The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-07-31
RIFLES FOR SAFETY
IN THUNDERSTORMS
rypERT SAYS GET UNDER
l COVER; OTHERWISE LIE
DOWN" FEW KILLED.

MILTON. Mass.-Get under COW
o. # possible when a thunderstorm
,bre,tens. If this is not practicable,
=. dawn. That is the advice Alexan-
4or C. McAdie, director of the Blue
IJm observatory in this town and
arofessor OF meteorology at Harvard
T-o;versity. gives in an explanation OF
the action OF lightning prepared for
. .t' Associated Press. He gives what
h. h.. describes as 'ten good rules to help
neonle take care of themselves"
P"Tn q battle" says Professor Nc
Ad;e "a hundred bullets are fired for
a ,G soldier killed. 1t is something
lie this with lightning flashes. There
,'- hundred discharges for every
Golt of lightning that hits person.
fortunately, too, of every hundred
s+reaks OF lightning about ninety are
irom cloud to cloud, or spill-over dis
rbarges of moderate electrical energy,
and are mostly horizontal, doing no
damage whatever.
Few Come Straight to Earth.
"About ten flashes in a hundred
come vertically, that is, down to earth
IN straight line Some flashes come
SIDEWAYS and seem to be crooked, al
tbough there are really no flashes zig
7agojng like the teeth of a saw, as
artists generally depict lightning.
Now there is no protection tor "a
ease like this unless one could carry
around with him a metallic cover well
grounded. The first rule is, then: DO
not stav out on a beach or in field
when dark, heavy clouds are overhead
or coming slowly from the west or
south. Get under cover if possible. II
thi, is not practicable, lie down. Don't
remain standing.
"Second-Do not stand under a
tree with thick foliage. You are form
inc part of the line OF discharge,
since the body, more particularly the
skin if moist, is a better conductor
than the trunk of the tree. More peo-
ple are killed by lightning in this way
than probably any other.
Third-Don't stand in the doorway
OF barn or at a window in proxlmi-
h TO chimney. There are currents
Of air or winds, and the lightning fol-
lows to some extent any draft or col
umn OF rising air, especially warm air.
Don't Laugh at Nervousness.
"Fourth-Don't laugh at anyone's
nervousness during a severe thunder
storm. There is a good reason to be
nervous. Even if one is in building
that is struck the damage is, in %
cases out OF a hundred confined to
ripping out plaster or knocking Oft
slate and tearing off any projecting
timber. But there are times when the
storm clouds descend to earth and
amid darkness the flashes are heavy
and numerous. At such times there IS
danger. 1t is dangerous to be near
chimney or a tree or a fagpole or a
metal clothes line.
Stock should not be tied
near wire fence.
"Sixth-There is no particular sense
in going to bed. Standing on glass or
rubber or any good insulator WOOL
en- blanket for example, will give one
a little more security and great deal
more confidence The probability OF a
person in an ordinary residence build
ing being struck is very slight.
Persons Rarely Killed Outright.
"Seventh-If you are near a person
who has been struck make every Ell
tort to resuscitate him. Only rarely
does lightning kill outright, Mostly
people are stunned, and all that is
needed is little artificial respiration
to restore them to consciousness. OF
course, get a doctor quick.
"Eighth-If you are in a trolley car
and a flash comes in and burns the
fuses with a roar and a binding flash
sit still The danger is over, and while
YOU may be frightened you are not
likely to be hurt.
"Ninth-If you have radio, better
cut it out during thunder storm,
The antennae should be grounded di-
rect and all wires, as far as possible,
be kept outside
"Tenth-If your house is provided
with good lightning rods you need
not have much fear. Moreover, dwell
ing houses in city blocks are pract1-
cally safe"