The photo has been reprinted, posted and passed around for decades: Two grinning brothers, hair standing on end, unaware that they were minutes away from being struck by lightning while climbing Moro Rock in California’s Sequoia National Park.
“At the time, we thought this was humorous,” Michael McQuilken recalled. “I took a photo of Mary and Mary took a photo of Sean and me. I raised my right hand into the air and the ring I had on began to buzz so loudly that everyone could hear it.”
Not once did they consider that a lightning strike was imminent, he said.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped dramatically and it began to hail. The teens decided to return back down the mountain, but partway down, the bolt struck.
It turned out that Sean was one of at least three people hit directly that day by the triple-pronged bolt, including one man who died. Sean was knocked unconscious and suffered third-degree burns to his back and elbows.
Although the kids didn't know it then, hair standing on end and tingling skin may be signs that a lightning strike may be imminent, experts say. If that happens, the best advice is to seek shelter immediately. If that's not possible, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet, making yourself the smallest target possible and minimize contact with the ground. Then, as soon as possible, get out of the area.
下面是美国国家气象局
(National Weather Service)
官网的一份雷电天气避雷指南
↓↓↓
1. All thunderstorms contain lightning.
所有的雷暴(雷雨)都含有闪电。
2. If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm, do not stand near a natural lightning rod such as an isolated tree, a telephone pole, or flag pole. A safe distance from tall objects is twice the height of the object.
3. If you are golfing and a thunderstorm approaches, put down your clubs, get away from metal golf carts, take off your golf shoes, and stay away from isolated trees. Get inside as quickly as possible.
4. If your hair stands on end, lightning is about to strike you. Drop to your knees and bend forward but don't lie flat on the ground. Wet ground is a good conductor of electricity.
5. When lightning threatens get inside a house, large building, or all-metal vehicle.
当闪电来袭,要尽快进入房屋、大型建筑或全金属车辆避难。
6. If a thunderstorm approaches when you are outside in a forested area, take shelter under a thick growth of small trees and stay away from tall trees.
如果你在户外的森林地区遇到雷雨天气,可以躲避在一片密集的树丛下,但是要远离高大的树木。
7. If a thunderstorm approaches when you are outside, don't be a lightning rod. It could be fatal. Don't project above the surrounding landscape. Don't stand on a hilltop, in an open field, or along a beach.
8. If a thunderstorm approaches when you are swimming or near water, get out of the water and away from the beach.
当你在游泳或靠近水边时遇到雷雨天气,请离开水并远离海滩。
9. During an electrical storm, put down your umbrella, stay away from wire fences, clotheslines, metal pipes, metal rails, and other metallic objects.
在雷雨天气中,应放下雨伞,远离铁丝网、晾衣绳、金属管、金属栏杆和其他金属物体。
10. During an electrical storm, stay away from appliances, heating ducts, radiators, and plumbing. Unplug major appliances.
在雷暴天气中,应远离电器、加热管道、散热器和管道。拔掉主要电器的插头。
11. Lightning is deadly. During an electrical storm, don't use electrical equipment such as razors, mixers, hair dryers, and laundry equipment.
闪电是致命的。在雷暴天气中,不要使用剃须刀、搅拌器、吹风机和洗衣机等电器。
12. Lightning can be deadly, but a person apparently killed by lightning can often be revived by prompt mouth to mouth resuscitation, heart massage, or artificial respiration. If several people are struck by lightning, first treat those who appear to be dead. Those who show signs of life will probably recover on their own.
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