How to behave in a storm?

Storms most often occur in early spring and summer. Proper storm behaviour is extremely important and can save lives.

Here are some valuable tips.

1. hide in secure locations

Don't believe movies where heroes are hiding from a storm under a tree or a bridge, it won't keep you safe. During a storm, open spaces should be avoided. During a storm, we try to shelter in a closed place, e.g. in a car or a building. Avoid hiding in a forest or an open wind, this only increases the risk of being struck by lightning. However, if a storm catches us in open terrain, we should squat down, keeping our feet as close to our bodies as possible to protect us from lightning.

2. When you're home...

Although we associate the house with safety, during a storm you have to be careful here as well. If we know that a storm is approaching, we should first protect the house from lightning. If the building is equipped with a lightning conductor, we don't have to worry about it. To prevent ball lightning, however, close all windows and sit away from them. For safety reasons, switch off the electrical and gas appliances together with the valves and fuses. Do not touch metal objects as they may be electrically conductive and do not use your phone. Contact with these equipment may increase the risk of being struck by lightning. When you know or feel it's gathering for a storm before you leave home, close all windows and unplug all electrical appliances. This will reduce the risk of damage during a storm.

3. during a stay in the mountains

The mountains are the most dangerous place in a storm. When we see a storm approaching, we go to the nearest shelter to quietly wait there. If we are far away from buildings, in the open air, remember to prevent contact between the body and the ground. In this case, sit on your backpack or boulder. If you are close to the summit, you should descend at least 100 meters lower. Here the risk of being struck by lightning is much lower. During a storm in the mountains, avoid being in a large group. Under no circumstances do we hide in individual trees. Here, too, we remember to switch off mobile phones, because they generate a dangerous electromagnetic field that can attract lightning.

4. when you are at or in the water

Avoid water reservoirs during a storm. Water conducts electricity very well, so contact with it during a storm is not advisable. We do not walk on the beach if we gather for a storm, finish sunbathing - it will not happen anyway and we do not enter the water under any circumstances.

5. When you're in the woods

Did the storm surprise you in the woods? Leave him as soon as you can. Forest areas in storms are vulnerable to fire. Please note that in this case we do not hide under trees or tents to avoid being struck by lightning.

6. avoid telephone conversations and do not use electrical equipment

Using a phone, both landline and mobile, increases the risk of being struck by lightning. The same applies to the use of other electrical devices during a storm. It may happen that lightning strikes the power line or telecommunication line and moves it to the receivers (e.g. headphones). For safety during a storm, it is advisable to shut down the entire electrical system.

The above tips can save your life, and it is worth remembering them especially in summer when storms and storms are really dangerous.