Lightning Safety

Lightning safety

One should not stay at an open place during lightning and thunderstorm. Hence as soon as we hear any alert about lightning or thunderstorm, we should rush to a safe place such as a house or a building. If somebody is there in a car or bus, they should stay inside and keep all the doors and windows closed. One should read inside the safe place until the storm lasts.

Do's and don'ts for lightning safety

 

 

Outdoor Safety

1. One should not stay in an open place such as an open vehicle like a motorbike, tractor, or open fields, elevated places, or tall trees.
2. One should not carry an umbrella during the storm.
3. If a person is around a forest they should hide under short trees.
4. One should not get near to any poles on metal objects.
5. One should squat low on the ground instead of laying down.

Indoor Safety

1. Lightning is an electric discharge hence one should stay away from electrical wires telephone, cables and metal pipes during a thunderstorm.
2. One may use a cordless phone or a mobile phone in an emergency.
3. One should not come in contact with the running water hence one should avoid bathing.
4. One should unplug all the electrical appliances in the house, for example, TV, computers or music systems. Electrical lights do not cause any harm and hence can be kept on.

Using a lightning conductor

• To protect buildings from lightning, a lightning conductor device is used.
• When the building is being constructed a metallic rod having a height more than the building is placed in the walls of the building.
• One end of the rod is in the air while the other end is buried inside the Earth.
• This rod is a conductor and hence during lightning, it allows the flow of electric charges to the ground

 

 

Working of a lightning conductor

• The lightning conductor rod consists of pointed ends which are made up of copper wire.
• These copper wires are brought down along the building and are attached to a metallic plate in the ground.
• If lightning hits the building the copper wires carry these charges quickly to the ground.

Do’s and Don’ts during a Thunder-storm

Outside

• Open vehicles, like motorbikes, tractors, construction machinery and open cars are not safe during the lighting.
• Stay away from poles or other metal objects.
• Carrying an umbrella is not a good idea at all during thunderstorms.
• Open fields, tall trees, shelters in parks, elevated places do not protect us from lightning strokes. We should take shelter under shorter trees.
• In an open area, if you do not find a place to hide. Do not lie on the ground. Instead, Place your hands on your knees with your head between the hands. This position will make you the smallest target to be struck.

Inside

• Lightning can strike telephone cords, electrical wires and metal pipes. During a thunderstorm avoid contact with these.
• Bathing should be avoided during thunderstorms.
• Electrical appliances like computers, TVs, etc., should be unplugged. Electrical lights can remain on. They do not cause any harm.

Lightning Conductor - It is a device used to protect buildings from lightning.

• It is a metallic rod, taller than the building, is installed in the walls of the building.
• The base goes very deep inside the earth and one end is kept out in the air.
• When lightning strikes, the electric charge goes to the lightning conductor and then it goes to earth. It provides an easy route for the transfer of electric charge to the ground.