Lightning Safety

Minimize the risk of a lightning strike when camping or hiking

Apr 16, 2007 Jeff Wetherington

On average, lightning strikes almost 300 people each year in the United States and kills almost a third of those struck, with most survivors suffering lifelong injuries.

It's that time of year again. Temperatures are rising, winter is fading away and the siren call of spring and summer weather is calling to those who love to camp, hike or backpack in Mother Nature's showcase of outdoor enjoyment. Unfortunately, it is also the time of year when thunderstorms and lightning strikes increase as well. In the United States alone, there are approximately 25 million lightning strikes each year.

Minimizing your chances of being struck by lightning.

Avoid high-risk times - Most thunder and lightning storms take place in the early to mid-afternoon time of the day, after storms have had a chance to form and build. So plan your trail hike, backpacking trek or camp set up for the early to mid-morning to avoid the high risk time of day.

Avoid high-risk areas and items - water, high ground, flat and/or open areas, and trees are all areas to be avoided when lightning is striking. Lightning always tries to find the shortest path between the sky and the ground. If you're on or near a body of water, or flat, open areas, you will most likely be the object that is sticking up from the most from the ground. Likewise, high ground and trees attract lightning by virtue of their height and are not areas you want to be when lightning hits. Metal objects such as your backpack frame, trekking poles, the metal frame of a canopy, tent or umbrella and similar items should be placed as far from your body as possible. They attract and conduct lightning.

Avoid complacency - Keep an eye on the sky and seek some kind of shelter as soon as you see the approach of dark clouds. By the time you hear thunder, you should have already found safe shelter and remained there for 30 minutes after you have heard the last thunderclap or observed the last lightning bolt. Most people who have been struck by lightning when outdoors foolishly ignored the approach of storms.

If you can't gain shelter in a building or a vehicle you need to find the safest place to be during the storm.

Seek the lowest ground you can find - a dry trench or ditch is the best, but whatever low ground you can find will minimize your odds of being hit by lightning. Be careful not to place yourself in a ditch, trench or area where water is flowing heavily or puddling deeply.

Seek clumps of bushes, shrubs or even trees of uniform height - Remember, you're trying to avoid being the highest object in an area. Crouch down and make yourself as small an object as possible with feet together, head down and hands over your ears.

Seek separation from a group - if you're hiking or camping with a group, be sure to get everyone to spread out (at least 50 feet apart) to minimize the chances of multiple injuries.

Following these simple steps will help you to avoid or minimize your next encounter with lightning in the outdoors.

The copyright of the article Lightning Safety in Backpacking, Hiking & Camping is owned by Jeff Wetherington. Permission to republish Lightning Safety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Apr 18, 2007 6:47 PM

kimsota@yahoo.com :

Very good advice. I was out this last weekend and the wind and rain were heavy. I did paddle in the early morning and I agree that the afternoons are the worst time to be out. Thanks again.

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