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Article (4) Avoiding Lightning Bolts
by Rod Jones
Here in Florida we are blessed with a 12-month riding
season. Sure, it gets a little chilly and sometimes even downright
cold, but that usually doesn’t last very long. And, with a little
layering, even the cold days can be enjoyable. After all, we don’t have to
deal with snow or ice.
There is however, one element of severe weather that
confronts us most of the year—those world-class Florida thunderstorms,
nature’s very own "Shock and Awe" campaign. They can be spectacular
and beautiful. They can also be frightening, especially if we
are caught in one on our bike. Never mind the buckets of rain,
sometimes so heavy it’s impossible to see. Never mind the wet roads,
potential flooding and the possibility of hydroplaning. Never mind
the other traffic on the road that probably can’t even see us or our
pitifully small taillight. What we’re talking about here are
lightning bolts—bolts of electricity 20,000 amps strong!
Electricians will tell you it’s not the voltage that
kills you, but rather the amperage. Even amperage as low as 30 can
kill, since it disrupts the heart, which simply stops beating.
Obviously, if a lightning bolt with 20,000 amps hits us, it’s pretty
certain that we’ll be toes up and probably pretty crispy. Ah, but
we’re on our bike, so doesn’t the rubber in the tires insulate us?
No. Rubber is an adequate insulator for normal current, but not very
effective against the electrical power in a lightning bolt. But
haven’t we always heard that we’re safe in a car if a lightening bolt hits
it. Yes, but not because of the rubber tires, but rather the metal
container of the car body, which spreads the electricity around the
occupants, rather than through them, and into the ground.
So what do we do when we’re on our bikes in the middle
of nowhere in the open when lightning flashes begin? First of all,
gauge how far away the lightning is by counting the seconds between when
you see the flash and when you hear the thunder. If it’s more than
five seconds, you can try to ride out from under the storm and/or seek
shelter, preferably in a hard covered surface connected to the ground with
metal. Once there, get under it and wait out the storm.
However, if it’s less than three seconds from flash to thunder, it’s time
to stop the bike, dismount and hunker down.
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Immediately find low
ground, but not under a single or small group of trees.
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Squat on the ground
with your legs together, head lower than back, but NOT touching the
ground. Do NOT lay on the ground.
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LET YOUR CLOTHES GET WET!!! (In this way, if you
are hit the majority of the electricity will follow the moisture of
your wet clothes around your body.)
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Do not get up until thunder following a lightning
flash is AT LEAST five seconds after the flash.
And keep in mind, contrary to the old adage, that
lightning often does hit the same place twice. So let’s get on out
there and ride. Avoid thunderstorms when possible. But if
you're caught out in one, keep these tips in mind. They just might
help keep you from getting the shock of your life.
(Much of the information in this article was obtained
with permission from the article "Electrical Storms—Riding out from under
them could be a big mistake" by James R. Davis, copyright 1992-2001 by the
Master Strategy Group, all rights reserved.)
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