Unlike hurricanes or tornadoes, lightning is such a frequent occurrence that we have become accustomed to its presence and often ignore its dangers. After Carrier Christine Jones’ death last week from having been struck by lightning while on the job, here are some things to remember. Let such a tragedy never again happen to a USPS employee or to any members of their families.
Lightning Facts and Injury Prevention:
The US averages about 100,000 thunderstorms each year, with 20 million lightning strikes annually at a rate of about one per second. Worldwide, there are about 100 strikes each second.
Your chances of being struck by a particular lightning bolt are 1 in 600,000, while the odds of being struck in your lifetime are 1 in 3,000.
Although a lightning bolt is usually about as big around as a quarter, it packs a wicked punch. The energy contained in a single lightning strike can power a 100-watt light bulb for 90 days, and the temperature of a typical lightning bolt is hotter than the sun’s surface.
The U S Department of Agriculture estimates that lightning causes over 80 percent of all accidental livestock deaths.
Rubber-soled shoes or insulated boots will not protect you against a lightning strike, nor will being inside a vehicle with rubber tires. If you get caught in a thunderstorm while driving, if you can, move to the center of the vehicle, close all of the windows, and don’t touch any metal.
Most forest fires in the US are caused by lightning.
You will not get electrocuted if you attempt to help lightning strike victims because the body does not store electricity after a lightning strike. And more than likely, a strike victim will need immediate CPR.
At home, if there is a thunderstorm, stay away from corded phones, from the sink and shower (electrical charges can travel through plumbing), and from computers and computer keyboards that are plugged in (a surge can travel through the line to the keyboard).
If you hear thunder, immediately seek shelter even if you don’t see any lightening. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance. Lightening can strike as far as ten miles away from where it is raining. I know that this isn’t practical advice for most working people, but when you first hear thunder, you’re supposed to seek safe shelter and not leave it until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder. The national Weather Service’s slogan about lightning is this: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
