Lightning Safety Tips - Not For Democrats

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/6/29/90647.shtml?s=he

Lightning Safety Tips

NewsMax.com Wires Friday, June 29, 2007

The biggest misconception people have about getting struck by lightning, one

of the world's leading experts on lightning strike injuries says, is that it

won't happen to them.

In fact, people are thousands of times more likely to be struck by lightning

than to win the lottery, Dr. Mary Ann Cooper of the University of Illinois

at Chicago told Reuters Health. Anyone who lives to the age of 80 has a 1 in

5,000 chance of being hit at least once.

In 2006, there were 47 documented deaths due to lightning strikes and 246

reported injuries. But all injuries aren't reported, so it's likely that

many more people were actually hurt by lightning strikes, according to the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A lightning strike can cause lasting damage, from memory loss and depression

to chronic pain and paralysis. "Lightning is a nervous system injury, it's

not a burn injury as most people would think," Cooper points out.

Cooper is helping to increase awareness of lightning risks as part of

Lightning Safety Awareness Week, co-sponsored by the NOAA and the National

Weather Service.

When lightning threatens, there are a number of ways people can reduce their

risk of being struck. Cooper offers the following tips:

Understand the weather patterns in the area where you are -- for example, if

thunderstorms typically happen during July afternoons -- and plan

accordingly. Keep track of weather alerts from NOAA, which will warn if

severe thunderstorms are expected, but be aware that such storms can strike

unexpectedly, too.

If you're outside, get indoors fast. And once you are inside, stay away from

open windows and doors, as well as hard-wired electrical equipment and

plumbing, both of which can carry an electrical charge if a house is hit by

lightning. Use of a hard-wired phone is the chief cause of indoor lightning

injuries in the United States, Cooper says, while an increasing number of

cases involve children playing with hard-wired game cubes or Playstations.

Cell phones are safe to use, she adds, as long as they don't distract you

from getting to a safe place.

People should also avoid concrete walls or floors, which are typically

reinforced with metal and can therefore carry an electrical charge.

Hard-top cars are safe in a thunderstorm, but soft-tops are not. If you are

in a car during a thunderstorm, close the doors, roll up all the windows,

and avoid touching metal surfaces.

Open shelters without plumbing or electrical wiring will not protect you

from lightning, and may even make you more vulnerable. "If you're outside

it's probably better to be soaking wet in the middle of the fairway as a low

object than it is to be dry under the trees or in one of those shelters,"

Cooper said. Sometimes, when signs indicate that a shelter is "lightning

safe," this means that the building itself has been protected-but not that

any people inside will be.

Once you've heard the last rumble of thunder, wait another 30 minutes before

heading back outdoors.

For more information, including special tips for kids, go to

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.

SOURCE: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

On Jun 30, 4:49 am, "Patriot Games" <Crazy_Bastard@The_Beach.com>

wrote:

> http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/6/29/90647.shtml?s=he

>

> Lightning Safety Tips

> NewsMax.com Wires Friday, June 29, 2007

>

> The biggest misconception people have about getting struck by lightning, one

> of the world's leading experts on lightning strike injuries says, is that it

> won't happen to them.

>

> In fact, people are thousands of times more likely to be struck by lightning

> than to win the lottery, Dr. Mary Ann Cooper of the University of Illinois

> at Chicago told Reuters Health. Anyone who lives to the age of 80 has a 1 in

> 5,000 chance of being hit at least once.

>

> In 2006, there were 47 documented deaths due to lightning strikes and 246

> reported injuries. But all injuries aren't reported, so it's likely that

> many more people were actually hurt by lightning strikes, according to the

> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

>

> A lightning strike can cause lasting damage, from memory loss and depression

> to chronic pain and paralysis. "Lightning is a nervous system injury, it's

> not a burn injury as most people would think," Cooper points out.

> For more information, including special tips for kids, go tohttp://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.

There was an incident in my town a few years ago.. a group of 14

golfers got under a tree during a thunderstorm (yes... they still do

that) and they were struck by a bolt.

Two died and most of the rest has serious injuries. Most prevalent

injuries were broken legs.

Apparently the electric charge running along the ground from the tree

trunk contacted their legs and caused the muscles to contract so

violently that they snapped the leg bones.

<lorad474@cs.com> wrote in message

news:1183210012.631934.324440@o61g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...

> On Jun 30, 4:49 am, "Patriot Games" <Crazy_Bastard@The_Beach.com>

> wrote:

>> http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/6/29/90647.shtml?s=he

>> Lightning Safety Tips

>> NewsMax.com Wires Friday, June 29, 2007

> There was an incident in my town a few years ago.. a group of 14

> golfers got under a tree during a thunderstorm (yes... they still do

> that) and they were struck by a bolt.

That's Democrats for ya! Give 'em even half a chance they'll hide under a

tree, under their bed, under their desk!!!

> Two died and most of the rest has serious injuries. Most prevalent

> injuries were broken legs.

> Apparently the electric charge running along the ground from the tree

> trunk contacted their legs and caused the muscles to contract so

> violently that they snapped the leg bones.

We have afternoon thundershowers nearly every day down here in Clearwater

during this time of the year. I try to get in 9 holes a week every week.

Its not at all uncommon to see a small group of Demmies running for a tree

when a dark cloud approaches. I usually yell out, "Get around the tree for

maximum protection, hug that tree!"