There is often not much idea about how one should be prepared when a thunderstorm or lightning occurs. As monsoons have already hit many parts of the country, thunderstorms and lightning are bound to . In a bid to protect from such calamities, National Disaster Management Authority, Govt of India has issued a guide on do's and dont's for thunderstorms and lightning. The NDMA has additionally shared tips on how to treat victims struck by lightning.
The advisory contains a list of do's and dont's during lightning when staying indoors or outdoors, during travel and first aid treatment for victims struck by lightning.
If outdoors:
What to do?
Check the weather forecast before participating in outdoor activities. If you see thunderstorm & lightning, stay indoor for 30 minutes.
Do not go out of house during adverse weather especially for working in agriculture field, grazing cattle, fishing and plying boats or general travel.
When thunder roars, be inside safe shelter. Avoid metal structures and constructions with metal sheeting. Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with windows rolled up.
If you are caught outside with no safe shelter nearby, immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges, or peaks.
If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to remove yourself from danger.
Ideally, find a shelter in a low-lying area and make sure that the spot chosen is not likely to be flooded.
Hair standing up on the back of your neck with tingling could indicate that lightning is imminent.
Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other waterbodies.
Keep away from all utility lines and objects that conduct electricity (telephone, power, metal fences, overhead wire, rail-road tracks, wind mills, etc.), trees and hilltops.
Rubber soled shoes and car tyres dot offer protection from lightning.
If you are in a group during thunderstorm, than keep adequate distance to reduce risk.
Don'ts
Do not go outside during adverse weather especially for working in agriculture field, grazing cattle, fishing and plying boats.
If you are in forest area take shelter under small and dwarf trees.
Do not take shelter under electric or telephone poles or trees. These attract lightning.
Do not use metallic items and stay away from bikes, electric or telephone poles, wire fence, machines etc.
If you are working in an open field/ outdoor and do not have enough time to take shelter in a safe place, crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears with minimal contact with the ground and make yourself a smaller target.
Never use mobile phones during lightning
Do not use umbrellas with iron rods.
If at home or indoor
Even though shelters like your homes, offices, shopping centers considered safe during a lightning storm, a person may still be at risk. Here are some tips to keep yourself safe:
Do's
Keep monitoring local media for updates and warning instructions by various modes of communication.
Stay indoors and avoid travel if possible.
Keep away from doors windows, porches, and concrete floors, fireplaces, stoves, bathtubs or any other electrical conductors during a thunderstrom.
Unplug electrical electronic appliances like computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers, stoves or anything dinnected to an electrical outlet, as the main power supply may conduct a power surge during a lightning storm.
Close windows and doors and secure djects outside your home furniture, bins, etc.
Ensure that children and pet animals are inside.
Remove tree timber for any other debris that may fly and cause an acciden
Don'ts
Do not take a bath or a shower, wash dishes in have any other contact with stagnant or running water. This is because lightning can travel through a buildings plimbing and metal pipes.
Do not eletric electronic appliances including corded phone and a metal wire or bars
Avoid using corded phones and other electrical equipment that can conduct lightning. However, it is safe to use cordless phones during a storm. Avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts, etc.
Avoid open structures/ spaces such as porches, sports arenas (such as golf courses, parks, and playgrounds), ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches.
Do's and Don'ts on travel
Check the weather forecast before outdoor activities. If there is a forecast or warning for thunderstorm, postpone travel or outdoor activities.
During a thunderstorm, avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts. Be sure to avoid open structures such as porches, baseball dugouts, and sports arenas. And stay away from open spaces such as golf courses parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches.
Get off bicycles, motorcycles or farm vehicles that may attract lightning.
If boating or swimming, get to land as quickly as possible and take shelter in a safe place.
During a storm. remain in your vehicle until help arrives of the storm has passed (the metal roof will provide protection if you are not touching metal inside windows should be up and the vehicle must be parked away from trees and power lines.
Move out of forested area tespocratie pine forest towards clear round
There is possibility of forest fire due to lightning strike
Lightning: First Aid treatment
First aid to lightning struck victims while waiting for professional medical attention can save their lives. It is safe to touch a lightning strike victim.
Check to see if the victim is breathing and has heartbeat. The best place to check for pulse is the carotid artery which is found on your neck directly below your jaw.
If the victim is not breathing, immediately begin mouth to mouth resuscitation.
If the victim does not have pulse beet, start cardiac compressions as well (CPR).
Check whether the person who survived from a lightning strike has broken bones that can cause paralysis or major bleeding complications.
Be aware of the continuing lightning danger to both the victim and rescuer. If the area where the victim is located in a high risk area, then move the victim immediately to a safer location.
People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge and can be handled safely.
Check for broken bones, loss of hearing and eyesight.
A victim of a lightning strike can suffer varying degrees of burn, shock, and sometimes blunt trauma. Check the injury, if necessary move the person to hospital for treatment.
Call helpline number 1078, and give correct directions to reach the exact location and information about the condition of the strike victim(s).
Take the person who is struck by lightning to a hospital if possible.
