anna wrote: > He recommended, that one should take the paddle in right hand, invert one > blade into the water and if the lightning strikes, the upper paddle blade would direct > the electricity along the paddle shaft to the water. And the right hand - not > the left, because the electricity would be less likely to hurt your heart > that way. But PLEASE, do not try this at home... > Not a good idea, for a number of reasons. I think the fellow who gave that advice was making inferences based on electric safety rules and a certain amount of intuition, but it's not really applicable here. Mot paddles are poor conductors, but even a piece of copper wire wouldn't be much help. A strike that close will injure or kill with blast and heat effects. Oh, and your heart is pretty much in the center of your chest. -- mike ------------------------- Michael Edelman mje_at_spamcop.net http://www.foldingkayaks.org http://www.findascope.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The Red Cross on Safety Info about Thunderstorms and lightning (what to do when a thunderstorm approaches, etc) http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/thunder.html Cheers, Jackie (who was always told to stay away from trees during a thunderstorm and get low low low when outdoors without available shelter - lessons learned as a native Texan... one of the more zappy states 8-) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mike offered this link: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nasd/docs/as04800.html and Jackie offered this one: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/thunder.html Here are several from my files: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/trwbro.htm http://whirlwind100.nssl.noaa.gov/mag/holleetal.html http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_lls.html I've taught with two people who have had close encounters with lightning. One saw ball lightning (http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/tesla/ballgtn.html) come though the wall of her house during a thunderstorm, and the other was sitting in his garage watching a thunderstorm, and was knocked unconcious by a close hit. I've personally not had any close encounters, and that's fine with me. Perhaps one thing missing from all comments so far is that groups should spread out (though staying within communications range) whether on shore or on the water - to minimize the risk of everyone getting zapped at once. IMO, anyone who teaches or leads commercial trips should have a lightning plan, and communicate it to the students/clients before the need arises. Regards, Erik Sprenne *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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