How to protect yourself during a lightning storm

Lightning strikes are five times hotter than the surface of the sun. So, a human getting struck by lightning has roughly 50,000 degrees coursing through his/her body.

Each year dozens of people die from lightning strikes in the United States, deaths that could have been avoided by following simple safety tips.

It all begins with a phrase that has become common knowledge, when thunder roars go indoors. However, there are instances where you can be caught outside and can’t go indoors. If this occurs, there are guidelines you can follow. Experts say the best things to do are as follows:

– Get to low ground.

– Stay away from open fields.

– Limit your distance from others, especially if you are in a group.

– Never seek shelter under a tree or near a body of water.

When lightning strikes, it finds the quickest way to the ground, which is usually the tallest object around. This is why you always want to make yourself as small as possible.

It may seem surprising, but lightning deaths aren’t uncommon. Since the early 2000s, more than a dozen fatalities ahve occurred in Missouri as a result of lightning. Those deaths land Missouri in the top ten for lightning deaths.

When storms exit the area, it is always best to wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike, before you return to outdoor activities.