Re: [Paddlewise] Lightning Solutions?

It seems to me that one reasonable strategy, with lightning approaching,
would be to paddle to an island or shore with a high bank or cliff, if
available.  Then any strike would go to the land above you.  You wouldn't
necessarily need to get out of your kayak.  Does this make sense to others
on the list?  I agree that you certainly don't want to do anything to
increase your chances of getting hit!

Bob Apter



----------
> From: Philip Wylie <pjwylie_at_planet.eon.net>
> To: Martin Doerfler <doerfm01_at_endeavor.med.nyu.edu>;
paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Lightning Solutions?
> Date: Wednesday, May 06, 1998 11:04 PM
> 
> Handling a pole in both hands to take a jolt of
> lightning is not a good idea! Both hands will
> serve to complete a circuit for the discharge
> to travel through the hands and arms and
> across the chest area. Better to use one hand only.
> However, you would be required to know exactly
> when the lightning was going to discharge up into
> the atmosphere. Secondly, it would be better to
> keep the paddle low in the water and forget
> waving a rod around hoping to avoid getting hit
> or attracting the lightning.
> Your chance of being struck just went up ten fold
> by waving a rod in the air. 

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