Spring and summer mean warmer days and longer daylight, but this time of year is also synonymous with Thunderstorms. Some individuals love to be able to watch a Thunderstorm roll in and see the lightning light up the sky while others, including your furry, four-legged family members, often do not enjoy these storms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Lightning strikes the earth more than 8 million times per day. The risk of being struck is low but the consequences of lightning strike injuries are serious. During 2003–2012, lightning caused an average of 35 deaths per year in the United States.”
Since we are now in the midst of Thunderstorm season, we thought we would offer you some Safety Tips in regards to Thunderstorms…
1. According to FEMA, “When Thunder roars, go indoors” .
2. For all you Thunderstorm lovers out there, it is best to stay indoors and away from windows and doors. We know that you might be tempted to go out onto a porch to watch the storm, but lightning can travel through the metal in concrete walls or flooring.
3. Avoid anything that involves water during a Thunderstorm…This includes bathing, showering, washing dishes, running the dishwasher, washing clothes, and even washing your hands. Lightning can travel through the plumbing in your home.
4. While most of us no longer have corded phones, if you do, please avoid using these during a storm. A cell phone is fine to use during a storm, as long as the cell phone is not plugged in being charged.
5. Unplug electronics such as computers, TVs, washers, dryers, stoves, etc. Lightning can travel through the electrical system in your home and will affect anything that is plugged in.
You may be wondering, “Is there anything I can do to protect the equipment in my home or business from a lightning strike or surge?” We are so glad that you asked this question…yes there is something that you can do. You can install Lightning and Surge Suppression.
Surges, otherwise known as voltage spikes, can cause serious damage to appliances in your home and equipment in your businesses.
Many individuals have mistakenly been led to believe that power strips provide surge protection. While it is true that you can buy power strips that have surge protection qualities, not all power strips have surge protection. Additionally, power stripes do not offer the same protection that surge suppression offers.
If you are interested in finding out more about Lightning and Surge Suppression, give us a call at 717-392-0804 or follow this link to fill out a contact form.