It’s not easy to think about, but lightning is such a dangerous natural phenomenon that it’s estimated to strike somewhere on earth every second.
In fact, according to the National Weather Service, more than 300 people are killed by lightning in the United States each year.
This is why experts recommend taking precautions before heading outdoors in order to stay safe from lightning and what those precautions are.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| How to stay safe during a lightning storm |
| The dangers of lightning strikes |
| Ways to minimize your risk of being struck by lightning |
| What to do if you are struck by lightning |
| Importance of following lightning safety tips |
1. When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors
If you hear thunder, do not go outside. This is the golden rule of lightning safety. If you’re caught in a thunderstorm, seek shelter immediately it’s better to be safe than sorry!
If you can’t get indoors, find a safe place that’s free of tall trees and other isolated objects like fences or poles.
Stay away from windows and doors; if lightning strikes nearby, it could travel through the metal of your door or window frame into your body. Avoid water bodies such as lakes and rivers because they attract lightning strikes.
Don’t stand near open fields (grasslands) or beaches either; lightning tends to strike these areas more often than others because they are exposed to the sky above them without much cover overhead (trees etc.).
Golf courses while beautiful are also among the most dangerous places during storms because they are large open spaces where golfers are exposed on all sides with few trees or other natural features around them for protection against incoming bolts of electricity coming down from above!
The wilderness is filled with dangerous creatures, and knowing how to identify them can be the difference between life and death. Take a look at our article on the top 10 most dangerous creatures in the wilderness to learn more about how to avoid or deal with these creatures in a survival situation.
2. Watch The Sky
The next step is to watch the sky. In the United States alone, lightning strikes over 1 million times each year.
The National Weather Service reports that there are more than 50,000 injuries and up to 400 deaths from lightning strikes every year in this country.
The vast majority of those injuries happen when people are outside during a thunderstorm and many of them could have been prevented with some simple precautions before getting caught in bad weather.
To avoid getting struck by lightning or any other kind of inclement weather while you’re out in your yard or at work, simply keep an eye on the skies and move indoors if necessary. If you see dark clouds overhead, get indoors immediately!
You should also watch for flashes of light—if you see one while you’re outside during an electrical storm, take cover immediately and wait until after it passes before going back outside again.
Recommended Lightning Detection Devices
| Brand | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| AcuRite | 01024M Pro Weather Station | This weather station is equipped with a lightning detector that provides notification of lightning strikes up to 25 miles away. |
| Kaito | KA500 Voyager Solar/Crank Emergency Radio | This hand-crank radio includes a built-in AM/FM/NOAA radio, an LED flashlight, and a USB port for charging electronic devices. It also features a built-in weather alert system that provides warnings for severe weather and lightning strikes. |
| StrikeAlert | Personal Lightning Detector | This compact and portable device provides real-time alerts for lightning strikes up to 40 miles away. It features an audible alarm and a flashing LED light to warn you of approaching lightning storms. |
| SkyScan | Lightning Detector Model SS-P5 | This handheld device detects and tracks lightning strikes up to 40 miles away. It uses a bar graph display to indicate distance and intensity of lightning strikes. |
| Boltek | StormTracker Lightning Detector | This system is designed for monitoring lightning activity in real-time. It creates a map of lightning strikes in your area and alerts you of approaching storms and lightning strikes. It is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, first responders, and professional meteorologists. |
3. Watch The Clock
Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a storm, and as long as an hour after the last thunder is heard.
This means that if you’re in an open area and hear lightning, it’s best to get inside immediately to avoid being struck.
But what about when there are no storms in sight? You might be wondering whether or not you should stay outside if it’s only raining lightly or even if there isn’t any rain at all isn’t it safer out in nature than sitting behind glass windows?
The answer is yes…but only so far (and not for too long). When we consider lightning safety, we need to think about two things: how close we are to a storm and how long we’re exposed. If there’s a chance of being struck by lightning while hiking during your lunch break, maybe don’t stay outside between 9-3pm!
Building a wilderness shelter is a crucial skill to have when camping in the great outdoors. To learn more about how to build a shelter, check out our guide on how to build a shelter in the wilderness, which provides step-by-step instructions to make it easier for you.
4. Watch Your Feet!
The fourth and final tip is to watch your feet. You should never stand in an open field or anywhere near tall objects while lightning is present.
