While your chance of getting struck by lightning is low, it's important to know how to stay safe during a thunderstorm. Cell phones and cordless phones are okay. Thunder, on the other hand, is the product of that. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage people to avoid all water-based activities during a thunderstorm even the washing up to reduce your risk of a strike. As a rule of thumb, if you can hear thunder in the distance, then youre close enough to the storm to have lightning reach you, even if there is no rain. If there are no safe shelters in sight, crouch down in a ball-like position: put your feet together, squat low, tuck your head, and cover your ears. So when there is thunder, there is lightning, and when you hear it, its time to go inside. Have friends over for a little get-together, or treat yourself at home just don't let the rain get in the way. Seek safe shelter first. Its also advised to avoid using electronics plugged into outlets and going outside during a thunderstorm. Nottingham Trent University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. As is, weirdly enough, using scissors near a window during a storm. So, think again if you are thinking about taking a shower. March 22, 2018. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Even though your home is a safe shelter during a lightning storm, you might still be at risk. What is important to remember is that you should avoid any pipes in your home during a thunderstorm. From beauty hacks to DIY home dcor and everything in between -- Lindsay has a passion for crafting stories that entertain, educate, and inspire. Electricity from lightning can move through water pipes in the entire building, not just the bathroom. As thunderclouds move over the Earth, they generate an opposite charge in the ground, and this is what attracts a lighting strike towards the ground. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. A weather alert radio can help keep you informed about storms. (Aug. 1, 2018) http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/can-lightning-strike-you-in-the-shower/, MythBusters. However, one of the many things you don't know about thunderstorms is that the small chance of being struck by lightning does not make it safe to shower during a thunderstorm. About one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. If lightning were to strike your house, or even close by, the electrical current could travel through your home using the wiring or pipes. You should stay out of the shower (or bath) and leave the dishes for later. Lightning can travel through plumbing. Thats because getting struck by lightning is rare and dying from it is even rarer. Stay away from electrical equipment or cords, including corded phones. Lightning is a large spark of electricity. Later, she learned that the current had gone through the plumbing to the faucet, into the standing water in the sink, through her headset and down her body. Every single one of those lightning deaths happened outside, which is where youre much more likely to get struck. "2018 Statistics: 15 Killed, 58 Injured." In 2017, a New York man was struck by lightning while sitting inside his auto repair shop. "The metal does not attract the lightning," Dr Karl said. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. It's also important to remember these risks aren't specific to showers or baths during a thunderstormyou really have to stay away from anything that has to do with pipes when you see lightning or hear thunder outside. This story was originally published on April 23, 2018. Do NOT lie down on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Clouds contain millions of water and ice droplets and the interaction of these is what leads to lightning generation. Avoid using corded phones (wireless handheld devices are OK, says the National Weather Service) and doing the dishes or laundry, since lightning can travel through metal plumbing fixtures. Another old wives tale worth adhering to: When thunder roars, go indoors!. Examples of safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up. An excellent excuse to skip doing the dishes during a dark and stormy night! During a thunderstorm, its recommended to avoid using electronics that are plugged into an electrical outlet. But if lightning strikes your house, the electricity would follow the path of least resistance to the ground. The shower provides both of those things (water and metal), making it an ideal path for the electricity to take. (2017). On average, 10-20 people get struck by lightning while bathing, using faucets, or handling an appliance during a storm. However, this does not mean you are completely safe from the storm. 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Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. If you hear thunder, lightning is within striking distance, so that should be your signal to step away from the plumbing and electricity. In fact, showering . From beauty hacks to DIY home dcor and everything in between -- Lindsay has a passion for crafting stories that entertain, educate, and inspire. Also, southeastern states are particularly at risk, with Florida and Texas having the largest number of lightning-related deaths. Here's what to know about why you should skip shower time if there's a thunderstorm going on outsideand what you can do instead. