Now why would women survive more often than mean? Does body fat content have anything to do with how the body would conduct the electricity??
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mr. Worf" <hellomahog...@gmail.com> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 4:31:39 PM Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Sadly Needed Info--How to Avoid Lightning Strikes 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 . 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/
