Washing Dishes During a Thunderstorm Could Kill You
When most people think of summer, they might picture cloudless days and trips to the lake or the beach.
But summer isn’t all iced drinks and sunny skies. Many areas experience monsoons come July. Though rain means cooler weather, it also means danger for those who aren’t careful.
Flash flood and thunderstorm warnings are inevitable during this season. That’s why it’s important to know what to do and what not to do in the case of a thunderstorm.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a plethora of helpful information regarding how to keep safe when lightning strikes.
Everyone probably knows to stay away from metal. And you’re never supposed to take refuge beneath a tree, right?
Some might assume you’re safe as long as you’re inside. If you’re within an enclosed vehicle, that’s probably true, according to the CDC.
But what if you’re inside your home or office? There’s no way you could be harmed by lightning within the shelter of your own home, right?
Well, according to the CDC and AccuWeather, there’s plenty you could do wrong while behind closed doors.
You should obviously stay away from anything that conducts electricity, and yes, this means a wall charging cell phone as well.
Windows and doors are off limits too, and you should avoid taking a shower during a storm since water also conducts electricity.
“We see that on the outside where lightning strikes something and if there are puddles around, it can easily electrocute somebody nearby the puddle,” National Weather Service lightning safety specialist John Jensenius said.
If water can conduct electricity outside, it can do so inside as well. Which is why you’d better put off those dirty dishes until after the skies clear.
According to Dan Kottlowski, a Senior Meteorologist for AccuWeather, thunderstorm safety while inside the home has a lot to do with construction.
“When a house is built, it should be built so that when your electricity comes in, it’s grounded to your house,” Kottlowski explained. “If your house is grounded to separate rods that are basically stuck down into the ground, then that’s a bit safer because nothing is attached to the plumbing.”
I have no clue how my house was built. But I do know I’m steering clear of wires and water next time I’m stuck inside during a storm.
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