{"id":1059,"date":"2019-06-19T09:48:55","date_gmt":"2019-06-19T14:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carcampingtips.com\/?p=1059"},"modified":"2021-09-02T21:42:01","modified_gmt":"2021-09-03T02:42:01","slug":"camping-in-a-thunderstorm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/camping-in-a-thunderstorm\/","title":{"rendered":"Camping in a Thunderstorm: a Guide To Staying Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Boom!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t

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\"lightning-striking-mountains\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Always a scary sound when you’re camping. You’re hunkered down in your tent, the rain is pouring down on your tarp making a deafening pattering sound, and you’re probably wondering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Am I safe from lightning while in my tent? Being in a tent offers no additional protection from lightning, even though you are protected from the rain. Fortunately, there are many options to help you stay safe if you’re caught in a thunderstorm, including avoiding open spaces, avoiding lone tall objects and the tallest trees. If you’re at a campground or car camping then retreating to your car or to a plumbed building will help you stay safe. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Dangers of Thunderstorms While Camping<\/a><\/li>
  2. What Does It Mean To Be Struck By Lightning?<\/a><\/li>
  3. Staying Safe During a Thunderstorm While Camping<\/a><\/li>
  4. Tents and Thunderstorms FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Dangers of Thunderstorms While Camping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before we jump into ways to stay safe during a thunderstorm while you’re out in nature, let’s dive into trying to understand what the risks actually are and if it’s actually something to be concerned about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dangers of Thunderstorms While Driving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    It’s easy to dismiss thunderstorms while driving because you’re in a secure vehicle–however, there is actually a lot of risk that you might now know about. I talk about some interesting driving and thunderstorm facts (as well as some tips on how to stay safe) in my article, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dangers of Rain While Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    From the NCHS, available at the CDC’s website<\/a>, the number of rain-related deaths was the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cause of Death<\/strong><\/td>Number of Deaths in 2017<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Exposure to Excessive Natural Cold<\/td>804<\/td><\/tr>
    Cataclysmic Storm<\/td>132<\/td><\/tr>
    Flood<\/td>27<\/td><\/tr>
    Lightning<\/td>19<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Because rain comes with thunderstorms, it’s inevitable that some terrain, such as canyons, and valleys can experience flooding, or even flash flooding (flooding with almost no warning). Aside from the flooding danger, as any experienced backpacker knows, staying dry becomes massively important when you’re hiking for a long period of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not only do wet shoes encourage blisters, but rain, especially in the mountains, can encourage hypothermia. Exposure to cold is much riskier than anything else mentioned in this article.<\/strong> Your ability to stay warm is highly correlated with your ability to stay dry in the wilderness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dangers of Lightning While Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Although we are the least likely to be hurt by lightning than by all the other calamities mentioned in this article, it’s by far the most gripping and scary part of a thunderstorm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Consequences<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    The consequences of being struck by lightning are severe<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to the NOAA, noted below, 10% of people suffering from a lightning strike die. So your chances are good that you’ll make it through if you get struck by lightning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, the side effects can affect the quality of life dramatically. People can experience seizures, heart problems, memory loss, and other several neurological issues including coma. The most common and severe side effects though are cardiac (heart) related. (source<\/a>) Many of these side effects stay with lightning victims for years, if not the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Odds of Being Struck By Lightning While Camping<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Although we know better what amount of people die from lightning strikes each year, we know less about those who have been struck by lightning and survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The NOAA states that an average of 27 deaths occur in the United States every year<\/a>, and estimate that only 10% of lightning strikes occur in death, therefore, 243 people are non-fatally injured by lightning every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The NOAA furthermore divides that number by the US population, which brings the odds to 1 in 1,222,000. Averaged across a lifespan of 80 years, the odds are now 1 in 15,300. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1 in a million makes you feel relatively safe, but 1 in 15,300? That’s a little too close for comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Furthermore, the numbers above are based on the total US population. This is a little misleading because of the following reason<\/strong>: the vast majority (greater than 90%) of human injuries due to lightning strikes happen to people who are outdoors. Sports, outside labor, and outdoor recreation are the primary reasons why people spend time outside in the first place. Therefore, the danger of being struck by lightning is higher for people who spend more time outdoors. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Does this mean we should never go outside? No, of course not. There are ways you can stay safe. A healthy respect for the power and danger of thunderstorms can help you and your family survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Does It Mean To Be Struck By Lightning?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    From the National Athletic Trainers Association<\/a>, there are many different ways you can be “struck” by lightning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t

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    Some of the common ways lightning injures<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n

    In order of number of hospitalized victims:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Step Voltage 50%+ — <\/strong>Lightning strikes the ground, and if your feet are parallel with the path of electricity, then the electricity travels up one foot, and down the other.<\/li>
    2. Side Flash: 30-35% <\/strong>— Electricity travels from an object that was struck and then travels to nearby objects (or people)<\/li>
    3. Upward Leader 10-15% <\/strong>— You may be the source of the lightning! If the electric field build up is on the ground, you may be the starting point where the ground strikes the sky.<\/li>
    4. Direct Strike: 5% <\/strong>— Contrary to what you might imagine, only a small portion of lightning strikes are direct hits. <\/li>
    5. Contact Injury: 3-5%<\/strong> — Contact injury comes about due to being in contact with something that conducts electricity, such as water, a barb wire fence, etc.<\/li>
    6. Concussive Injury<\/strong>: Just from the massive flow of energy you can experience intense throwback from a lightning strike, which can throw you into other objects<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      So, the two most common ways to be “struck” by lightning are due to being close to something that else that is struck. Theories about the distance that electricity travels in the ground vary, but they say 20 to 30 meters (60-90 feet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Staying Safe During a Thunderstorm While Camping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Those who enjoy life take risks. It’s just a part of reality that enjoying this time we have on earth means we have to take risks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      There are things you can do to stay safe from the dangers listed above. In some circumstances, however, you can only lessen your risk–you cannot get rid of the risk completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Let’s talk about ways we can lessen the risks of camping during a thunderstorm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Staying Safe From Lightning While Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Your options of staying safe from lightning are greatly affected by your current location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Remember: <\/p>\n\n\n\n