Breaking down myths and facts about lightning
Ever heard that metal attracts lightning or that rubber soles protect you from being struck by lightning? Let's see if they're a myth or fact
POLOKWANE – According to the South African Weather Service, lightning occurs with every thunderstorm and must be expected as soon as thunderstorms form. Lightning results from the build-up and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas in the atmosphere and clouds.
You might also want to read: Polokwane placed on severe thunderstorm watch again, temperatures to drop drastically tomorrow
As a child, you were probably told certain things like not to take a shower when there’s a thunderstorm or that lightning never strikes the same place twice. We’re now going to look at several common myths about lightning to distinguish whether they are fact or not:
MYTH: Rubber tires and rubber-soled shoes protect you from being struck by lightning.
FACT: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning, however, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
MYTH: If you touch a lightning victim, you’ll be electrocuted.
FACT: The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.
MYTH: Metal attracts lightning so you shouldn’t wear metal or hold a cell phone in a thunderstorm.
FACT: While metal conducts lightning’s electricity, it doesn’t attract it, so the presence of metal makes no difference regarding where or when lightning strikes.
MYTH: If outside in a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter under a tree to stay dry.
FACT: Being underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning casualties
MYTH: I should lie flat on the ground if I’m trapped outside and lightning is about to strike.
FACT: Lying flat increases your chance of being affected by potentially deadly ground current. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, you keep moving toward a safe shelter.
The weather service says if you are outdoors when you see or hear a thunderstorm coming, seek safe shelter immediately. if indoors, stay clear of windows and refrain from using any electrical appliances.