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage people to avoid all water-based activities during a thunderstorm - even the washing up . All Rights Reserved. According to Jeffrey Peters, a Severe Weather Program Coordinator from the National Weather Service (NWS), the "old wives' tale" is actually true. Don't wait if you can hear thunder, the storm is already too close for comfort. Is it safe to take a shower during a thunderstorm? Renee Nilan, MD, is an emergency medicine physician based in southeast Michigan. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the old wives were onto something: It really is dangerous to shower while theres a storm brewing outside and there's an entire laundry list of other activities you should avoid, too. Lightning can cause injuries in several ways: We take your privacy seriously. If youre reading this and thinking, OK, it may be possible, but it probably never happens, think again. Lightning strike survivors have reported neurological disorders, chronic pain, as well as mental and emotional illnesses. Although no place outside is safe during a thunderstorm, you can minimize your risk by assessing the lightning threat early and taking appropriate actions. This is better-safe-than-sorry advice: While this could happen, the chances of it happening are very slim. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Metal in our homes, including plumbing, can act as a conduit for electrical current. "Is it common? While the thunder may sound faint or the lightning may appear far away, Peters asserts that lightning can strike up to at least ten miles away from the storm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that about 10 percent of people struck by lightning die. And before we get into the truth about bathing during a lightning storm, let's first discuss why it's even a question. Many lightning deaths occur ahead of storms or after storms seemingly have passed. Lightning can strike the same place twice. If youre outside when a thunderstorm begins, heres what you can do to stay safe: Its unsafe to shower during a thunderstorm. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck. But it couldnt possibly be true or could it? Thunder and lightning come together during a thunderstorm. Well, it's not. Honestly, not very. What Are the Risks of Showering During a Thunderstorm? In 2017, a New York man. Here's What Experts Say, What To Do if You Hit Your Head, and When To Seek Treatment. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. "While the goal of a lightning rod is to divert the electricity to the ground, there are no. The rising water drops collide with the falling ice drops, passing them a negative charge and leaving themselves with a positive charge. While it sounds scary that you can get struck by lightning within your own home, its still safer to be inside during a storm than to be outside. Get Better Brewed Coffee With This Simple Hack, Why You Should Ditch Your Wire Grill Brush, Grelife 24in Oscillating Space Heater Review: Comfort and Functionality Combined, 10 Viral Products with Impressive Amazon Dupes, Yes, Brussels Sprouts Taste Better NowHeres Why. Other lightning injuries include blunt trauma, neurological syndromes that are usually temporary, muscle injuries, eye injuries (lightning-induced cataract), skin lesions, and burns. We know the saying, when a thunderstorm roars, go indoors! but when you get inside, there are still some thunderstorm rules to follow, and that includes not showering. While it may feel like you're safe as long as you're indoors during summer storm, that's not always the case. The electricity can travel along the wires and cause electrocution. What's more shocking (excuse the pun) is that the water often loaded with impurities helps conduct the electricity. During a thunderstorm, you should avoid using water in general. She has several years of experience as a freelance writer and reporter, with a specialized interest in the beauty and lifestyle space. For instance, a plane getting hit by lightning generally isn't really that big of a deal although pilots aren't crazy and do try to avoid thunderstorms, planes are built to safely conduct currents [source: NOAA]. Queensland Ambulance said the boy was conscious and breathing after the incident, but he was taken to the Prince Charles Hospital with leg pain. Being underneath trees is the second leading cause for lightning deaths. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Do not use corded phones. Don't shower, do your laundry, or otherwise run water during a storm, as lightning may actually travel into the pipes. To date, its unknown if anyone has ever died by showering during a thunderstorm. LifeSavvy is focused on a single goal: helping you make the most informed purchases possible. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. The thunderstorm wants to balance its charges, and it does this by discharging between positive and negative regions. It can also strike at a distance away. Is it safe to touch somebody who was struck by lightning? Answer (1 of 66): I work as a lifeguard for an indoor and outdoor facility in a place where it thunders frequently during the month of August. "If there is a cardiac arrest, prolonged loss of consciousness, decreasing mental clarity, then, yes, see your doctor or go to the emergency department," said Cooper. There was a hole through my shoe, and a burn mark on the bottom of my foot, Mobley recalled. Physics Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University. A closet, bathroom or interior hall without windows is the safest spot in your apartment during a tornado. 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