Be sure to postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are on the way. Questions? Had it been an example where he became a greenpeace or PETA speaker or something, it might be more shocking but this doesn't come across as entirely surprising. US Dept of Commerce However, you absolutely must never be negligent and always be very careful and attentive, especially if you are in an environment with elements that are compatible and elicit lightning. Fact: Not true. Years back, I worked with one fellow who survived a lightning strike. Our 71-page Bicycle Commuting Handbook covers a range of topics, including: Bicycle Universe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This discussion has been archived. Lightning can easily give off Xrays and even Gamma rays. Obviously they're not electricians, but are they really scratching t, Michael Utley was a successful stockbroker who often went skiing and windsurfing before he was struck by lightning. Today, at 62, he lives on disability insurance. There is no way to fix it. how does a 4th grade hearsay make it as informative on slshdot, my god are all the nerds just stupid code monkeys now? He recalled seeing his own body on the ground surrounded by a bluish-white light. When the negatively charged bottom end of the storm sends out an invisible charge to the ground, this negative charge is attracted by all the positively charged objects, and it develops an electrical transfer. In other words, did you gain any screw-per-powers? In the case of your post, "fragile" stands for "fragile relative to the average expectation of a population relevant to the context of this subject or discussion". It sounds a lot like chronic fatigue. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. We need to be knowledgeable about many things, and one of those things is what distance there needs to be between us and the other motor vehicles, Read More How Far Should You Stay Behind a Motorcycle?Continue, What kind of footwear do you use when riding a motorcycle? NWS This is the short and sweet answer, and if you are thinking of riding your motorcycle during a thunderstormdont. Every time you hear thunder rumble you need to restart the clock until 30 minutes has passed and there had been no thunder heard. Turning your emergency lights on when pulling over with the engine off will ensure safety and let other drivers see your cars stopping spot even in limited and blurry vision. I started to get a clod sweat and when I felt my heart it must have been going 400 + beats per minute. I didn't see it though - I was facing the wrong way. In fact, any time you can hear thunder you are close enough to get hit by lightning. If you are outside and cannot find shelter, you are not safe. WebIf you carry comprehensive car insurance coverage on your auto policy, you may be covered in the event of a lightning strike, minus the cost of your car insurance deductible. Myth: A tree can act as sufficient shelter during a thunderstorm. Do you develop on GitHub? It is worth noting that a convertible does not provide the same protection, and the lightning can hit the people in the convertible. The best protection is prevention. But it still didn't get me out of having to do community service. But because of their subjectivity or lack of comprehensiveness, they may think that a lightning strike can not affect them or the occupants inside, but only the tires. 3. . Roughly 90 percent of them will survive, but those survivors will be instantly, fundamentally altered in ways that still leave scientists scratching their heads. The National Weather Service points out that, the average lightning bolt carries about 30,000 amps of charge, has 100 million volts of electric potential, and is about 50,000F. That much energy will burn through hardier insulators than your relatively small tires. It leaves me wondering, not about this mysterious new understanding of lightning's effects on the brain, but rather, wondering why doctors are left scratching their heads. The Empire State Building gets struck by lightning between 25 and 100 times every year. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Canada averages over 2 million lightning strikes are each year. This also means that the motorcycle tires will not provide any insulation or protection against lightning strikes. Next to me 30 feet infront and 20 to the side was a tennis court all fenced off with a 20 foot fence. I said. If your hair stands on end and the back of your neck begins to tingle, its a bad sign. However, when being on the empty road, in the middle of nowhere during one severe thunderstorm, the chances that a building or a safe shelter is there waiting for you is close to zero. >> See More:8 Reasons Why You Should Have a Car Insurance Policy. The human body does not store electricity. A lightning strike will cause cardiac or respiratory arrest. A lock ( Note: In addition to the visible flash that travels through the air, the current associated with the lightning discharge travels along the ground. So what should they do? In a house an electrical panel is rarely more than half-full. He had just hung up the phone and was about a foot away when a rogue bolt of lightning struck. It was probably a good 5 years before the three of us stopped being skittish when outside in a lightning storm, and even to this day I treat them quite a bit differently than I used to, despite having grown up with them around all the time and generally having practiced good habits around them (even at the time of our strike, there were tall poles and trees (that we weren't under) all around us, so it always seemed odd to me that the strike landed where it did). Yeah, I hear they get really amped up about the experience. These threads on Slashdot predate Reddit. This is the most chilling of lightning myths because it could be the difference between life and death. Fear is a good deterrent, and many people may reconsider riding a motorcycle. Outdoor leisure activities are responsible for nearly 6 out of 10 lightning deaths. Exactly. Maybe the lightning did have some effect Stop this shit, academia. Lightning bolts last fractions of a second, however, the lightning can heat up the air around it up to 50,000 F, which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun. <BR> (In some cases, even both.) Sometimes lightning hits will leave visible damage on the car, such as burn marks, stripped paintwork, pitting, and cracking. I was struck as a kid, probably 11 or so years old, when a thunderstorm rolled in during a little league baseball game. 1994 was definitely the pagers and pay phones era. So far this year, there have been 26 people reported to have been struck by lightning; 12 of those peopledied.