POLOKWANE – According to the South African Weather Service (Saws), your chance of being struck by lightning is one in 350 000.

The service, however, says the risk of being struck can be reduced if one follows the necessary safety rules.

Following the death of a promising local soccer player, Polokwane Review want to remind our readers about the dangers of lightning and precautions to follow.

Arrive Alive warns that thunder and lightning tends to start before it rains. “Don’t wait until the rain starts before you take action and get to an area of safety. The first rule of keeping safe is to avoid being outside when there is lightning activity. It’s also important to note that lightning often occurs around the edges of a thundercloud, so it doesn’t have to be raining,” they add.

Arrive Alive provides some precautions if you find yourself outdoors when lightning strikes:

• It is best to head inside a proper building at the first sign of lightning.
• If you are unable to make it into a safe building, get into a vehicle and make sure the windows are shut.
• A vehicle is a safe place to find shelter. Even though a car is made out of metal, it acts as a ‘Faraday cage’ which prevents currents from flowing through the vehicle and its occupants.
• In the event that you are out in an open field and unable to get to another area of safety, lie down or crouch on the ground until the storm has passed.
• Also, if you are playing any form of sport outdoors, insist that your friends accompany you indoors.
• Do not stand under canopies, porches, picnic shelters or trees as they do not provide much protection from direct lightning strikes or an electrical “splash” that may come from another object that has been hit.
• At all times, indoors or out, avoid water (lakes, dams, rivers, water facets, showers, baths) as water is a really good conductor of electricity.
• Canopy shelters, as well as metal objects such as flag poles and light poles should be avoided.
• Avoid using items such as umbrellas or golf clubs, or doing activities such as kite-flying.
• It’s best to stay inside for 30 minutes after you heard the last clap of thunder.
• Don’t forget to bring your pets inside. Doghouses and other pet shelters are not suitable protection against lightning strikes.

There are various myths surrounding lighting strikes, and we break them down for you here.