If you’re at the beach, it’s best not to be standing on sand during a storm because that can cause ground currents that may lead to electrocution.
As a general rule, try to avoid water-related activities outdoors during storms with high potential for lightning activity.
Recommended Footwear for Hiking During Lightning Storms
| Brand | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Salomon | X Ultra 3 Low Aero | These shoes are designed for hiking and provide protection against the elements. They feature a breathable mesh upper that keeps your feet cool and dry and a rubber sole that provides traction and grip on wet surfaces. |
| Merrell | Moab 2 Waterproof Hiking Shoe | These shoes offer waterproof protection and slip-resistant traction. They feature a durable leather and mesh upper that keeps out moisture and debris and a Vibram sole that provides excellent grip on slippery surfaces. |
| Columbia | Redmond Waterproof Hiking Shoe | These waterproof shoes are designed for hiking in wet conditions. They feature an Omni-Tech breathable membrane that keeps your feet dry and comfortable and a non-marking rubber outsole that provides traction on any surface. |
| KEEN | Targhee III Waterproof Hiking Shoe | These shoes are made with a waterproof leather upper and a breathable mesh lining to keep your feet dry and comfortable. They also feature a rubber outsole with multi-directional lugs that provide superior grip on slippery surfaces. |
| Adidas | Terrex Swift R2 GTX | These shoes are lightweight and designed for fast-paced hiking. They feature a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry and a Traxion outsole that provides grip and stability on uneven terrain. |
5. Seek Safer Shelter
If you’re outside, seek a safe shelter immediately. A lightning strike can travel through the ground to any object near you, including buildings, cars and even water.
If you are in an open area when you see lightning or hear thunder, do not stand under a tree! Seek a safer shelter immediately.
The safest areas are inside a house or building with plumbing that’s connected to the municipal water system, but many modern homes don’t have enough metal in their construction to provide adequate protection from electrical shock.
A car is also an effective shelter from lightning strikes because it has rubber tires (which insulate against electricity) and offers better protection than open spaces like fields or golf courses where there may be nothing between you and nature but dry grasses waiting for some moisture-based energy source to turn them into firey death traps.
Finding a source of clean and healthy water is essential to staying alive in the wilderness. It’s important to know the risks and the dangers of drinking impure water to protect yourself and your loved ones.
6. Remove Metal Objects And High Places
You should remove any metal objects from your body and put them in the car before you go out into the great outdoors.
Make sure to also remove all of your jewelry, watches, rings, bracelets, necklaces and so on. This includes anything that has a metallic element such as magnets or hair clips with metal pins in them.
You don’t want to be defenseless against lightning bolts because you forgot to take off your necklace!
If there are electrical appliances in your home (for example: microwaves or computers), make sure they are turned off during a storm or thunderstorm because even if they appear unplugged it doesn’t mean that electricity isn’t running through them anymore since many appliances have built-in transformers which allow them work even when unplugged from an outlet – really confusing stuff but one thing’s for sure; don’t use these devices while they’re plugged into an outlet!
Recommended Non-Metallic Items and Safe Areas to Take Shelter During Lightning Storms
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Goal Zero | Crush Light Solar Lantern |
| Therm-a-Rest | NeoAir Xtherm Max Air Mattress |
| Big Agnes | Fly Creek HV UL2 Tent |
| LifeStraw | Personal Water Filter |
| Rubbermaid | ActionPacker Lockable Storage Box |
Note: Safe areas to take shelter during lightning storms include a sturdy building with plumbing and electricity, a hard-topped metal vehicle, or a fully enclosed metal shelter. Avoid seeking shelter under trees, small picnic or rain shelters, or standing on high or exposed places such as hilltops or open fields.
7. Stay Away From Trees, Water And Open Fields Or Beaches
Stay away from trees, water and open fields. Lightning can travel through the ground or water, so it’s not just about being above ground or in a metal vehicle (though those are safer).
Avoid open spaces. If you’re at a picnic, leave the park when a storm is approaching. It might seem like a good idea to hide under an umbrella—just don’t do it!
Navigating through the wilderness can be challenging, especially if you’re lost and far from civilization. Learning the proper techniques and skills for wilderness navigation is crucial, and our guide on the ultimate wilderness navigation guide will help you learn more about how to find your way in the wild.