*. Men are also five times as likely to be struck by lightning, either fatally or non-fatally, than their female counterparts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration This makes burns a frequent type of injury. Professor, emeritus, and emerita all appear in every dictionary I tried. Like we're really supposed to believe that he was 32 just before it happened.I might look stupid but he looked 62 all along. Know how the COVID-19 pandemic can affect disaster preparedness and recovery, and what you can do to keep yourself and others safe. Care to weigh in as more of an expert than a lot of people who have ventured a guess? Can't say it changed me but was a weird experience. A few raindrops started to fall, and a bolt of lightning bounced off the building and hit me on the head. Lightning is extremely powerful hazard and can reach temperatures as high as 30,000C. The impact wasn't very hard, maybe like dropping a pen onto a hard floor from 5 feet. Files Legal Challenge Against NASA Commercial Contracts. As he described it, he was then able to get the "fattest throbbing fatties" (I think those were his words, or something along those lines) that he'd ever had, and he'd talk about how he could "screw his wife for hours" before ejaculating. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.. I heard a news report - might have been BBC - years ago that a study had found that a high correlation between lightning strike victims and the probability of developing Multiple Sclerosis later in life. Before being hit, he suffered from extreme difficulties obtaining an erection, and even when he managed to get one he couldn't sustain it for more than a minute or two. And you may already know the power of a big pole in any form combined with an immense source of natural energy. Lightning is nothing to be messed with! check out the new Slashdot job board to browse remote jobs or jobs in your area, The Odd Effects of Being Struck By Lightning, those survivors will be instantly, fundamentally altered in ways that still leave scientists scratching their heads, educating people about preventing lightning injury, but it can also leave a trail of much subtler damage, scrambling each individual survivor's unique internal circuitry, More Evidence Covid-19 Originated at Wuhan Market in Two New Studies, Propellantless System For Satellites Will Get Tested In Space, Moderna CEO: 400% Price Hike on COVID Vaccine 'Consistent With the Value', MIT, Harvard Scientists Find AI Can Recognize Race From X-rays, Lightning stike victims and Multiple Sclerosis, Whole House Surge Protector is not enough. If none is available, all you should do is crouch down close to the ground and hug your knees. Stay away from water, wet items, rocks, and metal conductors like fences, wires, and railways. Published June 24, 2005. And when it does, the conductor of electric lightning into the ground will transfer from the car to the person and increase the risk of injury. There's no surge arrestor in your organic brain. Comments owned by the poster. So here are a few things you can do to minimize the dangerous trapped-in situations under the lightning storm. More recently, in the last 10 years (2009-2018), the U.S. has averaged 27 lightning fatalities. If you or someone else with you is struck by lightning, medical care may be needed immediately to save your (or their) life. For example, when I was in the military I saw two people guy get popped by a 550KW generator. You should also gather meteorological data and reports of the thunderstorm on that day to have proof showing your cars mechanical troubles were originally caused by a bolt of lightning. I've had a near miss. WebIt happened in a split second: a bolt of lightning strikes a car as it drives through a storm. Not only can a strike burn the outside of your car, but the vehicles structural integrity can also be compromised. On the outside, lightning can travel down or along tall metal poles, fences, or the outer shell of a building. And of course, a thing that can be considered tiny in front of wild nature, like a car, will always be in the sights of lightning whenever they have the thousand-of-a-lifetime chance to express themselves in the fury of the sky. The occupants of the vehicle hit by lightning will not be affected. Before being hit, he suffered from extreme difficulties obtaining an erection, and even when he managed to get one he couldn't sustain it for more than a minute or two. According tothe NWS Storm Data, over the last 30 years (1989-2018) the U.S. has averaged 43 reportedlightning fatalities per year. I was recently struck by lightning. Keep your heels touching, keep your head between your knees, and cover your ears. Make sure to minimize your contact with the ground as much as possible. If you are on a cycling trip, plan ahead and keep an eye on the weather. In the US alone, about 51 people are killed by a lightning strike each year. But when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a thunderstorm hits, you may run the risk of getting struck by lightning if you continue to ride out the storm. In August 2009, a boy was hit by lightning and later died in hospital. I didn't see a source for the