Avoid open-sided shelters, picnic pavilions, bus-stop shelters, tents, and small open sheds. These structures may protect you from rain but do not provide reliable protection against lightning.
Move away from lakes, rivers, swimming pools, beaches, and other bodies of water. If you are boating, head toward shore and seek an appropriate enclosed shelter as soon as it is safe to do so.
Avoid exposed ridges, hilltops, open fields, and isolated trees. Do not lie flat on the ground because ground current can spread over the surface after a strike.
If no safe shelter is immediately available, continue toward the safest accessible location. Do not assume that crouching under a tree or beneath a rocky overhang will protect you.
No position outdoors can guarantee safety during a lightning storm. The objective is to minimize exposure and reach shelter as quickly as possible. <Cite refs={["turn774753search0","turn774753search3"]}/>
9. Can Lightning Injure Someone Without a Direct Strike?
Yes. A person does not need to be struck directly by lightning to suffer a serious injury.
Several mechanisms can cause harm:
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Direct strike: Lightning passes directly through a person's body.
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Side flash: Current jumps from a nearby struck object to the person.
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Ground current: Electricity spreads through the ground after a strike and enters the body through contact with the ground.
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Contact injury: A person touches an object, such as a fence or piece of equipment, carrying lightning-related current.
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Blast or mechanical injury: The powerful shockwave or sudden force associated with a strike can cause injury or throw someone off balance.
Lightning injuries can affect the heart, nervous system, hearing, vision, muscles, and skin. Some people experience burns, confusion, weakness, memory problems, or persistent pain.
A lightning strike can cause cardiac arrest or stop normal breathing. However, not every direct strike is immediately fatal, and prompt emergency treatment can save lives.
Anyone suspected of being struck by lightning needs urgent medical assessment, even if they appear to recover quickly. Some effects may not be immediately obvious. <Cite refs={["turn774753search0","turn774753search11"]}/>
10. What to Do If Someone Is Struck by Lightning
Witnessing a lightning injury can be frightening, but knowing what to do may make a critical difference.
First, make sure the scene is as safe as possible. If the thunderstorm is continuing, you and the injured person may still be at risk. Move to a safer location if you can do so without exposing yourself to further danger.
Next, call emergency services. In Vietnam, call 115 for medical emergencies and give the operator your location and a clear description of what happened.
A person struck by lightning does not retain an electrical charge, so it is safe to touch them once the scene is safe.
Check whether the person is responsive and breathing normally. If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR and follow the emergency operator's instructions. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, use it as soon as possible and follow its spoken instructions.
If several people are injured, prioritize those who are unresponsive or not breathing normally while arranging emergency assistance for everyone.
Avoid moving someone with a suspected serious spinal injury unless remaining in place presents an immediate danger. Treat burns and other injuries as best you can without delaying emergency care.
Do not assume that a person who is conscious is unharmed. Lightning can cause internal injuries and neurological complications that require professional evaluation. <Cite refs={["turn774753search0","turn774753search10"]}/>
11. Common Myths About Lightning Safety
Several widespread beliefs can create a false sense of security during thunderstorms.
Myth 1: Lightning cannot strike when it is not raining.
Lightning can occur outside the area of heavy rainfall and may strike before rain reaches your location or after the storm appears to have passed. If you hear thunder, seek shelter.
Myth 2: Rubber shoes protect you from lightning.
Ordinary rubber-soled shoes do not provide meaningful protection against a lightning strike. Do not rely on footwear to keep you safe outdoors.
Myth 3: A tree is a good place to shelter from rain and lightning.
A tree may attract a strike or conduct current into the surrounding ground. Seek an enclosed building or a suitable hard-topped vehicle instead.
Myth 4: A mobile phone attracts lightning.