Re: [scifinoir2] Sadly Needed Info--How to Avoid Lightning Strikes
Keith, when I first began playing Pee-Wee baseball, my coach took me aside and had me assume the standard catcher's position, left hand out as though I were holding a glove. Then he pointed out to the rest of the team that this was how you should stand if caught out in a storm and unable to find shelter. On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 12:50 PM, Keith Johnson keithbjohn...@comcast.netwrote: 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
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.netwrote: 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
Re: [scifinoir2] Sadly Needed Info--How to Avoid Lightning Strikes
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
Re: [scifinoir2] Sadly Needed Info--How to Avoid Lightning Strikes
I think it had something to do with their chemical makeup. I dunno. I did find this on the Nasa Science page: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/essd18jun99_1/ On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 4:46 PM, Keith Johnson keithbjohn...@comcast.netwrote: 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.netwrote: 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
