# cell phones in the rain

Category: Health and Wellness

## Post 1 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Friday, 23-Jun-2006 4:34:38

&LT;A HREF="http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=06-06-22T231600Z_01_L22933763_RTRUKOC_0_UK-TELEPHONES.xml"click here for the article>
LONDON (Reuters) - People should not use mobile phones outdoors during thunderstorms because of the risk of being struck by lightning, doctors said on Friday.
They reported the case of a 15-year-old girl who was using her phone in a park when she was hit during a storm. Although she was revived, she suffered persistent health problems and was using a wheelchair a year after the accident.
"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to
prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries," said Swinda Esprit, a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital in England.
Esprit and other doctors at the hospital added in a letter to the British Medical Journal that usually when someone is struck by lightning, the high resistance
of the skin conducts the flash over the body in what is known as a flashover.
But if a metal object, such as a phone, is in contact with the skin it disrupts the flashover and increases the odds of internal injuries and death.
The doctors added that three fatal cases of lightning striking people while using mobile phones have been reported in newspapers in China, South Korea and
Malaysia.
"The Australian Lightning Protection Standard recommends that metallic objects, including cordless or mobile phones, should not be used (or carried) outdoors
during a thunderstorm," Esprit added.

## Post 2 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 23-Jun-2006 8:51:37

There's nothing wrong with that, a friend of mine who is a professional climber, had to grab his colleague's phone as he tried to call the mountain rescue in a violent storm, to prevent him from being fried!

## Post 3 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Friday, 23-Jun-2006 10:46:36

Frankly some people are so obnoxious about inflicting their personal phone conversations on me everywhere I go, I wouldn't mind seeing some of them struck by lightning.

## Post 4 by Harp (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Friday, 23-Jun-2006 11:53:28

I'd have actually thought this sort of advice was nothing more than common sense but then, people quite often are incredibly stupid. Mind you, if you are actually dumb enough to stand around in the middle of a park making a phone call instead of heading for substancial cover I'd have thought you deserved everything you got.

## Post 5 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Friday, 23-Jun-2006 13:23:02

If you're dumb enough to stand around a park during a thunder storm with (or without) a cell phone, you deserve whatever happens to you.

## Post 6 by sparkie (the hilljack) on Friday, 23-Jun-2006 20:11:08

Agreed, it's like common cence? It's like people that call me during a storm, I don't even answer the phone, I do not wish to take my life because of a storm and a phone call.

## Post 7 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 24-Jun-2006 8:42:05

Bob I think that's a bit harsh and ignorant,for instance how often have you done it? we have all stood out in lightning playing silly buggers, would my friend's climbing partner have deserved a direct hit for trying to save the life of my friend categorically NO!

## Post 8 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Saturday, 24-Jun-2006 13:42:59

I don't think it's too harsh and ignorant (well, ignorant maybe I'll confess), but it's like running into the street in front of an oncoming truck. Ordinarily we wouldn't do it, but to save a little child we might.
Playing in the rain while there is a thunderstorm in progress is silly, and using a cell phone whilst doing so is even sillier.
But, there are overriding circumstances that might get someone to use a cell phone in a thunderstorm, one of which might be to save a climbing partner.

## Post 9 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 25-Jun-2006 9:13:58

In childhood you reach at stage where you think you are immortal, maybe the girl assumed it will never happen to me,I'm ok. It's fine for us to sit here and call her stupid, but are we so quick so condemn OUR mistakes, or even admit them? leave the lassie alone she's paid a huge price for a momentary lapse.

## Post 10 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Sunday, 25-Jun-2006 12:23:59

"The Lassie" is merely an example of what not to do, and I'm sure she would agree that her lapse in common sense should count for something, and maybe that something is to serve as an example of what not to do.
"God works in mysterious ways, and who are we to stand in his way, Goblin.

## Post 11 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Monday, 26-Jun-2006 11:51:30

Personally, I choose not to talk on the phone when there is a storm. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I heard yesterday that a man in North Carolina was talking on his cell phone outdoors during a storm, and was struck and killed by lightning. Like I said, I'm not sure if it's true or not, but it wouldn't surprise me if it is true. You would think that people would have better judgment and more common sense, and not talk on a phone during a storm, but as someone has said, a lot of people have the "Oh, it'll never happen to me" attitude.

## Post 12 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Tuesday, 27-Jun-2006 7:47:35

Gemini it's entirely possible, he wouldn't be the first to be killed by lightning down a phone line. A mate of mine saw a biker killed when lightning struck the ariel on his harley, the lightning travelled to the fuel tank, which exploded blowing them both sky high. The biker was horribly burned and the bike was wrecked. You can never underestimate the power of lightning.

## Post 13 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Tuesday, 27-Jun-2006 11:52:46

Oh I agree. Honestly, lightning scares me. lol

## Post 14 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Wednesday, 28-Jun-2006 8:20:22

Lightning is increrdible stuff, in very violent storm blue vertical flashes called sprites, shoot upward from the clouds, into the atmosphere. And you can also get blue and pink lightning though they only come with the worst storms which can spawn a tornado.

## Post 15 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 28-Jun-2006 10:11:48

Oo, tornados, another one of my worst fears. If I'm in a place where it's possible for a tornado to hit, I get so scared when a thunderstorm hits. I'm always afraid it'll spark a tornado.

## Post 16 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Wednesday, 05-Jul-2006 8:16:57

You are definately living in the wrong country, though britain has more small tornadoes than anywhere else.

## Post 17 by Musical Ambition (I've got the gold prolific poster award, now is there a gold cup for me?) on Wednesday, 05-Jul-2006 11:02:20

LOL, yeah I know. The US, is covered with them. Hahahahah.