Public urged to take preventive measures against lightning

Accra, May 11, GNA - In the face of the onset of the rainy season, the Ghana Meteorological Agency is warning the public to take preventive measures against lightning strikes, which are most prevalent with rainfall resulting from both squall lines and thunderstorm activities.

An advisory issued by Mr Charles Kweku Yorke, a staff of the agency, said injury or death from a lightening strike might occur through direct strike, a contact strike where a person touches an object that has been struck by lightning or side splash where lightning jumps from the primary strike object on its way to the ground. Other forms are ground strike in which lightning strikes the ground and the electric current spreads out in a circle from the spot and blunt injury in which a person is thrown violently from the lightning strike or from the explosive force that occurs as surrounding air is superheated and rapidly cools.

Mr Yorke gave out the following tips and precautionary measures which might help avoid being struck by lightning. First, avoid being outside in open spaces during thunderstorms and seek shelter immediately if you are outside; do not carry or hold tall metal objects during thunderstorms - drop any golf clubs, fishing poles and even cutlasses and also avoid the highest elevation areas and tall objects. In the absence of a shelter, crouch down and put your hands on the knees or place them over the ears to protect against hearing damage from thunder.

Mr Yorke said a fully enclosed metal vehicle such as a car or a bus can be a good shelter. However, all windows of the car must be closed while you avoid touching anything metal connected to the vehicle. Inside a building ensure that windows are closed and avoid using the land-line telephone or electrical appliances including computers since lightning might strike outside lines and travel inside. There must also be at least 30 minutes wait after the last observed lightning strike or thunder before you venture outside your sheltered area.

On the farm, do not take shelter under tall trees but in a thicket, a few metres from the tall trees. The people most vulnerable to lightning strikes resulting in injuries and sometimes death are outdoor construction workers, farmers, those doing recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, or playing sports on the field.