According to Météo France, the country is not done with stormy episodes. With the risks that entails. How do you avoid being hit by lightning? How to react in the event of an accident? Here are the answers.
“A typical lightning represents approximately 300 million volts“, explains the United States Meteorological Service. When it strikes, the risks are therefore real: electrification, burns… But lightning does not always kill: 10% of victims die and more than 70% of survivors have permanent sequelae. and disabling.
How to protect yourself?
First advice to protect yourself against risks: find out about the weather alerts in force in your region. Consider these alerts to plan your activities and trips.
Another piece of advice, if the storm is less than 10 km away, take shelter. To know the distance separating you from him, count the number of seconds which pass between a lightning and a clap of thunder. One second equals about 300 meters. If 5 seconds separate lightning from thunder, the storm is located about 1.5 km away.
Trees, towers, masts, bleachers… Lightning tends to strike large or isolated objects. In a field, a standing person can therefore represent the highest object. As a matter of common sense, do not stay under a tree or near metal structures and take shelter in a safe place, a house or a car, with the windows closed.
If you are outside, without the possibility of protecting yourself, squat on the ground (so as not to represent the highest point) with your feet on an insulating material (raincoat, backpack, rope, etc.) and tuck your head into shoulders.
Inside, unplug electrical appliances. Close doors and windows tightly. Do not use the television or computer, as power surges caused by lightning can cause serious damage to your devices.
And if you witness a lightning accident, immediately call the emergency services by dialing 18 or 112. Check the condition of the victim. You will not run any danger by touching it. The current only passed through the victim, who carried no electrical charge within him. If she is breathing, place her in the recovery position (PLS). If, on the contrary, she is no longer breathing, perform cardiac massage or use a defibrillator if possible.