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Lightning Safety Outdoors > (Copied from the website of the US
National Weather Service, Office of Climate, Water, and Weather
Services. Editor has deleted some material not relevant to horseback
riding.) > > The capricious nature of thunderstorms makes them
extremely dangerous; > however, following proven lightning safety
guidelines can reduce your risk > of injury or death. You are ultimately
responsible for your personal > safety. You have the responsibility to
act when threatened by lightning. > No place is absolutely safe from
lightning; however, some places are much > safer than others. The safest
location during lightning activity is an > enclosed building. The second
safest location is an enclosed metal > vehicle, car, truck, van, etc.,
but NOT a convertible, bike or other > topless or soft-top
vehicle. > > When a Safe Location Is Not Nearby: >
The lightning safety community reminds you that there is NO safe place to
> be outside in a thunderstorm. If you absolutely can't get to
safety, this > section is designed to help you lessen the threat of being
struck by > lightning while outside. > > Being stranded
outdoors when lightning is striking nearby is a harrowing > experience.
Your first and only truly safe choice is to get to a safe > building or
vehicle. If are camping, climbing, on a motorcycle or bicycle, > boating,
scuba diving, or enjoying other outdoor activities and cannot get > to a
safe vehicle or shelter, follow these last resort
tips. > > a.. Do NOT seek shelter under tall
isolated trees! The tree may help > you stay dry but will significantly
increase your risk of being struck by > lightning. Rain will not
kill you, but the lightning can! > b.. Do NOT seek
shelter under partially enclosed buildings. > c.. Stay
away from tall, isolated objects. Lightning typically strikes > the
tallest object. That may be you in an open field or
clearing. > d.. Know the weather patterns of the
area. For example, in mountainous > areas, thunderstorms typically
develop in the early afternoon, so plan to > hike early in the day and be
down the mountain by noon. > e.. Know the weather
forecast. If there is a high chance of > thunderstorms, curtail
your outdoor activities. > f.. Do not place your
campsite in an open field on the top of a hill or > on a ridge top.
Keep your site away from tall isolated trees or other > tall
objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees.
> If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or
> other low area. A tent offers NO protection from
lighting. > g.. Wet ropes can make excellent
conductors. This is BAD news when it > comes to lightning
activity. If you are mountain climbing and see > lightning, and can
do safely, remove unnecessary ropes extended or > attached to you.
If a rope is extended across a mountain face and > lightning makes
contact with it, the electrical current will likely travel > along the
rope, especially if it is wet. > h.. Stay away from
metal objects, such as fences, poles and backpacks. > Metal is an
excellent conductor. The current from a lightning flash will >
easily travel for long distances > Lightning struck the fence, and
the current traveled along the fence > killing the
cows. > > If lightning is in the immediate area, and there is
no safe location > nearby, get into the lightning desperation
position. Crouch down but do > NOT lay down. Bend your knees
down while keeping your feet together. > > Carry a portable
NWR or listen to the radio. > > a.. If you see
threatening skies in the distance and you are passing a > safe location,
pull over and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder
crack. > b.. If you can turn around and get away from
the storm, do so! > c.. DO NOT ride into a lighting
storm! > If you absolutely cannot get to a safe building or vehicle,
here are some > last resort choices: > >
a.. Wait out the storm below an overpass. DO NOT touch steel girders. >
Move away from your bike. Remain on the dry surfaces if possible. >
Overpasses are engineered structures and are likely to be properly >
grounded. Although an overpass is likely to be higher than the surrounding
> landscape, if it is struck by lightning, the electrical current will
> likely be channeled safely into the ground. >
b.. Look for a bridge. Stay away from water. Stay away from any metal >
surfaces. Be alert for rapidly rising water if under a
bridge. > c.. High tension wires: If high voltage
electrical tension wires cross > the road, you may want to seek shelter
directly underneath these wires. Do > not get too close to the large
metal towers that hold up these wires. Stay > at least 50 feet away.
Electric companies design these high tension wires > for lightning
strikes. If lighting should strike the wires or towers, the > current is
designed to safely go deep into the ground. > IMPORTANT: These
recommendations are a last resort. You are NOT safe in > these places
just marginally safer than in the open. > > a.. If
you are caught in the open and lightning is occurring within 5 > miles,
STOP riding, get off of your motorcycle/bicycle, find a ditch or > other
low spot and get into the lightning desperation
position. > b.. Motorcyclists should move at least 50
feet away from their bike. > Bicyclist should lay their bikes on the
ground.
