Electrical Storm Safety

Every year, at work, we are required to read about safety procedures during an electrical storm. My father and mother instilled these procedures into me and my siblings from an early age.  My maternal grandmother had been struck twice by lightning as she was not observing safety precautions (she survived both times.) When we were young, and an electrical storm moved in, we unplugged sensitive electrical appliances. And paid attention to safety precautions.

My colleagues and I were discussing the possibility of electrical storms moving into the area this weekend, and I commented that I wanted to get to the therapy pool before the storms moved in. The first question was "Is the pool outside?"  I explained that it was not, but it is closed during an electrical storm.

I went on to explain that we should not be in pools, tubs, working at the sink or stove during electrical storms.  We really should unplug sensitive electrical appliances, stay inside and out from under trees. All of this is in our annual training regarding electric storms.  I remarked that the National Weather Service http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Lubbock&state=TX&site=LUB&lat=33.5759&lon=-101.875#.VApdo03wvug 
recommends that if there is thunder or lightning within a 15 mile radius, we should take precautions, be indoors, not be on a golf course on in a swimming pool.

My coworkers reacted in two ways:  Some acted as if this was new information!  We are talking about adults, all of whom are old enough to have raised children. All of whom are college educated. And, all of whom have been exposed to the above mentioned safety training for many, many years.  The other response was "I remember my mother (father) telling me those things!"

What is wrong with these people?  I do not know, but it explains to me why the lightning fatality statistics are what they are:  http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities.htm.  For the most part, these are avoidable deaths.  It is so sad that they occur.  I will admit that sometimes, I put myself in harm's way, but mostly I am a lightning woosie, and try my best to avoid exposure to possible electrocution by lightning.