RE: Lightening & camping

B-flat · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

I read in the paper that 2 parents that were camping were killed by lightening when they were seeking shelter under trees at a campground near Salt Lake City, UT, but their children were hospitalized. The hospital would not give out any info on the children. Please remember that lightening can kill and/or seriously injure particularly out in the open or near/under trees. Please take safety precautions when camping.

whitestar505 · Jul 22, 2003, 02:50 PM

B-flatB-flat,

I always worry about the lightening when camping. Most of the time the campgrounds is under shade which of course is trees. This year it has just about rained every night I have camped sooooooooo.

tlhdoc · Jul 22, 2003, 05:24 PM

B-flatIf there isn t a building with plumbing and wiring (to ground the lightning) we always move to the car.

birol · Jul 22, 2003, 09:01 PM

B-flatGo to the pavvillion or somewhere protected ?

tlhdoc · Jul 22, 2003, 10:09 PM

B-flatInside a building with plumbing and wiring is the best. Often the bathroom at a campground or the rec room if they have one.

whitestar505 · Jul 23, 2003, 07:49 AM

tlhdoctlhdoc,

Not a bad idea if you can make it there safely. What would you think about sitting in the TV until the storm has pasted?

B-flat · Jul 23, 2003, 03:57 PM

B-flatI have heard that one shouldn t touch the plumbing or wiring during storms, so be careful lest you get the charge going through your body. If there is no other shelter, then getting into the tow vehicle would be better than standing out in the open or under trees, in my opinion.

tlhdoc · Jul 23, 2003, 04:54 PM

whitestar505

QuoteORIGINAL: whitestar505

tlhdoc,

Not a bad idea if you can make it there safely. What would you think about sitting in the TV until the storm has pasted?

We have done that on many trips. If there isn t a building to go into we get into the TV and wait. We don t stay in the PU if there is an electrical storm.

birol · Jul 23, 2003, 05:38 PM

B-flatCars are supposed to be very very safe during electrical storms .....

tlhdoc · Jul 23, 2003, 09:21 PM

B-flatCars are not nearly as safe as a well grounded building.

Steve-o-bud · Jul 23, 2003, 09:52 PM

B-flatHere s a link to the National Weather Service s Lightning Safety Page:
[link=]http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/more.htm[/link]

One of the things that strikes me (pun intended) is that lightning can travel quite a distance, even if you are not directly under or near clouds, you can be struck. We vacation in Yosemite NP every year, and they often get afternoon thunderstorms. At the first sound of thunder, they close the swimming pools.

CampinCrazy · Jul 23, 2003, 10:32 PM

B-flatThis part of the great USA is just severe when it comes to weather. I m not willing to chance it when we camp since I have 2 young one with me. We try to keep up with the weather, and have agreed to run for the car or other safe place if we get hit with unexpected wind/thunderstorms, etc.

TheWallRocks · Jul 23, 2003, 10:49 PM

B-flatWell, if it s just the old foks we sit under the awning and watch the lightning. It is amazing to watch lighting come over Lake Michigan.

ckkevin · Jul 24, 2003, 03:10 PM

B-flatHere is a warning to those who have or want tounge rings.

Lightning bolt zaps tongue stud[

][

] http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=7181

griffsmom · Jul 24, 2003, 03:28 PM

ckkevin

QuoteORIGINAL: ckkevin

Here is a warning to those who have or want tounge rings.

Lightning bolt zaps tongue stud[][][] http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=7181

So what exactly were Becky and her " friend" doing to expose her tongue piercing outside during an electrical storm?

[

] The article is mysteriously silent about that...oh those Brits! [

]

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