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Thunderstorm
Safety
What to do when you see a storm approaching
©
Outdoor Adventure Canada
 I
have been involved in outdoor adventure for years and it still
surprises me that many people, even seasoned outdoors people,
do not fully understand what should be done in severe weather.
I have been camping on lakeside sites and watched canoes go by
with the occupants paddling like mad to get to a camp before they
are struck by lightning. I've also witnessed crowds standing in
sports field or huddled under a lone tree during an electrical
storm to avoid getting wet.
Humans are roughly
80% water which is a good conductor of electricity. Air is considered
a poor conductor, now lightning will travel thousands of feet
through this poor conductor to find the path of least resistance.
A tree, building, fence, lone person in a field or a family in
a boat will all facilitate lightning's path to the ground.
If you are on a lake,
get off, immediately! Do not race to the camp site, instead land
on the shore or even someone else's camp site. I'm positive the
residents of the campsite will understand. Once off the water
move quickly inland to the lowest sheltered area you can find.
If you are in a field
or open area, move to the trees (don't stand under a single tree
though). Try to find an area that is treed (medium density) and
a low spot if you can. Kneel down on a pad, if you have one, with
your feet together and your head low. Try to keep your body contact
with the ground to a minimum as ground currents can injure you
as well.
If you are in group,
try to spread out at least 100 feet. For the hikers and backpackers
don't be afraid to ditch your pack if it's slowing you down especially
if it has a metal internal or external frame. After all nothing
in your pack is worth your life.
Storms at night are
particularly dangerous, not from direct lightning strikes but
more from ground currents. Lying on sleeping pads and air mattresses
will offer little protection from electrocution. At the very least
your heart will probably stop. If you are in a campground your
safest course is to move to the inside of your vehicle.
The rules to survival
are simple:
If you are on the water, exposed ridge, mountain, cliff, field,
etc. Seek a safe, low, medium
density treed area. Don't be the highest object around.
Don't huddle as a group spread out at least 100 feet
Minimize you contact with the ground, but remember to keep low.
Stay away from other conductors eg. Towers, fences, wires etc.
If you can get to a vehicle it is your safest place.
Don't assume the storm is over until at least 30 minutes have
elapsed from
the last flash of lightning
As a rule of thumb
the time from the lightning flash to it thunder clap is roughly
1 mile for every five seconds.
Always remember, there
is no warning for a lightning strike and it is not uncommon for
a bolt to jump out of the cell and hit ground several miles away.
All lightning can kill, even if it appears to be "heat lightning."
The old saying "better safe than sorry" definitely applies
here. Be storm smart and safe!
For more articles
please view the archives.
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