injuries poisoning
Lightning Injuries
Prevention of Lightning Injuries
Most lightning injuries can be prevented by following lightning safety guidelines. People should know the weather forecast and have an escape plan involving evacuation to a safer area (ideally a large, habitable building). They should pay attention to the weather while outdoors so they can implement the escape plan if a storm comes up. By the time thunder is heard, people are already in danger and should seek shelter (eg, in a building or fully enclosed metal vehicle). Small, open structures, such as gazebos, are not safe. People should not go outdoors until 30 minutes after the last lightning is seen or thunder is heard. When indoors during an electrical storm, people should avoid plumbing and electrical appliances, stay away from windows and doors, and not use hard-wired telephones, video game consoles, computers, or headsets attached by a cable to a sound system. Cellular phones and other handheld devices and laptop computers are safe when used with battery power only because they do not attract lightning. 