disaster life_threatening ai_generated true

AI advises crouching flat on the ground during a lightning storm to minimize height

ID: disaster/lightning-crouch-flat-ground

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
78%Fix Rate
86%Confidence
1Evidence
2023-06-20First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
NWS Lightning Safety Guidelines 2024 active — — —
NFPA 780 Lightning Protection Standard 2023 active — — —

Root Cause

Lying flat on the ground increases the risk of ground current (step potential) traveling through the body; lightning current spreads radially from the strike point, and a prone position creates a larger voltage gradient across the body length, causing cardiac arrest or burns.

generic

中文

平躺在地面上会增加地电流（步电压）通过身体的风险；闪电电流从击中点径向扩散，俯卧姿势在身体长度上产生更大电压梯度，导致心脏骤停或烧伤。

Official Documentation

https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

Workarounds

  1. 85% success Use the lightning crouch: feet together, squat low, hands over ears, elbows on knees, head tucked. This minimizes body height and reduces step potential by keeping feet close: `echo 'Lightning crouch: feet together, squat, hands over ears, elbows on knees' | tee /tmp/lightning_safety.txt` 
    Use the lightning crouch: feet together, squat low, hands over ears, elbows on knees, head tucked. This minimizes body height and reduces step potential by keeping feet close: `echo 'Lightning crouch: feet together, squat, hands over ears, elbows on knees' | tee /tmp/lightning_safety.txt`
  2. 95% success Seek substantial shelter (enclosed building or hard-topped metal vehicle) immediately; stay away from windows, plumbing, and electrical appliances 
    Seek substantial shelter (enclosed building or hard-topped metal vehicle) immediately; stay away from windows, plumbing, and electrical appliances
  3. 75% success If caught in open with no shelter, stay at least 20 feet apart from others to reduce group injury risk; use lightning crouch, do not lie flat 
    If caught in open with no shelter, stay at least 20 feet apart from others to reduce group injury risk; use lightning crouch, do not lie flat

中文步骤

  1. Use the lightning crouch: feet together, squat low, hands over ears, elbows on knees, head tucked. This minimizes body height and reduces step potential by keeping feet close: `echo 'Lightning crouch: feet together, squat, hands over ears, elbows on knees' | tee /tmp/lightning_safety.txt`
  2. Seek substantial shelter (enclosed building or hard-topped metal vehicle) immediately; stay away from windows, plumbing, and electrical appliances
  3. If caught in open with no shelter, stay at least 20 feet apart from others to reduce group injury risk; use lightning crouch, do not lie flat

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Lie flat on the ground to be the smallest target 92% fail

    Reduces direct strike risk slightly but dramatically increases ground current injury; the heart and brain are in the current path

  2. Crouch on tiptoes to reduce contact area 88% fail

    Tiptoes do not significantly reduce step potential; the body still forms a large voltage gradient from feet to head; also unstable and causes falls

  3. Hide under a tree for shelter 95% fail

    Trees attract lightning; a strike can jump to a person nearby (side flash); tree may explode or catch fire