It is not safe to shower or take a bath during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through plumbing, increasing your risk of electrocution.
Lightning is a large spark of electricity. It’s one of the most dangerous parts of a thunderstorm. Hearing thunder within 30 seconds of lightning can mean you’re within the striking distance of lightning.
Experts recommend you seek shelter and wait at least 30 minutes before leaving the shelter. This is known as the 30-30 rule.
According to the National Weather Service, about 300 people are struck by lightning in the United States each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about
Though your chance of getting struck by lightning is low, certain activities can increase the risk. This includes showering during a thunderstorm.
Read on to learn why it’s unsafe and other activities to avoid.
No, it is not safe to shower during a thunderstorm. It’s also unsafe to take baths.
This is due to the risk of electrocution.
Lightning
To date, it’s unknown if anyone has ever died by showering during a thunderstorm. However, a 12-year-old from the Netherlands was struck by lightning while showering and required emergency medical care, according to a 2019 news publication written in Dutch.
You should avoid using water in general during a thunderstorm. Lightning’s electricity can move through water pipes in the entire building, not just the bathroom.
The
When is it safe to use water again after a thunderstorm?
You can use water again once the storm is over and the threat of lightning has passed.
A lightning strike poses the risk of injury or death by electrocution. Its effects on the body can range in type and severity.
Lightning strikes can cause various symptoms that may vary in severity.
Mild symptoms may include:
- muscle soreness
- headache
- nausea
- confusion
- memory issues
- dizziness and balance issues
Longer-term symptoms may include:
- cognitive impairment
- impaired reaction time
- irritability
- memory problems
- chronic pain
- headache
- sleep difficulties
- ringing in the ears
- depression
- personality changes
- severe muscle spasms
- nervous system injuries or multiorgan injuries
- cardiovascular effects, like cardio-pulmonary arrest
- compartment syndrome, which happens when muscle damage causes your limbs to swell
- eye injuries
Most lightning-related deaths are due to cardiovascular effects.
Being struck by lightning is an emergency
If you or someone else is struck by lightning, contact 911 or your local emergency services as soon as possible. A lightning strike can be life threatening.
If you’ve been struck by lightning, don’t move, unless it is to seek shelter.
Do not touch another person who has been shocked unless they are no longer in contact with the source of electricity (such as water in a bath).
When the person is no longer in contact with the source of electricity, check their breathing and pulse. If necessary, start CPR until emergency help arrives.
In addition to avoiding water usage, the
Using electronics
Electrical wires, like plumbing, can conduct electricity from a lightning strike. The electricity can travel along the wires and cause electrocution.
During a thunderstorm, it’s recommended to avoid using electronics that are plugged into an electrical outlet. This includes devices like:
- computers
- corded phones
- game systems
- washers and dryers
- stoves
It’s safe to use cell phones during a thunderstorm, as long as they aren’t plugged in.
Standing near a window
The CDC advises against standing or sitting near windows, doors, porches, and balconies.
Sitting against concrete
There are metal wires in concrete floors or walls. The electricity from a lightning strike can travel through these wires, so it’s recommended to avoid being on concrete floors or walls.
Other thunderstorm precautions
Staying inside can help you avoid getting hurt during a thunderstorm. Always check the weather before starting outdoor activities.
If you’re outside when a thunderstorm begins, here’s what you can do to stay safe:
- Find shelter: Seek shelter in an enclosed building. If no buildings are nearby, stay in an enclosed vehicle with closed windows.
- Avoid lying on the ground: When lightning strikes the ground, its electrical currents can travel more than 100 feet. Ground currents are the most common cause of lightning injuries and deaths.
- Crouch on the ground: If you are outdoors and there are no safe shelters in sight, as a last resort, crouch down in a ball-like position with your feet together, squat low, tuck your head, and cover your ears.
- Move away from water: If you’re swimming, leave the water immediately. Avoid ponds, pools, and other bodies of water.
- Avoid standing under trees: Tall trees can increase your risk of being struck by lightning. If lightning strikes a tree, the electricity can travel to the trunk and electrocute you. Lightning can also cause tree branches to fall.
- Avoid power lines: Never touch fallen power lines during or after a thunderstorm. It’s also advised to avoid barbed wire fences and windmills, which can conduct electricity.
It’s unsafe to shower during a thunderstorm. If lightning strikes a water pipe or nearby ground, the electricity can travel through the plumbing. This could potentially cause electrocution if you’re showering or using water.
Your chances of getting electrocuted by lightning are low. However, using water will increase your risk. Experts also advise not using electronics plugged into outlets or going outside during a thunderstorm.