How can tourists protect themselves from lightning when traveling outdoors?

In recent years, tourists have been unfortunately struck by lightning while outdoors. At present, various places have entered the thunderstorm season one after another, and the risk factor of traveling has also greatly increased. So, what should you pay attention to when traveling during thunderstorm season?

Lightning protection guide for traveling during thunderstorm season

Lightning protection equipment and measures

The first choice is to pay attention to the weather forecast when going out. When thunderstorms are forecast, you should avoid going out for fun as much as possible. If you are traveling outdoors during the rainy season, it is best to wear rubber sneakers when going out. It is human nature to go out with an umbrella to protect yourself from the rain on a rainy day. But when traveling, it is better to prepare a raincoat for safety. Try not to carry keys, necklaces and other metal accessories with you, especially metal-framed glasses.

When encountering a thunderstorm outdoors, all ongoing swimming, boating, fishing and other water sports must be terminated immediately, because the probability of lightning strikes on the water surface is high. The most important thing is to find the nearest lightning protection building, preferably a building with a lightning protection device. Never stay under a big tree, next to an iron tower or next to metal to take shelter from the rain, and stay away from tall, isolated objects.

You can find a low place to squat, put your feet together, put your hands on your knees, bend your body forward, keep your chest close to your knees, and lower your head as much as possible. Never lie on the ground, hold your hands on the ground, or be pulled together with others.

Lightning protection in different environments

In recent summers, there have been frequent incidents of tourists being struck by lightning on the Great Wall and in the mountains in suburbs.

1. Lightning protection on the Great Wall

If you are on the Great Wall, you must try to lower your body as low as possible, do not run to the highest point, and walk to a lower place. You can hide in beacon towers and city towers to take shelter from the rain, but you should stay away from the metal belts of the towers, and do not stretch your hands or heads out on the beacon tower, as this may cause you to be struck by lightning.

2. Lightning protection in the forest

If you suddenly encounter lightning weather in a lush forest, quickly find a cave or a low-lying mountain valley, stay away from trees as much as possible, and lower your body height. , I would rather get wet in the rain than to be in a high position in an open area to prevent being struck by lightning. If you have to, keep a distance of 3 meters from tree trunks and branches, squat down and keep your legs close together.

3. Lightning protection in the camp

When choosing a campsite, you must first choose a place that is sheltered from the wind and cool. Be careful not to go under tall trees or power poles to avoid being used as part of a lightning rod. Lightning strikes mainly occur from the evening to the early morning of the next day, with more lightning strikes on the south slope of the mountain than on the north slope of the mountain; more lightning strikes occur on the slopes on the side of the lake than on the slopes on the other side of the lake.

Dig drainage ditches around the tent in advance, prepare some dry firewood, place it in the tent or cover it with a raincloth, and pack clothes in plastic bags. When heavy rain comes, be sure to set up the tent first and protect bedding with raincloth. After the clothes, shoes and socks get wet, they can be dried on branches and dried over fire.

Since lightning usually occurs on rainy days, the fabric of the tent, whether made of glass or aluminum poles, becomes a conductor due to moisture. Therefore, the attraction to lightning is more determined by the height rather than the material of the tent pole. When the thunder and lightning are very strong and there is no suitable terrain, you can even pull the trekking poles or tent poles to their longest length, insert them on the ground about 10 meters away from the tent, and huddle up in the tent without tent poles.

More lightning protection tips

If you hear thunder immediately after seeing lightning, it means you are in a thunderstorm environment and should stop walking, let alone run away. Run wildly until the thunder gradually fades away, and then you can quickly find a safe place to take shelter from the rain.

2. If there is a feeling of ants crawling around your head, neck, and hands and your hair stands up during thunder and lightning, it means that danger will occur.

3. If you see a high-voltage line broken by a lightning strike outdoors, you should be more vigilant at this time, because there is a step voltage near the breakpoint of the high-voltage line. People nearby must not run at this time, but should Put your feet together and jump away from the scene.