Lightning protection in the mountains

One of the masters of hand-to-hand combat formulated his “extreme” algorithm as “Anticipate, avoid, act.” Applying this sacred sequence in relation to a thunderstorm, the following recommendations can be made:

Weather prediction.

A thunderstorm rarely creeps up unnoticed. Usually, many hours before it starts, it feels stuffy, there is no wind, and visibility is poor due to the haze. And all this early in the morning, when you are used to feeling the fresh mountain breeze and admiring the distant ridges. These are clear signs of an impending thunderstorm.

Do not forget about the existence of the Hydrometeorological Center and other weather services. Modern means of communication make it possible to keep abreast of weather forecasts, even to be in the mountains.

Most often, thunderstorms occur in the afternoon. Therefore, especially dangerous ridges should be overcome early in the morning. However, an early start is useful even if there is no sign of a thunderstorm.

When you hear thunder in the distance, periodically check the distance to the thunderstorm. To do this, measure how many seconds pass from the flash of lightning to the clap of thunder. Divide the resulting number by 3 and find out the distance to the thunderstorm (in kilometers).

If a thunderstorm is approaching, then you should not wait for the moment when lightning starts striking a hundred meters away from you. It is better to follow these recommendations in advance:

Precautions during a thunderstorm

• Leave the open area. If you are at the top or on a mountain ridge, you need to immediately “reduce altitude.”
• Completely turn off mobile phones and walkie-talkies and other “active” ones electrical appliances. For greater reliability, it is recommended to remove the batteries from them. 
• Select a place to "sit out". A thunderstorm rarely lasts more than an hour, but even during that time You can get thoroughly wet (freeze). So it wouldn't hurt to find rock shelter, cave or just pull up an awning (put up a tent) in dry hollow or sinkhole. 
• A cave will only become a shelter rather than a grave if there is enough space to sit no closer than 1 meter to any of the walls, and no closer than 3 meters to the ceiling. You can't stand at the entrance - running from above the discharge can use you as a jumper.
• It is possible to use high (at least 10m) a separate rock, like a lightning rod. Such a rock will protect against a direct blow, but the possibility of damage remains through wet soil. Therefore, you need to isolate yourself from the ground as much as possible. Again, you need to sit no closer than 1 meter from the rock (but no further than at a distance equal to the height of the rock).
• If a thunderstorm overtook you in the forest, then you need to choose an area with trees more or less equal in height and stand BETWEEN the trees (and not under them). It is worth staying away from oak trees (they are especially common struck by lightning).
• When choosing a place for shelter, it is extremely important to avoid proximity to ANY moisture. A lake, stream, large puddle at the bottom of a funnel can "attract" lightning. And patches of moss and lichen or cracks filled with wet soil can “conduct” electricity even inside deep caves. When settling in a hollow, avoid areas where storm water drains. And try not to get wet again.
• Put away all metal objects. Usually everything trekking poles, axes, ice axes, rock iron and even dishes piled on a pile 50 meters from the shelter. Sometimes this pile will get view of an improvised lightning rod (see photo). It should be located higher up the slope, away from the shelter (not directly above it).
• Wherever you are (in an open place or in a shelter), for greater safety you should take the following position: squat down, lower your head, clasp your legs with your hands. To avoid step discharge, the feet should be kept tightly closed. Place a camping mat folded several times or a dry rope under your feet.
• If there is a risk of falling (for example, being afraid of lightning), secure yourself with insurance.
• Extinguish the fire (if there is one). After all, a column of smoke is an ionized gas, which is a conductor of electricity.

• electromagnetic induction - damage by Foucault currents arising in the body when a flow of electricity passes at a distance of up to one meter.
• ground currents - if several points come into contact with the ground, then a potential difference may arise between them and a current will flow through the body - the same “step discharge”.

Actions in case of electric shock

With mild lesions, fainting, nervous shock, dizziness, weakness, burns. In more severe cases - fainting, shock, deafness, cardiac depression. The victim must warm, provide complete rest, give painkillers and sedatives. With severe lesions, respiratory distress and cessation of cardiac activity. Urgent cardiopulmonary resuscitation required and administering agents that stimulate heart rate and respiration.