Mobile phone users warned of lightning strike risk

[nickel]

Mobile phone users warned of lightning strike risk

Thu Jun 22, 7:23 PM ET

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.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060622/ts_nm/telephones_dc;_ylt=ApZBGhMb_QfFcHyTpQmShzas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

[jstreet]

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.Does that mean I should take out my earrings and take off my glasses?

And what about my chastity belt???

[nickel]

Does that mean I should take out my earrings and take off my glasses?

And what about my chastity belt???
i think you should... just to be safe.

oh, and clothing poses a danger too. :D

[bachviet]

Yeap who in the right mind talking on the cell phone outdoor during a thunderstorms? The phone probably dies in 5 seconds because it gets wet.

[Yossarian]

*shrug* i doubt it adds THAT much more percentage of being hit as being dumb enough to be out in a field in the middle of a storm anyways. besides, what about a belt buckle, or keys, or as was said, glasses, earing, body rings in general, mp3/cd players, ect... just one more paranoia thing

[Kevster]

*shrug* i doubt it adds THAT much more percentage of being hit as being dumb enough to be out in a field in the middle of a storm anyways. besides, what about a belt buckle, or keys, or as was said, glasses, earing, body rings in general, mp3/cd players, ect... just one more paranoia thing

:stupid:

I couldn't believe they came out with this 'warning' about cell-phones and thunderstorms. This 'cell phone danger' is just more alarmist bs. Having a cell phone is not going to make you any more likely or unlikely to be struck by lightning - there are much greater factors like your exposure, being out in the open or under a tree, carrying a large metal object (like a golf club), etc. If you hear thunder or see thunderstorms approaching, GET INDOORS.

[Burzhui]

bull****, this makes no sense scientifically

[nickel]

bull****, this makes no sense scientifically
don't temp fate Burz. :gle:

[zero2dash]

They covered cell phone myths on the show Mythbusters and this was one of the ones they covered that they deemed "busted"; I think they actually proved all of them were "busted". (Another one I recall they did was that a ringing cell phone near a gasoline pump would ignite the fumes and cause a fire/explosion...also proven to be wrong.)

[guiseppewv]

They covered cell phone myths on the show Mythbusters and this was one of the ones they covered that they deemed "busted"; I think they actually proved all of them were "busted". (Another one I recall they did was that a ringing cell phone near a gasoline pump would ignite the fumes and cause a fire/explosion...also proven to be wrong.)

:stupid:

I actually had a gas station attendant come out and tell me to get off my phone while I was pumping gas. I ignored him so he shut off my gas pump. Jacka$$!!!! I tried to explain to him why it wouldn't happen but he wasn't hearing any of it. BTW - this was a couple of years before mythbusters did that show.

[jstreet]

I actually had a gas station attendant come out and tell me to get off my phone while I was pumping gas. I ignored him so he shut off my gas pump. Jacka$$!!!!Careful! They can arrest you for that in some states.

[guiseppewv]

Careful! They can arrest you for that in some states.

Arrest me for talking on my cell at the pump or ignoring the attendant?

[jstreet]

Former (and maybe the latter? dunno). I think it's illegal in RI, I remember signs being up about it. Can't find anything in a quick Google search other than this:


According to some experts there is a danger that using a mobile phone near gas pumps could touch off an explosion, but not only have we found no real-life instances of such an explosion occurring, we don't know anyone who has demonstrated experimentally that it's even possible (including the folks at The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters program). Even so, gas pumps in Australia bear stickers cautioning motorists to turn off their phones while refueling; Shell in Malaysia has affixed similar stickers to each of its gas pumps; numerous pumps in the U.S.A. are similarly adorned; Canada's major gas pump operators have banned customers from using mobile phones while at the gas pump; and the city of Cicero, Illinois, recently passed the first law in the USA banning the use of cellular phones at gas stations. http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

[guiseppewv]

That is funny. I guess this is the effect from too many frivilous lawsuits being filed.