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Outdoor
Lightning Safety - When a Safe Location Is Not Nearby
For Hikers, Campers, Hunters, Mountain
climbers or any other activity in a remote location
Quick overview:
1) - KNOW THE WEATHER FORECAST AND WEATHER PATTERNS
FOR THE AREA YOU ARE IN
2) - FIND SAFER TERRAIN IF LIGHTNING BECOMES A THREAT
3) - AVOID TREES
4) - AVOID LONG CONDUCTORS (wet ropes)
5) - SQUAT LOW IF LIGHTNING IS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA
Quick review: Definition
of safe locations
Here are specific recommendations for hiking/hunting/mountain
climbing:
1.) Know the weather patterns of the area.
As an example, thunderstorms typically develop during the early
afternoon in mountainous areas. In this situation, you want
to hike early in the day and be down the mountain by noon.
2.) Know the weather forecast for that day.
If there is a high chance of thunderstorm activity, you may
want to curtail your outdoor activities on this day.
3.) Know where the safer terrain is:
a. Chose your campsite wisely. Do not place
your site in an open field on the top of a hill. Do not place
your site on a ridge top. Keep your site away from tall isolated
trees (or any tall isolated object). If you are surrounded
by trees, try to place your campsite in a lower stand of
trees. If you are camping in an “open” area,
set up camp in a lower area (valley, ravine, etc). Remember,
you do not want to make yourself (or your campsite) the tallest
object.
i. A tent offers NO protection from lighting.
It does NOT matter if the poles are metal or plastic or
fiberglass. It does NOT matter if you are on a rubber mat.
A tent will likely keep you dry and warm, but it offers
absolutely NO protection from a lightning strike.
ii. IMPORTANT: If your car/truck/SUV is
nearby, or any other type of hard topped vehicle, GET INTO
IT if lightning is occurring or lightning is a threat.
b. Once you are out hiking/hunting, etc.,
if lightning develops nearby, avoid high areas, such as peaks,
ridges and significantly higher ground. Stay away from the
tallest trees, and stay away from any isolated trees. If
you are completely surrounded by trees, try to get in an
area where there is a low stand of trees surrounding you.
A lower stand of trees in a small ravine/valley is likely
a safer area to be in. If there is an open field/area nearby
a stand of trees, you may want to get into this open area
and place yourself twice the distance as the trees are tall.
It is suggested if lightning is striking close by to you,
or if you hear crackling/hissing sounds, or your hair begins
to stand on end, SQUAT DOWN immediately in the lightning
desperation position - see #1 below.
4.) For those who enjoy mountain climbing:
a. Wet ropes can make excellent conductors.
This is BAD news when it comes to lightning activity. If
you are mountain climbing and lightning is in the area (and
if it is safe to do so), you may want to remove any unnecessary
ropes that are 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. Obviously, you do not
want to draw any electrical current to either you or the
location at which you are perched on the side of the mountain.
5.) If lightning becomes an immediate threat,
GET LOW. It is suggested you get into the “lighting desperation
position” – SQUAT DOWN; KEEP YOUR FEET TOGETHER;
COVER YOUR EARS. See Figure 1. below.
Figure 1."Lightning Desperation Position".
Click here to learn more about the lightning
desperation position.
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Click here to
learn about the 30-30 Lightning Safety rule
Click here to calculate how
far lightning is from you
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