When you think about the dangers that may face you in a lightning storm, you usually think about what might happen if you are outside.
Most people know to avoid wide open spaces, to stay away from high points, and not to seek shelter under a tall tree, but what a lot of people don't realize is that lightning can actually hit you when you are inside your home (or any other building) as well.
This isn't a common occurrence, but it is possible, so it is best to know and understand how lightning can 'jump' and know the things not to do when you are indoors during a lightning storm.
How Does Lightning Get Into A House?
Lightning, as you are probably aware, is raw electricity, and electricity behaves in certain known ways. It tries to get to ground using the most conductive thing it can find. It can also jump across spaces from one conductive material to another.
If your house is hit by lightning, the route it may take may lead it to your own electrical lines or to water in your home, and from there it can jump to you. This is how you can actually be hit by lightning even when you feel safe, warm and dry inside your house, particularly if you touch things or are close to things that can conduct it.
So What Are The Safe Things To Do?
If you are experiencing a lightning storm, and the lightning is close by, turn off all of your electrical appliances, including things you may usually leave on all the time like your land line phone, your cable box, and your computer.
Only ever use cordless phones or cellphones during a storm if you need to call for help or to call to see if someone you know is OK, as lightning can travel down a phone wire quite easily. Find a place to sit and wait for the storm to end that is away from metal things like door or window frames, and away from electrical sockets.
It may sound paranoid to spend the whole duration of the storm sitting in the center of your front room, but this is actually the safest thing to do. You don't really have to go that far though, your couch or your bed, as long as they are away from sockets, can be good options!
As well as this, you need to avoid water while the storm is in progress. Everyone knows the saying that 'water and electricity don't mix', so it is clear that the last thing you want to be doing if there is a risk of lightning striking your home is lathering up in the shower or doing the washing up!
In most cases, when lightning strikes a home it actually only damages wiring or appliances, so usually the worst you have to worry about is some storm damage, but it is best to take precautions that will ensure you are safe. Once the storm is over, test your appliances carefully and check your phone line is operational.
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