Can I take a shower during a thunderstorm? How to protect yourself from lightning during thunderstorms?

Thunderstorms are usually accompanied by lightning and thunder. When there is thunder and lightning, we should take lightning protection measures. Otherwise, it is extremely easy to be hit by lightning and harm our body. The house may even catch fire. If it leads to our own death, can we take a bath during thunder and rain in summer? How to protect yourself from lightning during thunderstorms?

1. Can you take a shower during a thunderstorm?

Many people remember to use electronic products as little as possible during thunderstorms, but now it should be noted that bathing also depends on the weather. Try to use as few electronic products as possible during thunderstorms. Do not use solar water heaters.

The solar water heater is installed on the top of the building. If the lightning protection device is not perfect, it will become a lightning device and act as a lightning catcher. Especially in rural areas, there is a lack of lightning protection measures on the top of buildings, and solar water heaters installed at the highest point on the roof are completely exposed to direct lightning strikes.

If there is no effective lightning protection for it, once lightning strikes, not only the solar water heater will be damaged, but the lightning current will also enter the bathroom and indoor wire network along water pipes, power lines, etc., causing minor damage. Indoor electrical appliances may be damaged, which may result in personal injury or death.

The solar water heaters currently sold on the market basically do not have their own lightning protection devices. The reason why solar water heaters in cities are less likely to be struck by lightning than in rural areas is because the roofs of urban buildings are generally equipped with lightning protection strips. Lightning rods and other lightning protection facilities greatly improve safety.

During thunderstorms, it is best not to touch gas pipes, water pipes and various live devices at home. During thunderstorms, electric shocks that fall near homes on the ground can electrify underground metal water pipes. Generally, household pipes can carry a large amount of charge after a single electric shock. When people take a shower during a thunderstorm, the water flowing out of the pipes will be charged, causing people to get electrocuted. Also turn off the gas in time and always pay attention to whether there is a gas leak.

Since only showering or bathing or even washing dishes at this specific time can cause electric shock, such accidents are not very common. However, there are still some cases for reference:

In May 2008, a 15-year-old boy in Kansas, USA, was injured by lightning in the shower.

In November 2007, a girl in Blandford, England, was injured by lightning while washing her hair.

In October 2006, a Croatian woman was injured by lightning while brushing her teeth.

In June 2001, a British woman was knocked down by an electrified bathtub while taking a bath during a thunderstorm.

2. Learn how to avoid lightning during thunderstorms

1. Outdoor lightning protection measures

1. When a thunderstorm occurs, you should quickly hide in a place protected by a lightning protection device. Inside a building, or inside a deep cave. The inside of a car is an ideal place to avoid lightning strikes.

2. When you cannot hide in a building with lightning protection facilities in the wilderness, you should stay away from tall and isolated objects such as trees, telephone poles, and chimneys. It is not advisable to stay near iron fences, metal clotheslines, overhead metal bodies and railway tracks.

3. When there is lightning and thunder above your head, if you cannot find a suitable lightning protection place, you should find a low-lying place to lower your center of gravity and reduce the contact area between the human body and the ground. You can squat down and stand on both sides. Put your feet together, put your hands on your knees, bend forward and take shelter temporarily. Never lie on the ground. If you can put on a raincoat, the lightning protection effect will be better.

4. When squatting down for lightning protection, it is best to take off the metal objects on your body and place them a few meters away. Especially, take off the metal-framed glasses you are wearing.

2. Indoor lightning protection measures

1. Close doors and windows. Try to stay away from metal doors, windows, metal curtain walls, places with power sockets, and do not stand on balconies. Do not approach or touch any metal pipes, including water pipes, heating pipes, gas pipes, etc.

2. If the house does not have a lightning protection device, it is best not to use any household appliances indoors, including televisions, radios, computers, wired telephones, washing machines, microwave ovens, etc. It is best to unplug all power plugs .

Therefore, it is not only not recommended to use electric water heaters during thunderstorms, but it is also best to disconnect the power supply. If you feel like ants are crawling on your head, neck, and hands during thunder and lightning, and your hair stands up, it means that a lightning strike will occur. You should lie down on the ground quickly and take off the metal jewelry, hairpins, necklaces, etc. you are wearing. Reduce the risk of lightning strikes.