Lightning safety

Did you know that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from the area of rain activity? When a storm is approaching, you should immediately seek shelter inside an enclosed building. Here is a list of things to remember during a lightning storm:

Outdoors:

• Avoid an open garage, car port, or covered patio.
• If a building isn't available, a hard-topped vehicle offers good protection.
• Never stand under a tree or tall object.
• If caught out in the open, crouch down on the balls of your feet, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.
• Avoid water, including puddles, the beach, small boats and metal objects such as golf clubs, bats, fishing rods and tools.
• If operating a tractor or heavy construction equipment, especially if pulling metal equipment, turn it off and wait till the storm has passed.

Indoors:

• Close windows and doors and stay away from them, along with any metal pipes.
• Don't use the telephone.
• Turn off the TV, VCR or computer, as well as any other electrical appliances.