Safety Rules During Thunderstorms in the Mountains and Outdoors
What Should You Do in the Mountains During a Thunderstorm?
detailed instructions
You can tell a thunderstorm is approaching by the oppressive heat and the lack of wind—a lull. Then the wind will pick up, and with it will come dark clouds.
First, always check the weather forecast for the dates of your hike.
Second, don’t panic!
If you notice a storm approaching, check the distance to its center. Count the seconds between the flash of lightning and the clap of thunder. 1 second = 300–400 meters. Don’t wait for the storm to get close—just monitor the situation and descend.
Second, don’t panic!
If you notice a storm approaching, check the distance to its center. Count the seconds between the flash of lightning and the clap of thunder. 1 second = 300–400 meters. Don’t wait for the storm to get close—just monitor the situation and descend.
If you're on the route
Stay low to the ground. When walking in a thunderstorm, take small steps. Do not run.
Step voltage
When lightning strikes the ground, the voltage spreads through it.
The point is that at a distance of one step, there will be a potential difference, so a person will act as a conductor.
If you take a short step—the length of your foot—there will be no potential difference, and the current will not flow through the person.
The point is that at a distance of one step, there will be a potential difference, so a person will act as a conductor.
If you take a short step—the length of your foot—there will be no potential difference, and the current will not flow through the person.
Find shelter
Dry ravines, pits—basically, the lowest-lying spot—will do. The main thing is to stay away from water, with no isolated trees or low, protruding rocks.
Try to sit apart from each other in the shelter and take up as little space as possible. The electric shock can easily spread from one person to another.
Dry ravines, pits—basically, the lowest-lying spot—will do. The main thing is to stay away from water, with no isolated trees or low, protruding rocks.
Try to sit apart from each other in the shelter and take up as little space as possible. The electric shock can easily spread from one person to another.
What's the Best Way to Take Cover?
Sit on a dry surface, pull your knees up to your chest, press your feet together, wrap your arms around them, and bow your head.
Place a camping mat folded several times, a backpack, or any other items you have on hand—as long as they’re dry and won’t get wet—under your buttocks and legs. Try not to let any part of your body touch the ground.
If you can’t sit on anything other than the ground, squat down.
Place a camping mat folded several times, a backpack, or any other items you have on hand—as long as they’re dry and won’t get wet—under your buttocks and legs. Try not to let any part of your body touch the ground.
If you can’t sit on anything other than the ground, squat down.
Caves
If you're taking shelter in caves, make sure there's no water inside, don't sit on the wet floor, and keep a distance of at least 1 meter from the walls and the cave entrance, and 3 meters above your head.
Rocks
You can take shelter under a tall rock—but don't sit any closer than a meter away. It's important not to touch the rock. But don't stray too far from it either.A rock must be 5 to 10 times taller than a person; only then will it provide shelter.
Forest
Find the lowest spot in the forest.
The most important thing is to stay away from isolated trees. Don't press yourself against them or lean on them.
Choose some trees—or better yet, some bushes—that are all the same height, and stand between them.
Water
The enemy during a thunderstorm, in any form. Avoid vertical cracks in rocks, moss, lichens, bodies of water and puddles, and low-lying areas where water can pool.Insulate yourself from the ground inside the shelter: Sit on your backpack or a sleeping pad; if you don't have one, place large rocks underneath you, and put smaller rocks under those—you need to create a barrier against the water.
What are our characters doing wrong?
Everything! The campfire, the metal nearby, sitting on the ground, the lone trees standing nearby, and the body of water
Everything! The campfire, the metal nearby, sitting on the ground, the lone trees standing nearby, and the body of water
Move all “hardware” at least 15 meters away from your shelter
—to the side (neither up nor down, but to the side) of the shelter. Secure your belongings so they aren’t blown away by the wind. “Metal objects” include phones, trekking poles, carabiners, knives, and other metal items and electronic devices.
A dry bag or a backpack with a rain cover will come in very handy in this situation. To ensure you don’t lose contact, you can separate your phones and navigators into different dry bags and store them in different, distant locations. The likelihood of lightning striking both at the same time is lower. Remember that your phone is valuable, but your life is more valuable.
Most sources recommend turning off phones, radios, and GPS devices. There has also been debate over whether this actually increases the risk of a lightning strike. But we haven’t found the definitive answer yet. Therefore, it’s best to protect yourself as much as possible and turn off your phones until the storm has passed.
—to the side (neither up nor down, but to the side) of the shelter. Secure your belongings so they aren’t blown away by the wind. “Metal objects” include phones, trekking poles, carabiners, knives, and other metal items and electronic devices.
A dry bag or a backpack with a rain cover will come in very handy in this situation. To ensure you don’t lose contact, you can separate your phones and navigators into different dry bags and store them in different, distant locations. The likelihood of lightning striking both at the same time is lower. Remember that your phone is valuable, but your life is more valuable.
Most sources recommend turning off phones, radios, and GPS devices. There has also been debate over whether this actually increases the risk of a lightning strike. But we haven’t found the definitive answer yet. Therefore, it’s best to protect yourself as much as possible and turn off your phones until the storm has passed.
If you're at camp
Do not stand near or close to a campfire. A column of hot air rises high and conducts the charge more effectively, as do ash particles.
Do not leave metal or electrical devices in the tent. Also, keep them well away from the campsite.
Do not walk barefoot. Do not lie down on the ground.
If your tents are set up in a sheltered area or a relatively safe place—such as a dense forest—do not touch the tent frame; insulate yourself from the ground. The tent should not be the highest point. You can stay inside it.
In other words, if your tents are set up on a summit or ridge, head downhill without them.
If you feel the air becoming electrified—your hair standing on end, vibrations, crackling, or a tingling sensation—immediately, without delay, bend over, press your feet together, wrap your arms around your knees, and press your head against them.
Symptoms of mild exposure:
fainting, shock, dizziness, weakness, burns.
First and foremost, the victim must be kept warm, kept completely at rest, and given pain relievers and sedatives.
In severe cases:
fainting, shock, hearing loss, respiratory distress, and cardiac depression.
Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation is required, along with the administration of agents that stimulate heart contractions and breathing.
Travel smart and take care of yourself!
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