Clever tips and rules of conduct for protection against thunderstorms. A thunderstorm never comes out of the blue, you should watch the sky regularly when hiking, a storm is usually indicated early on by dark and threatening clouds, for example.
Recognize thunderstorms in good time
You can calculate the distance of the thunderstorm. But to recognize one, you should pay attention to a few signs. To recognize a thunderstorm, you can look for dark clouds that look like cauliflower or cotton candy, for example. Your alarm bells should ring especially when the wind picks up in muggy summers. Of course, heavy rain or hail also indicate thunderstorms. Furthermore, falling air pressure is a clear indication.
Protection from outdoor thunderstorms
In the event of a thunderstorm, you should always seek shelter in buildings or vehicles. If that’s not possible, you definitely need to avoid open terrain, hills, and ridges. Take a protective position to avoid being struck by lightning. To do this, you have to put your feet together and squat down, keep your arms at your side, and duck your head.
You should also observe the following rules of conduct when staying outdoors during a thunderstorm:
- Never swim in bodies of water such as swimming pools or stay in bathing lakes.
- Do not enter and avoid ditches, or exit immediately.
- Avoid the immediate vicinity of trees, towers, and masts.
- You should also avoid cave entrances or furrows to increase protection from thunderstorms.
- Do not lie down, but keep the contact area with the floor as minimal as possible.
- Also, avoid umbrellas as they conduct lightning.
- Basically, you shouldn’t be near trees. An impact can occur and it is life-threatening.
Rules of conduct during thunderstorms in buildings
You are generally safest in buildings, but you should also observe a few rules of conduct here:
- You should never bathe or shower to protect yourself from thunderstorms
- Use little or no electrical equipment
- Give up the cell phone
- Avoid elevators as they can get stuck due to a power outage.
What to do in the event of a power failure?
Lightning can also strike during a thunderstorm. In the event of a power outage, the first thing you should do is check the electrical box. Most houses have security systems. If the emergency switch doesn’t work, a fuse may have blown. In that case, you need to contact an electrician.
