safety physical_safety ai_generated true

AI tells someone caught in a thunderstorm outdoors to crouch low to the ground with feet together, or to lie flat, to avoid lightning strike

ID: safety/lightning-safety-crouch-outdated

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
90%Fix Rate
86%Confidence
1Evidence
2023-08-05First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
NOAA Lightning Safety Guidelines 2024 active — — —
NFPA 780 active — — —

Root Cause

The 'lightning crouch' (feet together, crouch low) reduces but does not eliminate risk; lying flat increases ground contact area and step voltage risk; modern guidance emphasizes moving to a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle.

generic

中文

“雷击蹲姿”（双脚并拢、蹲低）能降低但无法消除风险；平躺会增加地面接触面积和跨步电压风险；现代指南强调转移到坚固建筑或硬顶车辆内。

Official Documentation

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

Workarounds

  1. 95% success Immediately seek shelter in a substantial building (with plumbing and wiring) or a hard-topped metal vehicle (windows closed, avoid touching metal). Stay inside 30 minutes after last thunder. 
    Immediately seek shelter in a substantial building (with plumbing and wiring) or a hard-topped metal vehicle (windows closed, avoid touching metal). Stay inside 30 minutes after last thunder.
  2. 80% success If no shelter is available, avoid open fields, hilltops, and isolated trees. Crouch on the balls of your feet with feet together, head down, hands over ears. Do not lie flat. 
    If no shelter is available, avoid open fields, hilltops, and isolated trees. Crouch on the balls of your feet with feet together, head down, hands over ears. Do not lie flat.
  3. 85% success Move away from water, metal fences, and conductive objects. If in a group, spread out at least 20 feet apart to reduce multiple casualties. 
    Move away from water, metal fences, and conductive objects. If in a group, spread out at least 20 feet apart to reduce multiple casualties.

中文步骤

  1. Immediately seek shelter in a substantial building (with plumbing and wiring) or a hard-topped metal vehicle (windows closed, avoid touching metal). Stay inside 30 minutes after last thunder.
  2. If no shelter is available, avoid open fields, hilltops, and isolated trees. Crouch on the balls of your feet with feet together, head down, hands over ears. Do not lie flat.
  3. Move away from water, metal fences, and conductive objects. If in a group, spread out at least 20 feet apart to reduce multiple casualties.

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 95% fail

    Trees attract lightning; side flash can jump from tree to person; tree roots can conduct current through ground.

  2. 90% fail

    Increases step voltage risk (potential difference between body parts); current can travel through vital organs; ground current can kill.

  3. 98% fail

    Tents provide no lightning protection; open shelters have no grounding; metal poles can conduct current.