8. Stay Off Of The Golf Course
Avoid the golf course. Golfing and picnicking on a golf course is a big no-no. If you can’t go fishing, at least try to avoid the beach.
If you happen to be camping, make sure your tent is well away from trees or other tall objects that could attract lightning.
And if you do get struck by lightning while camping in a tent, don’t panic! It will probably not kill you as long as it doesn’t hit your head or chest area and/or there’s someone else around who knows what they’re doing (see below).
9. Roll Down Your Windows
If you are in a car, do not touch the metal parts of the car and do not turn on the ignition if lightning strikes nearby.
If you are stuck where lightning strikes, get out of your car and lie flat on the ground until 30 seconds after the last flash of lightning occurs.
Lightning can re-form into an electrical current after it hits something, which means that if you’re still in your car when this happens, there is potential for another strike to hit you!
Building a shelter is one of the most important skills you need to learn to survive in the wilderness. Our article on shelter-building 101 provides essential information on the materials you need, the different types of structures, and step-by-step instructions to help get you started.
10. Don’t Touch Anyone Who Has Been Hit By Lighting
You should never attempt to remove any clothing from the victim, nor should you try to move them in any way.
The most important thing is to call 911 and wait for professional help to arrive. They will know what further measures need to be taken, but in general it’s best not to do anything at all except make sure that no one else gets hurt in the process.
11. Stay Safe Inside A Car, But Avoid Touching Its Metal Parts!
You will also want to avoid touching anything metal in the car itself, including the steering wheel and car frame.
If you have an electronic device with a lithium-ion battery, such as a cell phone, do not use it during lightning storms.
12. Call For Help Asap If Someone Is Struck By Lightning
If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 immediately. Once you have done this, stay with the person and perform CPR if necessary (while waiting for help). It’s important to check for breathing, pulse and responsiveness.
Do not move them if they are injured as this could cause further damage or make them lose consciousness again.
If you are trained in first aid then it may be worthwhile administering first aid as appropriate, but otherwise do not give yourself a false sense of security by giving basic first aid such as checking their airways or performing CPR unless trained to do so
Conclusion
Lightning strikes are common in the United States and Canada. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to protect yourself and those around you from this natural danger.
It’s important to note that while it is possible to survive being struck by lightning, the odds are not in your favor!
If someone has been hit by lightning, call 911 immediately and try not go near them unless they seem okay or if they need help removing their clothing.
Further Reading
Here are additional resources on lightning safety:
CDC’s Lightning Safety Tips: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance on lightning safety for outdoor enthusiasts, including tips on how to avoid being struck by lightning.
CNN’s How to Survive a Lightning Strike: Tips from People Who’ve Been Hit: CNN Travel shares first-hand accounts of lightning survivors and their tips on how to stay safe during a storm.
National Geographic’s 8 Simple Tips to Avoid Being Hit by Lightning: National Geographic outlines simple but effective tips to avoid being struck by lightning, from seeking proper shelter to avoiding high ground.
FAQs
What should I do if I’m caught outside during a thunderstorm?
If you’re outdoors during a thunderstorm, it’s essential to seek shelter inside a sturdy building or hard-topped metal vehicle. Avoid seeking shelter under a tree or overhang and refrain from using electronic devices.
What’s the safest place to be during a lightning storm?
The safest place to be during a lightning storm is inside a sturdy building or hard-topped metal vehicle. When indoors, it’s recommended to stay away from windows and doors and avoid using electronic devices.
Can lightning strike in the same place twice?
Yes, lightning can strike in the same place multiple times. In fact, some structures, such as skyscrapers and lightning rods, are often struck repeatedly.
How far away should I be from a storm to be safe?
If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning. It’s recommended to get inside a sturdy building or hard-topped metal vehicle as soon as you hear thunder or see lightning.
What should I do if someone is struck by lightning?
If someone is struck by lightning, it’s important to call for emergency medical assistance immediately. While you wait for medical help, it’s recommended to avoid touching the person’s skin and monitor their breathing. If they’re not breathing, perform CPR.
Hi! I’m Hellen James, and I am the founder of Unified Survival. I have a deep passion for the wilderness and everything that goes along with it. I’ve been hiking since I was a child, and I grew up camping in state parks all over the country. But it wasn’t until recently that I learned how to survive in the wilderness.