How is the clap related to death by lightning strike?
June 18, 1999: Either lightning is attracted to testosterone, or men spend an inordinate amount of time outdoors swinging metal objects about. Men are struck by lightning four times more often than women. According to a study entitled “Demographics of U.S. Lightning Casualties and Damages from 1959 – 1994,” by Ronald L. Holle and Raúl E. López of the National Severe Storms Laboratory and E. Brian Curran of the National Weather Service, males account for 84% of lightning fatalities and 82% of injuries. Men can take comfort in the fact that the actual number of deaths and injuries from lightning strikes has decreased in the past 35 years. Holle’s team attributes 30 percent of the decrease in lightning deaths to improved forecasts and warnings, better lightning awareness, more substantial buildings, and socioeconomic changes. They attribute an additional 40 percent to improved medical care and communications. Sources:
All deaths due to lightning strike occur outside. When inside, wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before going outside again. Sources: examiner.
