If you want a peer-reviewed explanation of the lightning position and safer terrain, see the paper "Backcountry lightning risk management" from the 2010 Intl Lightning Meteorology Conference. It's on the NOLS research website under project reports. John Gookin
If you’re outside in a lightning storm there are no truly safe places. Avoid terrain that is known to have greater risks; high places, isolated tall objects such as lone trees, open terrain such as meadows, open water, edge of lakes, shallow overhangs and caves, places obviously struck before.
If you’re outside in a lightning storm there are no truly safe places. Avoid terrain that is known to have greater risks; high places, isolated tall objects such as lone trees, open terrain such as meadows, open water, edge of lakes, shallow overhangs and caves, places obviously struck before.
-- Lightning position with your butt on the ground/pad? Why would you want to entice a charge through your organs/core?
There is no evidence the "lightning position" prevents lightning injury. Many lightning experts think sitting on a foam pad in lightning position for safety is a myth. Many sources advise the classic squat with feet together and hands over ears. WMI says that any comfortable position is as good as another.
@misterspiffee Few people can remain squatted with feet together and hands over ears for very long. We support our position on the lightning position with Dr Mary Ann Cooper’s opinion in the 4th edition of Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine that the lightning position is hard for inflexible people to assume, and for anyone to hold for long. She adds that “our best educated guess with science is that it’s acceptable to kneel or sit cross legged.”
@nols1965 Thanks for a thorough, substantiated and professional response. Given NOLS's reputation, your response was more the type of content I was expecting from the video. Then again, the video was addressing the *myths* of lightning, not necessarily confronting or surviving it.
-- People actually think a victim is electrified? Are your students hamsters, what the hell?
No, they're just products of the American educational system. I had a student, intelligent young women educated at a reputable college, in a WFA course ask me this just yesterday. Yes, people believe this and other myths about lightning.
I realize NOLS specializes in backcountry experience. Do you have any information on lightning risks when riding a bicycle on paved roads?
momsailor 8 months ago
If you want a peer-reviewed explanation of the lightning position and safer terrain, see the paper "Backcountry lightning risk management" from the 2010 Intl Lightning Meteorology Conference. It's on the NOLS research website under project reports. John Gookin
landerite1 8 months ago
helpful video, but #1 question as below: what is safer terrain??!
mindfulmom 8 months ago
@mindfulmom
If you’re outside in a lightning storm there are no truly safe places. Avoid terrain that is known to have greater risks; high places, isolated tall objects such as lone trees, open terrain such as meadows, open water, edge of lakes, shallow overhangs and caves, places obviously struck before.
nols1965 8 months ago
Whoa! Why even post this video?
-- Move to safer terrain? Such as?
-- Lightning position with your butt on the ground/pad? Why would you want to entice a charge through your organs/core?
-- People actually think a victim is electrified? Are your students hamsters, what the hell?
misterspiffee 8 months ago
@misterspiffee Thanks for your questions!
-- Move to safer terrain? Such as?
If you’re outside in a lightning storm there are no truly safe places. Avoid terrain that is known to have greater risks; high places, isolated tall objects such as lone trees, open terrain such as meadows, open water, edge of lakes, shallow overhangs and caves, places obviously struck before.
nols1965 8 months ago
@misterspiffee
-- Lightning position with your butt on the ground/pad? Why would you want to entice a charge through your organs/core?
There is no evidence the "lightning position" prevents lightning injury. Many lightning experts think sitting on a foam pad in lightning position for safety is a myth. Many sources advise the classic squat with feet together and hands over ears. WMI says that any comfortable position is as good as another.
nols1965 8 months ago
@misterspiffee Few people can remain squatted with feet together and hands over ears for very long. We support our position on the lightning position with Dr Mary Ann Cooper’s opinion in the 4th edition of Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine that the lightning position is hard for inflexible people to assume, and for anyone to hold for long. She adds that “our best educated guess with science is that it’s acceptable to kneel or sit cross legged.”
nols1965 8 months ago
@nols1965 Thanks for a thorough, substantiated and professional response. Given NOLS's reputation, your response was more the type of content I was expecting from the video. Then again, the video was addressing the *myths* of lightning, not necessarily confronting or surviving it.
misterspiffee 8 months ago
@misterspiffee
-- People actually think a victim is electrified? Are your students hamsters, what the hell?
No, they're just products of the American educational system. I had a student, intelligent young women educated at a reputable college, in a WFA course ask me this just yesterday. Yes, people believe this and other myths about lightning.
nols1965 8 months ago