Be safe when Lightning Strikes

Lightning is unpredictable and it can happen at any time of the year, however, it is a known fact that the highest occurrence of lightnings are during summer. The month of July has registered the most. About 67% of the casualties due to lightning happened between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Here are some facts about Lightning Strikes:

• About 85% of lightning casualties are men.
• 41% of all lightning strike victims are aged 15 to 34.
• 32% of lightning injuries happened indoors.
• Local U.S. fire departments have responded to an average of 22,600 fires per year that have been caused by lightning from 2007 to 2011. The fire from lightning have caused an average of 9 deaths and $451 million in property damage a year.
• 7% of fires caused by lightnings are nonresidential structures (businesses and other non-residential properties)
• Lightning fires in nonresidential properties caused an average of $108 million in direct damage each year from 2007 and 2011.

Tips on How to avoid lightning:

• If you hear the first thunder avoid going outdoors.
• Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last sound of thunder.
• Get inside a home, building or automobiles with a hard top when you hear a thunder
• Steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
• Unplug any electronic equipment before the storm arrives.
• Avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top.
• Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects.
• Stay away from water, wet items (such as ropes) and metal objects (such as fences and poles).
• Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower, wash dishes or do laundry.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
• Unplug electrical equipment