Lightning Safety Guide

Including what to do if you get caught in a thunderstorm while hiking or biking

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors, but not just any indoors will do.  You want a substantial building with grounded electrical and without a concrete floor (because there are wires and pipes in the concrete walls and floors).  

Your biggest risk with a lightning strike is brain injury, not burns as you might suspect.  Don’t touch anything metal and avoid water.

 Best Lightning Safety Tips

• Check the forecast and plan accordingly
• Learn to read clouds and remember that dark clouds can be on the other side of the mountain but you can’t see them yet
• If clouds are building and have crisp edges, it could be the build up of a storm
• Lightning can hit ten miles from the storm. If you hear thunder, take immediate shelter 
• Use the 30/30 Rule:  After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.
• A lightning strike 100’ away can travel on top of the grounds and can still kill you
• Inside of a car with a metal roof and windows up is safe but don’t touch anything metal

When indoors:

• Avoid concrete floors and walls. Don’t lie on the floor or lean against the wall
• Don’t use any electrical equipment like corded phones (cell phones are ok), plugged in computers, etc. 
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. DO NOT SHOWER
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby,

the following actions may reduce your risk:

If you hear thunder, it’s time to take precautions even if you think it’s far away.  Get off the ridge and below treeline. You do not want to be the tallest thing out there and a beacon for a strike.

• ·       Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks.
• ·       Never lie flat on the ground.
• ·       Never shelter under an isolated tree.
• ·       Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. That attractive looking rock cave might keep you from getting wet, but rocks are full of minerals – think iron or copper- and thus are a great conduit for the lightening to get you.  Better to get wet and stay alive, then stay dry but dead.
• ·      Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water.
• ·      A depression might help you stay low, but do not stay in a place that might have a flash flood
• ·      Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.).
• ·      Take off your back pack, put any metal jewelry or metal belt buckles, metal cameras, phone, tripod, etc.  Put it 100’ from you along with your hiking poles. Don’t forget your tent has metal poles.  
• Crouch down onto the balls of your feet with heels up and hold your knees to minimize your height and your contact with the ground.  If you get hit, you hope that it rolls off your back and away from your core. Cover your ears with your hands and close your eyes.
• If in a group, spread out so you minimize the risk that everyone gets hit (get 15 – 30 yards or more apart) so someone can get help or provide medical help if someone gets hit.  What to do if someone gets hit:
• If there is a strike nearby, call out to make sure everyone is safe.  If someone got hit, then begin first aid. 
• There is no danger of you getting electrocuted by that original strike, so you can touch them.
• Administer CPR if they aren’t breathing.  You have a good chance of bringing them back
• Treat for any burns  Be sure to remove socks and Inspect feet and toes for burns.
•  Treat for shock :  Put a blanket if avail, otherwise, cover with extra clothes and raincoat
• Check out the Wilderness First Aid episode