New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-07-20
HOW TO ACT DURING
THUNDER. STORMS
Expert Gives Ten Good Rules on
What to Do

Milton, Mass, July 20.---Get under
cover If possible when a thunder
storm threatens. If this Is not prac-
ticable, lie down. That Is the advice
which Alexander G. McAdie, director
of the Blue Hill Observatory in this
town and professor of meteorology at
Harvard University. gives in an ex-
PLANTATION of the action of lightning
prepared for The Associated Press
He gives what he describes as ten
good rules to help people take care
of themselves"
I'm battle" says Professor Nc
Adie, "a hundred bullets are fired for
each soldier killed. 1t is something
like this with lightning flashes.
There are hundred discharges for
every bolt of lightning that hits a
person, Fortunately. too, of every
hundred streaks of lightning about
ninety are from cloud to cloud or
spil-over discharges of moderate
electrical energy and are mostly hori-
zontal, doing no damage whatever
About ten flashes In hundred
come vertically, that Is, down to
earth In straight line. Some
flashes come sideways and seem to be
crooked, although there are really no
flashes zig tagging like the teeth of a
saw as artists generally depict light
ming,
THE intense straight flashes are the
ones to be feared, as it Is silly per-
son who stands out in the open when
such flashes are seen. He invites
trouble, but the invitation is not al
ways accepted.
AT this time of the year thunder
storms are frequent and there are
comparatively large number of fatal
accidents. One reads in the press
dispatches that four men are walking
along a New Jersey Beach during
thunderstorm. There is a flash of
lightning. one man is killed outright,
one severely burned, and thea others
stunned.
Now there Is no protection for
case like this unless one could carry
around with him metallic cover
well grounded. The first rule is
then: Do not stay out on a beach or
in field when dark heavy clouds are
overhead or coming slowly from the
west or south. Get under cover II
possible. If this is not practicable,
lie down. Don't remain standing.
Second: Do not stand under
tree with thick foliage. You are
forming part of the line of dis
charge, since the body, more particu-
larry the skin II moist, is a better
conductor than the trunk of the tree.
More people are killed by lightning
in this way than probably any other.
Third: Don't stand in the door
way Of barn or at window In
proximity to a chimney. There are
currents of air or winds, and the
lightning follows to some extent any
draft or column of rising air, espec-
tally warm air.
Fourth: Don't laugh at any ones |
nervousness during a severe thunder
storm There IL a good reason to be
nervous. Even If one la in q build
ing that is struck the damage Is, In |
ninety-eight cases out of a hundred, |
confined to ripping out plaster or
knocking off states and tearing off
any projecting timbers. But there
are times when the storm clouds de-
scend 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 f1agpole or a metal clothes
line. 4-
Fifth: Stock should not be tied
near wife fence. ~
Sixth: There is no particular
sense In going to bed. Standing on
glass or rubber or any good insula-
tor, a wooden blanket for example,
will give one little more confidence.
The probability of a person in an or
binary residence building being struck
Is very slight
Seventh: If you are near a person
who has been struck make every
effort to resuscitate him. Only rare
ly does lightning kill outright. Most
Iy people are stunned, and all that is
needed is little artificial respiration
to restore them to consciousness. of
course get doctor quick.
Eighth: If you are in q trolley
car and a flash comes in and burns
the fuses with a roar and a binding
fash, sit still. The danger is over,
and while you may be frightened you
are not likely to be hurt.
Ninth: II you have radio,
better cut it out during a thunder
storm. The antennae should be
grounded direct and al wires, as far
as possible, kept outside.
Tenth: If your house is pro-
vided with good lightning rods you
need not have much fear. Moreover.
dwelling houses in city blocks are
~. rffralIv Same"