flash, just the light, seemingly all around. Another tip is that when you know youre going to ride into a storm, or you cant outrun one approaching from behind, seek shelter while you are still dry. That is why you shouldnt touch anything metal or electrical inside the vehicle. Sometimes lightning hits will leave visible damage on the car, such as burn marks, stripped paintwork, pitting, and cracking. When lightning strikes a tree (or tall pole), 30,000 amps travel into the ground. Of those, 5%, or about 21, were people that were riding a bike, a motorcycle, or an ATV. 80 years), Odds you will be affected by someone struck (10 people for every 1 struck). According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, comprehensive coverage will cover all collision damage claims, including weather-related damages such as lightning strikes. Staying indoors can not only save the life of you and your family but can also save your car from damage. Overall, the damages troubleshooting and repair of a vehicle with a severe impact from lightning can drain you out for thousands of dollars. However, electronic equipment may be damaged in the car. "Only permanent effect as far as I can tell is a marked reduction in tolerance for idiots.". Worth reading, even if that is breaking the unwritten rules around here. Normally I'd say that you seem to be having a bad day, but looking at this article entitled. When lightning strikes, the best idea is to seek shelter. Nowadays, we have very detailed and accurate forecasts that can be used to prepare your motorcycle ride accordingly. If you are on your bike at the start of a thunderstorm, quickly get to a safe location, and then stay there for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. Next to me 30 feet infront and 20 to the side was a tennis court all fenced off with a 20 foot fence. As they say, car insurance is not and never will be a shield that protects your car from being struck by the lightning of all lifetime. For example, if a flash of lightning strikes your vehicle, causing you to lose control and crash, resulting in severe damage or injury to the other driver, you may be liable. Lightning damage in the U.S.: fatalities and injuries 2021 - Statista Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. But that could be a wrong impression. On the other hand, if your remote is wireless and you do not touch the television, then you will be safe. If you feel tingling, it is a bad sign that positive charges are rising through you, reaching toward the negatively charged part of the storm. Lightning also dramatically altered Utley's personality. However, these thoughts gradually form one of the most harmful misconceptions that still exist among many people when driving in thunderstorms. My take away was if you can see bolts of lightning then you're (possibly) within range. AWD Tire Replacement Myth: Shall You Change All Four Tires? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. So, do cyclists really get struck by lightning? Make yourself the smallest target possible, and minimize your contact with the ground. Putting all those dangerous scenarios aside, you have some more things to do if you feel like your car was struck a bit out there. Avoid open spaces and stay away from tall structures, such as trees or telephone poles. One guy's clothing caught fire and he suffered only minor burns as they put his clothing out, the other guy died almost instantly. Nearly ten times as many people die drowning every year as get struck by lightning (including non-fatal strikes). You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Even if you have to ride your motorcycle during a lightning storm, dont. If you are planning a summertime outing, check the forecast before going out or sign up for weather alerts on-the-go. WebFrom 2006 through 2021, 444 people in the United States died from lightning strikes. Of those, 5%, or about Lightning strike survivors may often suffer from chronic and life-long pain, dizziness, headaches, memory impairment, decreased cognitive abilities, sensory loss or impairment, and more. How much resources should we as a society be dedicating to lightning strike victims? This puts you in danger. Safety1325 East West HighwaySilver Spring, MD 20910Comments? After scrolling through a few notices about what happens if your car gets struck by lightning, you may have to consider repair and check on insurance if your car is unfortunately affected quite a bit. The 's' plural demonstrates that "professor" is being used in its English-language form. Who would have guessed? No place is safe outdoors during a thunderstorm. New storms can form and develop near or above you, putting you in danger faster than you might have expected. Lightning tends to strike the tallest object around. He said it was actually the best thing that had ever happened to him. Back around 2000, I was with a group of people at an observatory up in the mountains, which we'd reached by ski-lift-gondola, after some discussion about whether the weather was turning thundery and we should cancel it because we might get stuck there for the day which would mess up our schedule. Sorry, Karma is not listed anymore. I didn't get my first cell phone until 2000. As long as you are not directly connected to a telephone line you are safe. I was blinded for a short time, my eyes were not closed when the lighting struck. If there is one storm in the area, the circumstances are normally good enough for other new storms to form and develop in the vicinity. Even if there is no visible damage to your car, you may need to perform a diagnostic test to identify electrical damage. Odds of being struck in a given year (estimated total deaths + estimated injuries), Odds of being struck in your lifetime (Est. Storm clouds can often range from deep dark blue to bluish or even greenish-black. I get many different questions regarding what the proper footwear for a motorcycle should be. Well, if you