Introduction
Lightening is a sudden electrostatic discharge that occurs during a thunderstorm. It is a discharge that occurs between electrically charged regions of a cloud (IC- intra-cloud lightening), between two clouds (cloud-cloud lightening CC) or between a cloud and the ground (CG).
The lightening discharge is usually referred to as a flash. The flash creates a sound in the form of thunder. This flash is regarded as a strike if it involves an object on the ground.
Safety from lightening!
The fact still remains that not everyone across the world know about lightening safety! Being aware that lightning strike destroys life and property, it is necessary to take precautionary measures to protect ourselves!
Knowing that lightening occurs during a thunderstorm... definitely, a thunder is an alert for the occurrence of lightning.
During lightening, open spaces or open vehicles like motor bikes, tractors, and open cars are not safe. A house or a building is a safe place.
Outside: Here are safety practices you should adhere to during a thunderstorm.
On hearing a thunder, do not come out of your house. It is a safe place.
If you are traveling on a bus, or a car, you should shut the windows and doors as you are safe inside.
While in an open field, do not take shelter in parks, under tall trees or elevated places. Take shelter under shorter trees but if no shelter is available, then squat low on the ground, place your hand on your knees with your head between your hands. This position will make you the smallest target to be struck.
Inside the house: During a thunderstorm,
Avoid contact with wired telephones, electrical wires and metal pipes as you know that lightening is an electric discharge which can strike these metallic objects.
It is safer to use mobile phones.
Do not take your bath during a thunderstorm to avoid contact with water as water is a conductor.
Also, electrical appliances like TV's, computers, etc.. Should be unplugged whereas you can keep electrical lights ON as they do not cause you any harm.
You must have seen a metallic rod taller than a building. It is installed on the walls of a building during its construction.
This device is a lightening conductor which protects the building from lightening. It consists of a metallic rod whose one end is kept out in the air and the other end is buried deep in the ground. The rod provides easy route for the transfer of electric charge to the ground. It is necessary that you have this installed in your building to prevent a lightening strike.
- Similarly, metal columns, electric wires and metallic water pipes in buildings also protect us from lightening to some extent but you should not touch them during a thunderstorm.
In the event of a thunderstorm! I think you now what to do to protect yourself.
Cheers guys!!