Tips on how to survive a lightning strike
Jul 21, 2011
People generally think of lightning damage as what happens at the point where a cloud-ground stroke terminates on a tree, structure, or elevated wiring. This is a lightning strike. Unless the struck items are protected from lightning, the results of the strike are often visible and lasting.
People generally think of lightning damage as what happens at the point where a cloud-ground stroke terminates on a tree, structure, or elevated wiring. This is a lightning strike. Unless the struck items are protected from lightning, the results of the strike are often visible and lasting.
To protect your building from lightning you can use a lightning rod. However, although they are great at conducting electrical currents away from the building it does not protect against power surges inside the building.
Downconductors are structures that are built at least 10 feet into the ground around the outside of a building. It draws the electrical energy away from the building and into the ground. It helps prevent a flashover, which is an unintended electrical discharge, which can damage buildings or kill people. Bonding is a form of downconductor that protects metallic structures like AC, gas, water pipes and signal lines.
Grounding is a system where both internal and external equipment is used in the grounding system. It is generally an earth electrode which attracts currents and electrical energy away from above-ground buildings.
The last defence is a detection which is a warning system that protects buildings and power lines before an electrical storm occurs. It can be used to disconnect power lines or keep them on standby.
Lightning safety should be practiced by all people during thunderstorms. Preparedness includes: get indoors or in a car; avoid water and all metal objects; get off the high ground; avoid solitary trees; stay off the telephone.
If caught outdoors during lightning, adopt the lightning safety position which means stay away from other people, take off all metal objects, crouching with feet together, head bowed, and placing hands on ears to reduce acoustic shock.
Do not resume outdoor activities until 20 minutes after the last observable thunder or lightning. Contrary to the popular belief that lightning never strikes twice in the same location, some people have been struck by lightning over three times.
The writer is a civil engineer
To protect your building from lightning you can use a lightning rod. However, although they are great at conducting electrical currents away from the building it does not protect against power surges inside the building.
Downconductors are structures that are built at least 10 feet into the ground around the outside of a building. It draws the electrical energy away from the building and into the ground. It helps prevent a flashover, which is an unintended electrical discharge, which can damage buildings or kill people. Bonding is a form of downconductor that protects metallic structures like AC, gas, water pipes and signal lines.
Grounding is a system where both internal and external equipment is used in the grounding system. It is generally an earth electrode which attracts currents and electrical energy away from above-ground buildings.
The last defence is a detection which is a warning system that protects buildings and power lines before an electrical storm occurs. It can be used to disconnect power lines or keep them on standby.
Lightning safety should be practiced by all people during thunderstorms. Preparedness includes: get indoors or in a car; avoid water and all metal objects; get off the high ground; avoid solitary trees; stay off the telephone.
If caught outdoors during lightning, adopt the lightning safety position which means stay away from other people, take off all metal objects, crouching with feet together, head bowed, and placing hands on ears to reduce acoustic shock.
Do not resume outdoor activities until 20 minutes after the last observable thunder or lightning. Contrary to the popular belief that lightning never strikes twice in the same location, some people have been struck by lightning over three times.
The writer is a civil engineer