1. Stay or go indoors! If you hear
thunder, don't go outside unless absolutely necessary. Remember, by
counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder and dividing by
5, you can estimate your distance from the strike (in miles).
2. Stay away from anything that could
conduct electricity. This includes fireplaces, radiators, stoves,
metal pipes, sinks, and phones.
3. Don't use any plug-in electrical
appliances like hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, or electric
razors. If lightning strikes your house they can conduct the charge to
you.
4. Don't use the telephone during the
storm. Lightning may strike telephone lines outside.
5. Stay in your automobile if you are
traveling. Automobiles give you excellent lightning protection.
6. Don't use metal objects outside,
like fishing rods and golf clubs. Golfers wearing cleated shoes are
really good lightning rods.
7. Get out of the water. This
includes getting off small boats on the water.
8. If you're outdoors, seek shelter
from lightning! Buildings are best for shelter, but if no buildings
are available, you can find protection in a cave, ditch, or a canyon.
Trees are not good cover! Tall trees attract lightning.
9. If you can't find shelter, avoid
the tallest object in the area. If only isolated trees are nearby,
your best protection is to crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away
from isolated trees as the trees are high.
10. When you feel the electrical
charge -- if your hair stands on end or your skin tingles --
lightning may be about to strike you. Drop to the ground immediately!
