Do NOT seek shelter under tall isolated trees!
This is the absolute worst place to be during a lightning storm.
The tree may help you from getting wet but it will significantly
increase your risk of being struck by lightning. Remember,
the rain will not kill you, but the lightning can!
Do NOT seek shelter under any unsafe
buildings.
Stay away from any tall isolated objects. Lightning
will typically strike the tallest object around. This includes you if
you are in an open area, such as a open field, or in a rockfield
while mountain climbing.
Stay away from metal fences or metal poles.
Metal is an excellent conductor. The current from a lightning
flash will easily travel for long distances (See Figure 1)
If lightning is in the immediate area and there
is no safe location nearby, get into the "lightning desperation
position". Make yourself as low as possible - bend your
knees down while keeping
your feet together (see Figure 2).
Figure 1: Dead cows lined up
along a metallic fence. Lightning struck the fence, and the
current traveled down along the fence killing the cows.
Figure 2: "Lightning
Desperation Position"
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