were hit by lightning during that time, you probably won't remember! WebEach year on average in Canada, there are between two and three lightning-related deaths and 180 lightning-related injuries. Based on those numbers, we can also calculate a very rough average of about 500 cases of people getting struck by lightning each year. The distance should stop the lightning from traveling between both of you. However, these odds increase Or perhaps you were struck by lightning during the course of this thread and forgot how it works "Professor" is a Latin masculine noun, and as such is correctly paired with the adjective "emeritus". Thanks for that - now I know, I can rectify the deficiency. For enquiries,contact us. We speak American English here. Motorcyclists are not safe during thunderstorms because they are exposed to the elements, and lightning can directly strike them. Lightning is an extremely unpredictable and dangerous weather phenomenon that can cause an average of over 40 deaths each year in the United States plus hundreds of injuries. If it is 30 seconds or less, the storm is less than 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. Comment removed based on user account deletion. When an object is inside the Faraday cage, the external electric grid, no matter how powerful it is, will not be able to act on it. However, while inside, make sure not to touch any electrical or wired devices in the car. 5. He still skims through Slashdot articles; you'd be better off checking his responses to ACs or goat.se links. An official website of the United States government. Physical damage from lightning is obvious evidence of the occurrence, but electrical problems are more different and challenging to be identified immediately. If the odds of a lightning striking in your immediate surrounding are high, there are a few telltale signs. To say the least, that umbrella quickly got relegated to non-thunderstorm rain duty. Nevertheless this would imply that there was significant change: he finally became aware that he was an "ornery son of a b****". It can happen to anyone, being caught by a lightning storm while driving your motorcycleespecially if you are using your motorcycle often as a daily commuter. Lightning strikes cause more deaths on weekends, mostly on Saturday. 4.7/5. And I've paid with for the right to say so. For example, lets say youre driving, and suddenly a flash of lightning sends a heavy tree branch straight into your car, destroying your windshield. However, if it is a high-intensity strike and you can smell smoke or burning rubber, you must get out of the car as it is likely that a fire is sparking under the hood. HughPickens.com writes: "Ferris Jabr reports in Outside Magazine that every year, more than 500 Americans are struck by lightning. As with most events dealing with electricity, there are a massive number of factors involved making each event unique. However, there are a few things that you can do to lower the chance of getting struck by a lightning. Wedebunk 5 popular myths with science-backed facts about this dangerous and often misunderstood phenomenon. These structures wont protect you from lightning. Lightning will flash over the frame of the car and not hurt any one inside the vehicle. Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Myth: Lightning victims carry an electrical charge. Please allow yourself to be educated. "In 1994, when Tony Cicoria was 42 years old, he was struck by lightning near Albany, New York, while standing next to a public telephone. Because for the Faraday effect to work in an ideal environment, it requires a car to be made almost entirely of metal. Have a comment on this page? I would assume that most lightning injuries wouldn''t have any observable effects on personality, because more often than not they're not going to hit the brain. Just to read on and conclude that basically "lightning can damage your brain in many different ways, sometimes". If you are an adventurous cyclist, being outdoors is something you probably crave. If you are directly connected to a power source and or internet feed, then you are not safe. With high levels of wind and rumbling thunder, car drivers can be in danger when not aware and do not know how to prepare, acknowledge and handle any unexpected arising situations related to their safety and those around, especially when the lightning strikes. Standing underneath or near a tree is the second most dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm; the most dangerous is being outside in an open space. Light travels at 300,000 km/sec whereas sound travels at 0.3 km/sec. Whether its a modern car that runs on electricity, is powered by a diesel engine, or runs on gas, all cant match the power of a lightning strike. Every year, many people are killed or injured due to this extreme weather phenomenon. It is not safe to ride a motorcycle in a lightning storm. Conclusion: Lightning is an act of terror, and yet we don't go off and build a dome over the entire country, closing ourselves inside our new "safe" structure, opening new agencies that get endless funding, secret courts all in the name of, maybe, preventing it from ever happening again. As well as being tired you can think straight and become forgetful. They sell a much better unit that takes the place of two breaker spaces in the main panel, for under a hundred bucks. We take your privacy seriously. out of interest, what's the propagation speed of an AG lightning bolt? Read More Should a Beginners First Motorcycle Have ABS? Once met with a guy who install lightning rod in 80+ storeys buildings. If you hear thunder, you are within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of a storm leaving you very vulnerable to a lightning strike. If your hand held remote has a wired connection to a television or base station drawing power from the house's electrical circuit, then it is not safe.
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