OUTDOORS COMMON SENSE TIPS: Lightning will strike from out of nowhere
even on a very sunny day and even from a distance of as far as 16 kilometers
away.
When in the midst of a lightning storm, stay away from open terrain, from long conductors and from the highest trees. Go down to lower elevations, remove metallic and electronic objects from your body and execute lightning position by crouching low, feet close together.
If
you notice lightning from far away or fast approaching, refrain from using
electronic gadgets and phones. Find a shelter but keep away from windows and in
places where there are water faucets.
First seen in Facebook
February 9, 2018
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IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD, lightning is still a misunderstood wonder of nature. People would always link it with the supernatural. In the US, they take lightning seriously and established several scientific institutions and centers which purpose is solely for the study of lightning patterns and to prevent casualties.
I have not enough experience with
lightning because I was never in the way of a lightning strike. Although I was
upon its vicinity, quite close and quite often that it made my hair stand up or
hear the zap of the lightning almost at the same time with the appearance of an
electrode and the boom of thunder. That is quite near!
Sixteen kilometers was the farthest distance that a bolt of lightning had struck something from out of the blue. It is not choosy either. It could hit someone on a lazy sunny day. Anywhere, but most likely, you are in the close proximity of long electrical conductors such as a steel tower, electrical lines, hand rails, bridges or anything that is made of metal.
Lightning strikes are unpredictable but it tends to hit the nearest object within its downward reach like mountain peaks, tall trees, boats with high masts and anything higher than the ground, to include you standing taller than your immediate surroundings. It is much deadly when you are on wet ground or near water.
Ground current accounts for the
greatest percentage of lightning deaths and injuries. When lightning strikes
expect a kill radius of within ten meters which is more of the same as a
grenade explodes. Then you have the side flash where electrodes splashes
horizontally over to the nearest objects as another path to the ground. It is
the next cause of casualties.
Touch voltage is caused by touching long conductors where current is channeled through it from the ground. This accounts the third highest mortality percentage in lightning-caused incidents. A direct strike is the one that gives us goose bumps but actually accounts for only a very small percentage of deaths and injuries. It is not rare though when you stand out on a very flat terrain.
The best time to evade being caught in a lightning storm is to study weather patterns before visiting high-risk areas. When you hear thunder, go indoors; if not, find a safer place like lower ground. Avoid tall trees and long conductors when lightning is close. Your last line of defense is making yourself a small target as possible by crouching, heels together, and avoid touching the ground or long conductors.
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WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified
by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival
is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into
organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage
guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions.
Through tutorship, experience, folk
knowledge and good old common sense, this writer was able to collect useful
information which he is currently documenting in a book titled, ETHICAL
BUSHCRAFT. He shares some of this information and knowledge in his training sessions;
in his social-media account; and in this blog.
Photo
Nr 2 credits to Computer Business Review
Photo Nr 3 credits to Razsil Zuasola
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