Can You Get Struck By Lightning In The Shower?
There's a number of wives tales and urban myths out there in memory and on the internet including this one talking about people getting struck by lightning during a storm while in the shower cleaning up.
It seems far-fetched doesn't it? At least it does to me because I've never actually thought about the odds of a crazy thing happening in Montana or anywhere else for that matter.
A number of news agencies, security companies, and even the CDC talk about this phenomenon when I look it up on the internet.
So, can you get electrocuted in the shower during the storm?
According to the FAQ section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention they say yes, one can be electrocuted while taking a shower while a storm is active. In fact, the CDC, and other experts say that that any activity involving water can be dangerous within the house like showers, doing the dishes, laundry, etc.
From the CDC:
Is it safe to take a shower or bath during a thunderstorm?
No. Lightning can travel through plumbing. It is best to avoid all water during a thunderstorm. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands. The risk of lightning traveling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck.
At first it seems that it wouldn't make sense with PVC and plastic piping in modern plumbing situations, however if one remembers from science, water is definitely conductive.
Remember to stay safe both outside and inside the house during a thunderstorm.
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