Lightning Myths

4/24/2014 (Permalink)

According to the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an average of 60 people are killed each year by lightning, & hundreds more are severely injured.  Many times, these injuries are due to misinformation around the seriousness of thunderstorms and lightning.  Here are a few of the most common myths about lightning.

• MYTH:  If it is not raining, there is no danger from lightning.

  FACT:Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur up to 10 miles away from heavy rainfall.

• MYTH:  If you are in a house, you are 100% safe from lightning. 

  FACT: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity, including corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors, and windows.

•  MYTH: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.

  FACT: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly.  The Empire State Building is hit nearly 100 times a year.

• MYTH: A lightning victim is electrified.  If you touch them, you’ll be electrocuted.

  FACT: The human body does not store electricity.  It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.  Call 9-1-1 and begin CPR immediately.

• MYTH: If outside in a thunderstorm, seek shelter under a tree to stay dry.

  FACT: Being underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning casualties.