The harm caused by lightning to the human body includes direct effects of electric current, overpressure or dynamic effects, and high temperature effects. The moment a person is struck by lightning, electric current rapidly passes through the body, which in severe cases can lead to cardiac and respiratory arrest, brain hypoxia, and death. Additionally, the sparks generated by a lightning strike can cause varying degrees of skin burns. Therefore, during thunderstorm weather, it's important to take the following preventive measures:
Seven precautions indoors
Staying indoors during a thunderstorm doesn't guarantee 100% safety. Everyday behaviors that people take for granted may also pose safety hazards. Therefore, when staying indoors, also follow these six precautionary measures:
1. Close doors and windows tightly to prevent ball lightning from entering the room and causing harm.
2. Do not watch TV or use the internet. Unplug telephone lines, TV antennas, and all power plugs for devices such as speakers and air conditioners that could potentially allow lightning to enter the room.
3. During a thunderstorm, do not stand near walls, doors, windows, or balconies. Sitting in the center of the room is safest, but avoid staying directly under light fixtures to prevent induced currents during thunder that could cause accidents.
4. Do not approach indoor metal equipment such as heating pipes, water pipes, or steel columns, to prevent lightning current from traveling through them into your body. Lightning rods can only protect buildings, not lightning entering through wires, telephone lines, or metal pipelines.
5. Do not wear wet clothes or slippers.
6. Try not to use mobile phones for calls or texting. Landlines should also be avoided during a thunderstorm. If you're in a building equipped with a lightning rod and electromagnetic shielding, you can use cordless phones or mobile phones indoors.
7. Do not use solar water heaters or other showering devices during a thunderstorm. Lightning can potentially travel along water pipes. Also, remember to turn off the gas and stay alert for any gas leaks.
Eight taboos outdoors
Considering how lightning forms and occurs, open fields, rooftop areas, under tall trees, near lakes, rivers, ponds, and damp regions are common sites for lightning accidents. If you’re outdoors during a thunderstorm, be mindful of the following eight taboos:
1. Lightning often strikes tall objects. Therefore, during a thunderstorm, pay attention to terrain and avoid staying on mountaintops or high hills. Stay away from tall trees, utility poles, chimneys, billboards, or other isolated, pointed objects. Immediately stop outdoor activities and seek shelter as soon as possible. You can take cover in low-lying, dry, or wind-sheltered houses or caves. But do not enter makeshift sheds or guard booths without lightning protection.
2. During a thunderstorm, do not stand in open fields. If you're in an open area and can’t get indoors in time, immediately crouch down with your knees to your chest, feet together, leaning forward, with your chest against your knees and head down looking at the ground—because the head is the most likely part to be struck by lightning. Never rest your hands on the ground, as this increases the body’s contact area with the earth and raises the risk of being struck.
3. Many people think of hiding under a tree during a thunderstorm, but this is incorrect. Standing under a tall tree allows powerful lightning currents to spread into the ground, creating different voltages in various spots. The potential difference between your two feet can cause injury—commonly known as step voltage. If you absolutely must take shelter under a tree, stay at least three meters away from the trunk.
4. Do not use umbrellas with metal handles during a thunderstorm; wearing a raincoat is safer. Avoid touching railway tracks or power lines. Do not run during a thunderstorm, and do not ride a bicycle or motorcycle.
5. Do not swim, row boats, or fish in rivers, lakes, or the sea during a thunderstorm, as water conducts electricity well and can easily attract lightning.
6. If you are driving during a thunderstorm, do not abandon your vehicle for shelter. Stay inside the car. The metal shell acts as a shield—even if lightning strikes the car, you will remain safe. The passenger compartment is an ideal place to take cover from lightning.
7. When outdoors during a thunderstorm, do not wear sandals or slippers. It’s best to wear rubber-soled shoes or boots.
8. Avoid carrying metal objects while outdoors during a thunderstorm. Remove items like watches, belts, and especially metal-framed glasses to prevent conduction that could result in a lightning strike.
9. If you need to be outside during a thunderstorm, try to avoid taking large strides, to reduce the risk of step voltage.
If struck by lightning, know 6 first aid steps
If you are struck by lightning, immediate self-rescue or aid is crucial. If lightning strikes the head and travels through the body to the ground, it can paralyze the nervous system and heart, often leading to fatality. After being struck by lightning, the heart may either stop beating or beat extremely irregularly, resulting in fibrillation. Both scenarios halt blood circulation and damage brain nerves, potentially causing death within minutes.
Therefore, first aid for lightning strike victims must be administered immediately. While providing assistance, contact emergency services (120) right away and arrange for transport to the nearest hospital. However, do not interrupt first aid during transit. Everyone should be familiar with these six on-site emergency procedures:
1. If clothing catches fire, lie down immediately to smother the flames and prevent facial burns, which could cause death by suffocation or severe burns. You can also pour water on the victim or wrap them in a thick coat or blanket to extinguish the flames.
2. If the victim is unconscious, not breathing, have them lie flat on the ground. Loosen their clothing and begin resuscitation immediately. Perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions simultaneously. Place both hands overlapping in the center of the chest, one-third down from the sternum, and press vertically. Use a 30:2 ratio—30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths—alternating until the victim regains breathing and heartbeat.
3. If the patient has burns or severe shock from a lightning strike, lay them down immediately, extinguish any fires on their body, and start treatment. If the victim is unconscious but still breathing and has a heartbeat, there is a good chance of spontaneous recovery. Make the patient comfortable and lying flat. Let them rest quietly before transferring to a hospital.
4. If an electric shock occurs, immediately cut off the power supply. If the power cannot be turned off, use a wooden stick, bamboo pole, or similar object to lift the wire away from the victim’s body. Rescuers must never pull the victim directly with their hands.
5. While transporting the injured person to the hospital, ensure they are kept warm. If the victim shows symptoms such as restlessness, agitation, or convulsions, apply a cold compress to their head. Do not dress electrical burn wounds or affected areas with ointments or unclean dressings.
6. During on-site rescue, do not move the casualty unnecessarily. If movement is absolutely required, the interruption in rescue efforts should not exceed 30 seconds. When transporting the casualty to the hospital, besides laying them flat on a stretcher with a firm, wide wooden board placed under their back, continue administering first aid. First aid must not be stopped until medical personnel take over.