shock wave > that results in thunder. During a storm, raindrops can acquire extra > electrons, which are negatively charged. These surplus electrons seek out a > positive charge from the ground. As they flow from the clouds, they knock > other electrons free, creating a conductive path. This path follows a zigzag > shape that jumps between randomly distributed clumps of charged particles in > the air. When the two charges connect, current surges through that jagged > path, creating the lightning bolt. > > *The Warning Signs* > High winds, rainfall, and a darkening cloud cover are the warning signs for > possible cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. While many lightning casualties > happen at the beginning of an approaching storm, more than 50 percent of > lightning deaths occur after the thunderstorm has passed. The lightning > threat diminishes after the last sound of thunder, but may persist for more > than 30 minutes. When thunderstorms are in the area, but not overhead, the > lightning threat can exist when skies are clear. > > *Safety Precautions* > While nothing offers absolute safety from lightning, some actions can > greatly reduce your risks. If a storm is approaching, avoid being in, or > near, high places, open fields, isolated trees, unprotected gazebos, rain or > picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, communications towers, flagpoles, light > poles, bleachers (metal or wood), metal fences, convertibles, golf carts and > water. If you can see lightning or hear thunder, the risk is already > present. Louder or more frequent thunder means lightning activity is > approaching, increasing the risk for lightning injury or death. If the time > delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder is less than 30 > seconds, you are in danger. > No place is absolutely safe from the lightning threat, however, some places > are safer than others. Large enclosed structures are safer than smaller, or > open, structures. Avoiding lightning injury inside a building depends on > whether the structure incorporates lightning protection and its size. When > inside during a thunderstorm, avoid using the telephone, taking a shower, > washing your hands, doing dishes, or having contact with conductive > surfaces, including metal doors, window frames, wiring and plumbing. > Generally, enclosed metal vehicles, with the windows rolled up, provide good > shelter from lightning. > > *Action Plan For Outside Events* > Coordinators of outdoor events should monitor the weather and evacuate > participants when appropriate. School buses are an excellent lightning > shelter, which outdoor event organizers can provide. Consider placing > lightning safety tips and/or the action plan in game programs, flyers, > scorecards, etc., and placing lightning safety placards around the area. > Lightning warning signs are effective means of communicating the lightning > threat to the general public and raise awareness. > > *First Aid for Lightning Victims* > Ninety percent of lightning victims survive their encounter with lightning, > especially with timely medical treatment. Individuals struck by lightning do > not carry a charge, and it is safe to touch them and provide medical > treatment. Call 911 and start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim > has no pulse, begin cardiac compressions. In cold, wet situations put a > protective layer between the victim and the ground to lower the risk of > hypothermia. > > > > -- Celebrating 10 years of bringing diversity to perversity! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
