Tips on how to stay safe as thunderstorms loom

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The City of Ekurhuleni urges its residents to be cautious as lighting and thunderstorms are expected to hit parts of Gauteng in the coming days.

This is according to William Ntladi, district m anager media liaison Emergency Services.

“Lightning is a sudden electrostatic discharge that occurs typically during a thunderstorm. This discharge occurs between electrically charged regions of a cloud, between two clouds, or between a cloud and the ground,” said Ntladi.

“This can lead to serious injury or at extreme, death if it hits someone. ”

How to avoid getting hit by lightning:

Do`s:

• Lightning often strikes the tallest object in the area during thunderstorms, so stay away from open fields or hilltops.
• Check weather forecasts daily and avoid going to a swimming pool, river, lake, or beach on rainy days and all other water spot activities
• If you find yourself in open water during a thunderstorm, return to land immediately.
• Look for a low-lying area like a valley or gulley, preferably obscured from the rain. Take refuge in there until the storm passes.
• Crouch down with your heels touching and your head between your knees: this will make you a smaller target.
• If you are in a boat and cannot return to safety, drop anchor and crouch as low as possible.
• Turn off and stay away from wired electronics.

NB: Umbrellas can increase your risk of getting hit if it is the tallest object in the area.

Don`t:

• During thunderstorms, lightning can travel through water pipes if it strikes your home.
• Do not bathe or shower until the storm has passed.
• Do not swimming or partake in water sports during thunderstorms.
• Indoor swimming is equally unsafe. Avoid all large bodies of water during thunderstorms.
• Do not lie down flat, always minimize your contact with the ground. Lightning can be fatal up to thirty meters away from the initial strike.
• Do not stand near or under the trees or tall isolated objects. Such are more likely to be struck by lightning.
• Wherever you are, don’t become the highest object anywhere.
• Avoid using TVs, washing machines, and corded phones during thunderstorms.

Warnings

• Do not return to the body of water until thirty minutes after the last lightning strike.
• Lightning can, and often does, strike the same place twice. You are not safe just because lightning recently struck an area.
• If your hand stands up or you feel tingling during a thunderstorm, go indoors immediately. This sign means a lightning strike is imminent.
• You are within striking distance of lightning if you can hear thunder.
• Although cell phones are safe to use during thunderstorms, landline phones are unsafe.
• Most lightning deaths occur during the summer months, when outdoor activity and thunderstorms reaches a seasonal high.
• Stay away from pools when there is lightning or thunder.

Ntladi said Disaster and Emergency Management Services remains on high alert for any eventualities that might erupt as a result.

NOTE:

• In case of emergencies: call (011) 458 0911, cell phone 112, or National emergency number
• Ensure that you have the emergency call centre contact numbers readily and clearly displayed for everyone to know and to use.
• Numbers should be saved and easy to access on your telephone or cellular phone.
• Speak clearly on the phone when reporting an emergency.
• Provide the operators with all the necessary details required.
• Do not end the conversation until all questions are answered.

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