Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Lightning Safety

Most people do not realize how dangerous lightning can be, an average of 62 fatalities in the United States occur each year and hundreds of others were seriously injured. Thunderstorms form from the result of buildup & a discharge of electrical energy between negatively charged areas which is the bottom of the cloud and positively charged areas which are items on Earth, it basically static electricity. Here are a few tips to know about thunderstorms: if you hear thunder you are close enough to be struck by lightning! Lightning occurs with all thunderstorms, no matter what! Most people think that lightning that they can see but not hear is "heat lightning", there is no such thing! "Heat lightning" is just a thunderstorm far away that you just can't hear yet, this could be headed your way! Another safety tip, if your hair stands on end or your skin begins to tingle, make yourself the smallest object and do the lightning safety crouch, you need to get low to the ground on the balls of your feet, place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Always seek shelter when you hear thunder, do not stand under trees, get out of the water even if you are boating, do not take a bath or shower, and stay off the phone unless an emergency!

For more lightning safety tips visit the National Weather Service: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov





1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. And I also adore that watercooler!

Water Cooler