Lightning protection rules for people

How does lightning cause injury?

Lightning can cause injury in the following ways:

1. Lightning strikes the victim's position directly from the cloud.

2. When the victim stands next to the object struck by lightning. Lightning can be released through the air gap between people and objects. In this case, it is called horizontal strike lightning.

3. Lightning strikes when victims come into contact with objects struck by lightning.

4. Step voltage. When people come into contact with the ground at a few points. Lightning spreads on the ground.

5. Lightning spreads through cables to objects such as phones, televisions, sockets.

According to k

Tornadoes and thunderstorms (Photo: zavaj.com)

Well, lightning strikes are the most dangerous, for every 10 people hit by lightning, 8 people die. Lightning striking contact or horizontal crossing is also very dangerous. When lightning strikes a tree, a lightning bolt can kill a few people around. The risk depends on the nature of the object being struck by lightning and the relative position of the victim. Casualties due to step lighter voltage. In some cases lightning energy is not dissipated on the spot but propagates on the ground and when the victim stands on the transmission line it can be paralyzed. In some bad cases the victim will have problems with walking later. Often the step voltage only causes temporary effects and rarely leaves behind consequences. In fact lightning spread occurs when the victim speaks on the phone, holding cables, antenna wires leading from the outside.

According to statistics in the US, in addition to 40% of victims of lightning strikes are unknown, 27% are when they are in an empty area, 19% are near trees, 8% are swimming or in areas near water, 3% when right near machines, 2.4% while talking on the phone, 0.7% related to radio, television, antennas .

Anti-lightning measures to protect people

Because lightning is a random phenomenon, there is no absolute safety position. However, proactively preventing lightning to find a safer place can significantly reduce the possibility of lightning strikes. Need to guide the education of lightning safety for humans.

- Plan ahead

Listen to the weather forecast. When listening to the weather forecast, plan to work to take precautions. When working in certain areas, pay attention to places where you can stay in the rain and avoid lightning safely. Time must be calculated from the workplace to a safe place. Usually the thunderstorm pulls very quickly within 15 minutes and moves at a speed of 40km / hour. In general, when you are in an unsafe place, you should pay attention to the signs of thunderstorms, cold air, and wind.

- Implementation of the vision-listening rule:

When lightning happens, at first we see lightning flash and then there is thunder accompanied. If you calculate the amount of time from when the lightning flashes and when you hear the thunder, you can determine the distance to where the lightning occurred. Divide the number of seconds by 3 we get the distance to the lightning. For example, if counting for 3 seconds, the lightning is 3/3 = 1km away from the standing position. Keep in mind that if you count from the time you see the lightning and hear thunder less than 30 seconds, you are already in the sights of lightning and be careful. If this time is less than 20 seconds, you must move to a safer place. When you hear the first thunder no matter what you need to see the danger has come. Lightning can hit far away from the place with rain to 15-20km.

- Avoid indoor lightning

When thunderstorms are about to happen, the best way to avoid lightning is to go home. Safe place to avoid lightning is the building, or the office has installed lightning protection system (the simplest is the Franklin lightning rod) . When staying indoors, stand away from windows, doors, appliances electricity, avoid damp areas such as shower rooms, water tanks, faucets, do not use the phone unless absolutely necessary. It is recommended to unplug electrical equipment before thunderstorms occur. With telephone lines or wires because of connecting to external grids, it is very likely to be affected by lightning spread. Keep away from these wires and electrical objects with a distance of at least 1 meter. The connection to the antenna wire for outdoor use is also very important when it comes to thunderstorms.

- Avoid lightning strikes outdoors

In case of inadequate running to find safe refugees, absolutely do not use trees to shelter rain, avoid higher areas around, avoid metal objects such as bicycles, machines, iron fences. .

Find a dry place, if there are taller trees around, you should find a low place, find a low position.

The lower the person, the better the better, the hand around the neck. The contact part of the person with the ground is the least. Tiptoe, do not lie down on the ground.

Stand away from tall objects, exit immediately from water storage areas such as beaches, ponds, lakes and ditches. High mountain or ridge areas are also dangerous. If in the forest, look for lower and sparse places to avoid.

Do not stand in groups of people close together. If you feel that the hair is being erected (like an electric sensation when touching the hand in front of the television), that means it can be struck at any time. Immediately sit down and cover your ears with your hands, do not lie down on the ground or put your hands on the ground.

For objects with metal surfaces such as buses, trains, cars, etc., if you don't stick your body out and don't touch the cover, these places are safe. Conversely, for cars, ships that are open or without metal covers, it is dangerous.

After hearing the thunderbolt 30 minutes, you can return to work normally.

- Emergency for people struck by lightning:

In addition to burning, burns, lightning causes nervous system damage, fractures, hearing loss, vision, or memory. People with lightning strikes need immediate relief. If the person suffers from fainting lightning (cardiac arrest, breathing), respiratory movements and artificial heart support must be urgently performed. Find broken places, be especially careful not to move victims if you suspect a spinal fracture. Leave the place to dry burn and find the fastest way for medical staff to arrive.

- Do not do anything:

Standing near tall objects, near water, near trees, near cars, near houses, in fields where empty fields, antennas, high columns, near the transmission lines.

- What to do:

1, Look at the sign of thunderstorms (dark clouds, cold wind .),

2, Listen to the weather forecast when intending to go out.

3, Lower position to pinch legs. Not lying on the ground.

4, Entering a large house or entering a metal roof vehicle (remember not to touch the metal case).

5, Know in advance the nearest safe place and time to go there.

The lightning strikes were deadly in the first few days of the 2006 rainy season:

About 12 o'clock on March 26, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning struck two siblings who were pruning rice on the field, in the area of ​​A Dinh 2 village (P'Rao town, Dong Giang, Quang Nam).

Around 18:00 on June 9, lightning struck five people in four communes of An Thi district (Hung Yen).Victims are three children, two women go to graze and harvest rice.

Also around this same day, lightning struck two grandchildren who were harvesting rice in the Chuom field (Yen Ngo, An Binh, Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh villages).

Before that, about 16 o'clock on the same day, lightning struck a Thuy Van tourist (Vung Tau City).

At 7:20 am on July 1, at the two communes of Hong Minh and Minh Hoa (Hung Ha, Thai Binh), lightning struck two people and injured five people who were working in the fields.

At 7:45 am 2-7 am, rain and thunder struck two people and injured three people in Van village fields (Song Lang, Vu Thu, Thai Binh).

----------------------------------
See also: Some pictures of lightning strikes