Temporary Disabled. :) please Go back Information for Outdoor Recreation | Lightning www.fgks.org » Address: [go: up one dir, main page] Include Form Remove Scripts Accept Cookies Show Images Show Referer Rotate13 Base64 Strip Meta Strip Title Session Cookies Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content Start of Search Controls Search Form Controls Cancel Submit Search the CDC CDC A-Z Index MENU CDC A-Z SEARCH A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # Start of Search Controls Search Form Controls Search The CDC Cancel Submit Search The CDC Lightning Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov. NCEH Home Lightning Lightning Safety Tips First Aid Recommendations Lightning Strike Victim Data Information for Workers Information for Outdoor Recreation Information for Organized Sporting Events Information for Water Activities Information for Pet Owners Frequently Asked Questions Additional Information Disasters & Severe Weather Earthquakes Extreme Heat Floods Hurricanes Landslides Tornadoes Tsunamis Volcanoes Wildfires Winter Weather Lightning: Information for Outdoor Recreation Language:English Español (Spanish) Recommend on Facebook Tweet ShareCompartir Precautions Did You Know?The best place for shelter during a storm is inside a structure with four walls and a roof or an enclosed vehicle. Small, open shelters and tents do not provide protection. Large caves and valleys are protective. Small caves, overhangs, and wet stream beds are likely to be more dangerous than open areas because water conducts electricity and electricity can jump gaps between rocks.If you are caught in a lightning storm while camping, climbing, or hiking, it is often difficult to find a protected place. However, you can avoid lightning injuries by taking certain precautions during outdoor recreation:Check the forecast. Before hiking or climbing in the mountains, always check the weather forecast. Thunderstorms with lightning in the mountains occur most often during the summer months in the late afternoon or evening.When thunder roars, go indoors. The beginning and the end of a storm are the most dangerous times. Even if you see blue sky, you may still be in danger.Do not carry metal. Do not carry any metal objects (e.g., skis, ski-poles, antennas, ice-axes). Metal does not attract electricity, but it is a good conductor. Your chances of a direct hit are higher when you are carrying a conductor above shoulder level.Avoid metal. Avoid metal objects. You are more likely to be burned if you are in contact with metal when you are struck by lightning.Safety TipsRemember these six safety tips when you are hiking or climbing during a storm.Separate from other members of the group to reduce the number of people injured by ground currents and side flashes between persons.Find refuge immediately, and do not continue to hike or climb for at least 30 minutes after a storm.Stay away from water and wet items (including fences and poles) because they can conduct electricity.If you are in the mountains, stay away from ridges, summits, single trees, power lines, and ski lifts.If you are in the forest, stay near lower trees.If you are caught in an open area, Do NOT lie down. Lightning causes electric currents along the top of the ground that can be deadly over 100 feet away. Running may help reduce the threat from ground current as it limits the time both feet are on the ground at any one time.IMPORTANT REMINDER: You can lessen your odds of being struck by lightning by following these precautions and safety tips while camping, hiking, or climbing. Disasters & Severe Weather Earthquakes Extreme Heat Floods Hurricanes Landslides Tornadoes Tsunamis Volcanoes Wildfires Winter Weather Language:English Español (Spanish) File Formats Help:How do I view different file formats (PDF, DOC, PPT, MPEG) on this site? Adobe PDF file Microsoft PowerPoint file Microsoft Word file Microsoft Excel file Audio/Video file Apple Quicktime file RealPlayer file Text file Zip Archive file SAS file ePub file RIS file Page last reviewed: December 23, 2013 Page last updated: June 27, 2014 Content source: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) /Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) Top
Did You Know?
The best place for shelter during a storm is inside a structure with four walls and a roof or an enclosed vehicle. Small, open shelters and tents do not provide protection. Large caves and valleys are protective. Small caves, overhangs, and wet stream beds are likely to be more dangerous than open areas because water conducts electricity and electricity can jump gaps between rocks.
If you are caught in a lightning storm while camping, climbing, or hiking, it is often difficult to find a protected place. However, you can avoid lightning injuries by taking certain precautions during outdoor recreation:
Remember these six safety tips when you are hiking or climbing during a storm.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: You can lessen your odds of being struck by lightning by following these precautions and safety tips while camping, hiking, or climbing.