Question about lightning safety...?

[honeygirl1971]

So, you always hear that you should not take a bath during a thunderstorm, and this evening we were having a thunderstorm right when I needed to give our baby a bath. I did some searches on the internet to see if I could better understand what the danger is and how to avoid it and still give him the bath, but I had trouble getting the kind of information I wanted. So, I'm asking here! Is it really true that taking a bath in a thunderstorm is dangerous? What can you do to remove the danger? I usually give him his bath in a plastic baby bath inside the regular tub (less water, less room to slip around, and harder to climb out of than the plastic tub on the floor), but I had a hard time figuring out if that was safe or not since the websites I looked at seemed to think that even plastic coated pipes and fiberglass tubs are still a danger...? So, I put the plastic tub in the middle of the bathroom, but not in the tub, and gave him a quickie bath in that, but I'm not sure even THAT was safe since it seemed like the websites were saying that even metal pipes underneath layers of other materials could conduct the shock to you through water...So, anyone know more about this? We are having such a stormy summer, I can imagine this coming up again!

[sneezles]

Scary stuff, lightning, especially after having seen some kids knocked over during a soccer game when there wasn't a cloud in the sky at the time. Ten minutes later we were soaked through. If it were me I'd put the plastic tub on the kitchen table (tarp or sheet of plastic underneath) or anywhere else away from plumbing.

[Laura]

Okay, please take this with a grain of salt, because I know I am not really answering the question you are asking, and my sources, by some, would seem rather frivolous.

But one afternoon while watching the television show Mythbusters, they found that talking on a corded landline and taking a Shower during a lightning storm were very dangerous if your house was struck.

That said, I don't know why the plastic tub outside the bathtub would be dangerous if you are not above the actual pipes as everything every thing that I have heard is that you don't want to be near the pipes. Colorado Springs where I live has one of the highest percentages of lightning strikes per year (14,000) so I also try to be aware of the dangers.

[ErinM]

...they found that talking on a corded landline and taking a Shower during a lightning storm were very dangerous if your house was struck.




I have to wonder who in their right mind would do both of these activities at once to begin with. That's just ASKING for trouble, IMO! :eek:

As for me, I've heard the same thing. I won't willingly take a bath during a thunderstorm, but if I happen to be in one and one starts, I'm not going to worry *too* much about it. But, then, I'd probably get out...

[Jazzmatazz49]

Since a ball of lightning traveled through the phone line and struck my mom in the head when I was a child, I have a hard time even using a cordless phone during a storm. I don't take showers during storms either, but always figured I was being overly cautious there.

My mom was fine, but doesn't remember anything that happened for several days after being struck.

[Robyn1007]

I have to wonder who in their right mind would do both of these activities at once to begin with. That's just ASKING for trouble, IMO! :eek:

As for me, I've heard the same thing. I won't willingly take a bath during a thunderstorm, but if I happen to be in one and one starts, I'm not going to worry *too* much about it. But, then, I'd probably get out...

I had to re-read Laura's statement but I don't think she meant at the same time.

The danger in bathing is that the metal pipes and water conduct a lightning strike so if a strike hits near your house it can travel through the pipes and strike you as you bath. If you are bathing the baby in a plastic tub, outside of the bath (like on the table as someone mentioned) I think you'd be fine.

[Laura]

Yes, thank you Robyn, I didn't mean at the same time. :D. I should have used "or" instead of "and". I will say that storms here in CO can come up very quickly, and I could see being in the shower and not knowing that there was a storm outside.

[AzAnne]

I work for the utility company and this is what we have posted on our website for consumer safety in regards to Lightening:

Lightning Safety

Lightning creates a magnetic field that radiates out and can be picked up by electrical wires, even if it doesn't actually strike your home. Nearby lightning strikes can cause electrical voltage fluctuations.

Some manufacturers recommend that you unplug sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, VCRs, stereos, computers, etc.) that can be damaged by changes in voltage.
Surge suppressers can provide full-time protection for sensitive electronic equipment, but they are not foolproof. Appliances, such as refrigerators and stoves, probably will be all right.
During lightning storms, avoid taking a bath or shower or running water because metal pipes can conduct electricity. Also, stay off the telephone.

PLEASE be very carefull during lightening storms, I've seen some pretty nasty strikes and the damage it can do :(

[Beth]

If your tub is cast iron, I wouldn't be leaning over it either.

I have to say that. living along the Guld Coast, it would be somewhat impossible to never take a bath or shower when it is raining. Perhaps I have tempted fate, but I do try to avoid the big thinderboomers.

[honeygirl1971]

The websites I looked at all mentioned talking on the phone (land lines) as a danger as well...that's something I've definitely done in the past, and I've showered during storms too (not often, but like others have said, sometimes it starts while you're in there), but you take risks sometimes when it's just you that you don't take with your kids...

So, sounds like if it comes up again the consensus is put the tub up on a table...not super easy to bathe an amazingly agile, fairly large, and very active little boy up on a table, but of course I'd rather struggle with that than risk the lightning!

I've learned a lot about this--I always thought you had to be actually touching the metal or something, but I guess that's not the case.

Thanks for the answers--I knew I could count on you all! :)

[Beth]

I always thought you had to be actually touching the metal or something, but I guess that's not the case.

Nope. In the case of the bath or shower, the water that is in contact with the metal, is actually a better conductor of electricity than the metal is.

Other places, I guess you can get static anywhere. I was sitting at the desk in our family room the afternoon one of our neighbors got hit by lightening. Just before I saw the flasha nd heard the hit, there was a loud static pop in front of me -- either our monitor or between 2 phones that were sitting there. Another time, I was standing in front of my sink when the rain started. Just before a lightening strike nereby, I felt a whoosh, I'm told that is static you can feel before the strike. Very weird stuff.

[cumulus]

Also- lightning can strike up to 15 minutes before or after a storm hits...so be extra careful if you know there is a specific chance for storms that day.

I've heard of sooooo many lightning related deaths and injuries (both inside houses and outdoors) that the threat should certainly be taken seriously. And I think a little bit of an inconvenience is well worth the potential for disaster!